Kubernetes provides scalability and reliability for container-based applications, and when combined with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), it removes the need for users to manually install or operate clusters. Running Kubernetes within a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) environment offers numerous integrations and benefits, particularly when using Codefresh, which automates code building, testing, and deployment processes. The guide highlights a step-by-step approach to deploying applications to Kubernetes by first creating a cluster in GKE through the GCP Console or Google Cloud CLI, then connecting Codefresh to GKE, and finally adding clusters to Codefresh for deployment. Codefresh simplifies the deployment of Docker images to Kubernetes clusters and provides an Environment Dashboard for monitoring deployments. Users who sign up through the tutorial also receive $500 in GCP credits, encouraging exploration of these tools within their DevOps pipelines.