The Kubernetes operator concept was introduced by CoreOS Linux in 2016 to simplify the management of complex Kubernetes applications by abstracting resources into custom configurations, or custom resources (CR). This allows for tasks like deploying, scaling, and upgrading without needing direct access to resources. The New Relic operator is a tool that simplifies the process of installing the integration, including multiple modules, to monitor and manage Kubernetes clusters, while also providing automation features such as redeploying secrets or pods if needed. To use the operator, one needs minikube, a New Relic account, and follows specific steps to install and configure the operator in their cluster, which then deploys the Kubernetes integration. The operator provides visibility into Kubernetes clusters and workloads, and can help ease the burden of monitoring and automating processes like scaling applications and upgrading versions.