What strategy should be implemented to prevent disruptions to a legacy database managed in GKE during maintenance?

Implementing a maintenance exclusion window for minor upgrades is an effective strategy because it allows you to control when maintenance events occur, avoiding disruptions to the legacy database during critical operational periods. By scheduling maintenance activities, you can ensure that they happen during off-peak hours or other times when the impact on users will be minimized. This is particularly important for legacy systems, which may not have the built-in resilience or scalability that modern applications possess.

This method provides a clearer management approach, making it possible to maintain system availability while still ensuring that the system receives necessary upgrades and security patches. With planned windows, teams can communicate more effectively about potential impacts and mitigate risks associated with unforeseen outages.

Other options, while they may seem relevant, do not address the core issue of timing and proactive management as effectively as establishing an exclusion window does.