Kubernetes Security Best Practices

Security in Kubernetes requires a multi-layered approach. Here are essential practices to secure your clusters.

RBAC Configuration

Role-Based Access Control is fundamental:

apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: Role
metadata:
  name: pod-reader
rules:
- apiGroups: [""]
  resources: ["pods"]
  verbs: ["get", "list"]

Network Policies

Implement network segmentation:

• Default deny all traffic
• Explicitly allow required connections
• Separate namespaces for different environments
• Use service mesh for advanced traffic control

Pod Security

• Run containers as non-root
• Use read-only root filesystems
• Drop unnecessary capabilities
• Set resource limits
• Enable Pod Security Standards

Secrets Management

Never store secrets in code:

• Use Kubernetes Secrets (encrypted at rest)
• Consider external secret managers (Vault, AWS Secrets Manager)
• Rotate secrets regularly
• Limit secret access with RBAC

Image Security

• Scan images for vulnerabilities
• Use minimal base images
• Sign and verify images
• Implement admission controllers
• Maintain an allowed registry list

Monitoring and Auditing

• Enable audit logging
• Monitor for suspicious activity
• Set up alerts for security events
• Regular security assessments
• Keep Kubernetes updated

Conclusion

Kubernetes security is an ongoing process. Regular reviews and updates of security practices are essential to maintain a secure environment.