Kubernetes has become the backbone of modern cloud-native applications, but its complexity often introduces security challenges. Misconfigurations, unmonitored access, and insufficient safeguards can expose critical systems to risk, threatening organisational stability and trust.
This self-assessment is designed to help organisations evaluate the maturity of their Kubernetes security practices. By systematically reviewing key areas such as network policies, access control, image security, and incident response, it provides actionable insights into vulnerabilities and strengths, enabling organisations to fortify their clusters and align with best practices.
1. Network Policies
This section evaluates the extent to which network policies are configured, monitored, and validated. It highlights the importance of defining and auditing ingress and egress rules and using automated tools for continuous policy validation.
2. RBAC Configuration
This section assesses Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) implementation and the management of service accounts. It covers practices for preventing privilege escalation and enforcing strict access controls through regular audits.
3. Image Security
The focus here is on securing container images through vulnerability scanning, image provenance, and the use of private registries. It also examines strategies for keeping images up-to-date using automated pipelines.
4. Cluster Hardening
This section reviews the measures taken to harden Kubernetes clusters, including securing administrative access, API server configurations, and etcd data. It emphasises adherence to best practices and zero-trust principles.
5. Monitoring and Incident Response:
This section assesses security monitoring practices, incident response plans, and log management. It stresses the need for real-time alerting, comprehensive incident plans, and advanced log integrity controls.
