Actionable Kubernetes Security Best Practices [Cheat Sheet]
After reading this cheat sheet, you'll be able to:
Apply advanced Kubernetes security techniques across clusters, workloads, and infrastructure.
Implement validated admission policies to block insecure configurations before they hit production.
Strengthen data, identity, and network protection using practical, real-world configurations.
Key Takeaways
- Think beyond the basics:Most Kubernetes clusters start with the essentials—but the real risk reduction comes from layering in more advanced security controls.
- Security as code:You’ll get code snippets and YAML examples that make it easy to enforce policies like banning privilege escalation, forbidding untrusted container registries, and blocking mutable filesystems.
- Cluster-wide hardening:From locking down kubelets and the API server to enforcing mTLS and service account isolation, this cheat sheet helps you tackle threats across every layer of your Kubernetes stack.
This cheat sheet is designed for:
Security engineers and DevSecOps teams looking to go beyond default controls
Platform teams managing multi-tenant Kubernetes clusters
Developers responsible for securing workloads in production
What's Included?
Component hardening tips: Lock down etcd, kubelets, and the API server with TLS and RBAC.
Validating admission policy examples: Enforce guardrails like banning privilege escalation and blocking untrusted registries.
Network security guidance: Apply network policies, monitor traffic, and leverage service meshes like Istio or Linkerd.
Pod and workload protections: Use NodeRestriction, prevent privilege escalation, and disable risky volume mounts.
Secrets and credentials management: Store secrets securely with tools like Vault and follow least-privilege access practices.
mTLS for service-to-service traffic: Encrypt and authenticate internal traffic to reduce exposure.
