Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) Training Course

Introduction

Cluster Setup

• Use Network security policies to restrict cluster level access
• Use CIS benchmark to review the security configuration of Kubernetes components (etcd, kubelet, kubedns, kubeapi)
• Properly set up Ingress objects with security control
• Protect node metadata and endpoints
• Minimize use of, and access to, GUI elements
• Verify platform binaries before deploying

Cluster Hardening

• Restrict access to Kubernetes API
• Use Role Based Access Controls to minimize exposure
• Exercise caution in using service accounts e.g. disable defaults, minimize permissions on newly created ones
• Update Kubernetes frequently

System Hardening

• Minimize host OS footprint (reduce attack surface)
• Minimize IAM roles
• Minimize external access to the network
• Appropriately use kernel hardening tools such as AppArmor, seccomp

Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities

• Setup appropriate OS level security domains e.g. using PSP, OPA, security contexts
• Manage kubernetes secrets
• Use container runtime sandboxes in multi-tenant environments (e.g. gvisor, kata containers)
• Implement pod to pod encryption by use of mTLS

Supply Chain Security

• Minimize base image footprint
• Secure your supply chain: whitelist allowed image registries, sign and validate images
• Use static analysis of user workloads (e.g. kubernetes resources, docker files)
• Scan images for known vulnerabilities

Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security

• Perform behavioral analytics of syscall process and file activities at the host and container level to detect malicious activities
• Detect threats within physical infrastructure, apps, networks, data, users and workloads
• Detect all phases of attack regardless where it occurs and how it spreads
• Perform deep analytical investigation and identification of bad actors within environment
• Ensure immutability of containers at runtime
• Use Audit Logs to monitor access

Summary and Conclusion