EKS security

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) simplifies Kubernetes management, but ensuring robust security requires a proactive approach. While EKS is a managed service, it’s critical for security teams to configure and monitor it effectively to safeguard workloads and protect against evolving threats. 

Core EKS Security Best Practices: 

1. Identity and Access Management (IAM): Use IAM roles to manage access to EKS resources and Kubernetes components. With IAM, you can grant precise permissions, ensuring only authorized users and applications interact with sensitive resources. Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of access security. 

2. Network Isolation through VPC: Leverage Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) configurations to segment network traffic, control routing, and limit exposure. Use private subnets for worker nodes and only allow necessary traffic to reach the internet. Security groups and Network ACLs can further fine-tune access control at the network layer. 

3. Pod Security Policies (PSP): Define Pod Security Policies to set security standards for workloads. PSPs enable you to control which permissions containers can request, helping prevent unauthorized or risky configurations. For instance, you can restrict privileged access or disallow certain capabilities that might increase risk. [Note: PodSecurityPolicy (PSP) was deprecated in Kubernetes version 1.21 and removed in version 1.25. Instead, Kubernetes introduced Pod Security Standards (PSS) and the Pod Security Admission (PSA) controller, which enforces PSS. PSA became a stable feature in Kubernetes 1.25. Transitioning to PSA is crucial to maintain workload security within supported Kubernetes versions.] 

4. Audit and Logging: Enable AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch for continuous logging and monitoring. These tools provide visibility into actions taken within EKS, allowing for anomaly detection, auditing, and quick incident response. With real-time alerts, security teams can quickly address suspicious behavior. 

5. Encryption and Secrets Management: Use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to encrypt data at rest and secure Kubernetes secrets, ensuring sensitive information remains protected. Also, leverage AWS Secrets Manager for dynamic secrets management, reducing risks from hardcoded credentials. 

6. CIS Benchmarks for EKS: Leverage the CIS Amazon EKS Benchmark to ensure your cluster’s security configurations align with industry best practices. This benchmark is specifically optimized for Amazon EKS, addressing configuration mechanisms unique to the platform. By using this resource, you can assess and improve the security posture of your EKS clusters while minimizing false positives and meeting compliance requirements. Combine this with the Amazon EKS Best Practices Guide for a comprehensive security approach.