Cloud-native security principles

Securing cloud-native applications in Kubernetes requires an approach beyond traditional perimeter defenses, embedding security into every phase of development and deployment. 

Before we dive into the actual security principles, it's important to get familiar with the term "Pod Security Standards":

Key Security Principles: 

• Shift Left Security: Integrate security checks early, during development, to catch issues before deployment. This reduces vulnerabilities in production, saving time and resources. Shift-left security typically focuses on the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), incorporating tools like IDE extensions, CI/CD integrations, and Admission Controllers to enforce security best practices. 

• Least Privilege Access: Limit permissions to only what’s necessary for each role, reducing potential insider threats and minimizing accidental exposure. 

• Zero Trust Model: Every access request is verified, assuming no implicit trust, which helps prevent unauthorized access within and outside the organization. 

• Immutable Infrastructure: Infrastructure components are not modified after deployment. Instead, updates are managed by deploying new versions, maintaining consistency and reducing risks from undetected changes. 

These principles create a proactive, layered defense strategy. By focusing on prevention and continuous monitoring, cloud-native security enables teams to respond effectively to evolving threats while maintaining application performance and reliability in Kubernetes-managed environments.