Infrastructure Access via Kubernetes Network Policies

Infrastructure access in Kubernetes is not just about authentication. It is about fine-grained control of network flow inside the cluster. Kubernetes Network Policies let you define which Pods can connect to each other and to external endpoints. Without them, every Pod can reach every other Pod. That creates unnecessary risk and increases your attack surface.

Network Policies are implemented at the namespace level. Each policy selects Pods by labels. Rules define allowed ingress and egress traffic. You can limit access to specific ports, CIDR ranges, or other Pods. Most CNI plugins support them, but exact behavior depends on the plugin. Always test with your chosen networking layer before deploying to production.

For infrastructure access control, combine Network Policies with role-based access control (RBAC). RBAC governs API actions. Network Policies govern packet movement. Together, they protect both data and control paths. Use default-deny rules to block all traffic by default, then open only what is required. This ensures that a compromise in one Pod cannot pivot across the cluster unchecked.

Common best practices include:

• Apply namespace isolation with policies that deny inter-namespace traffic unless explicitly allowed.
• Lock down egress to known external services.
• Keep policy definitions in version control, reviewed alongside application code.
• Use Kubernetes labels consistently to make policy targeting predictable.

Infrastructure access via Kubernetes Network Policies is a critical layer in secure cluster operation. It is low-cost to implement, but high-impact once in place, and it scales with your workloads.

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