Secure Kubernetes Deployments to AWS – Guide

Kubernetes Deployment on AWS

Kubernetes, an open-source tool for managing and deploying containerized apps at large scales, is available as an open source software. Kubernetes is able to manage Amazon EC2 clusters, run containers, perform scaling, maintenance and deployment.

Kubernetes allows you to run containers on-premises or in the cloud with the same tools.

AWS offers Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), a managed, certified Kubernetes-compatible service for running Kubernetes on AWS and on-premises, with community-supported service integrations.

Kubernetes can be used open-source. Kubernetes makes it possible to deploy containerized apps anywhere you want, without having to modify your operational tools. Kubernetes has a large volunteer community that maintains and improves it regularly.

The large Kubernetes community builds and maintains Kubernetes-compatible software that can be used to enhance and extend application architectures.

Kubernetes Security Tips on AWS

The Shared Responsibility Model

Managed services such as EKS can be considered to share responsibility for security and compliance. AWS handles security “inside the cloud”, while the customer of the cloud is responsible for security inside the cloud.

AWS’ Kubernetes control plan is managed by EKS. It includes Kubernetes master servers, etcd databases, and any other infrastructure that AWS requires to offer reliable and secure services.

Customers of EKS are responsible for security and identity management (IAM), runtime security and network security.

AWS also maintains Kubernetes patches and security updates for EKS-optimized Amazon Machine Images. Customers who use managed node group (MNGs), must update their node lists to the most recent AMI using the EKS API or Cloudformation console.

Penetration Testing and Red/Blue Team Practice

The security personnel should be divided into two groups: one red and one blue. While the red team is responsible for investigating and defending vulnerabilities, the blue team is responsible for vulnerability defense.

You might consider hiring an external organization that is familiar with Kubernetes vulnerabilities if you don’t have the security personnel to create a separate team.

can be used for penetration tests. This tool can be used to simulate attacks on Kubernetes clusters. It allows the blue team practice and assess their response. To discover weaknesses and misconfigurations in your cluster, you can periodically attack it.

Logging and Audit

Audit logs are useful for many reasons.

Logs can be used to identify root causes of production problems. If enough logs have been collected they can be used for anomalous behavior detection. EKS transmits audit logs via email to Amazon Cloudwatch.

The Kubernetes-managed Kubernetes control plan manages audit logs. Amazon offers to enable/disable control plane logs. This includes the Kubernetes controller manager and scheduler.

Rest encryption

Kubernetes offers three AWS native storage options to Luster: EBS (EFS), FSx, and EFS. Each of these options provides data-at rest encryption with either a service key or customer master key (CMK).

EBS can be used with either an EBS-CSI or in-tree storage drivers. Each driver provides parameters for encrypting the volume as well as a CMK.

EFS CSI drivers can be used for EFS. However, unlike EBS this driver cannot support dynamic configuration. EFS must be configured at-rest filesystem encryption to enable persistent volumes (PVs), if you use it with EKS.

Policy

By default, communication pod-to-pod is possible in a Kubernetes cluster. This flexibility can be useful during development, but it’s not recommended for production.

Kubernetes network policy provides a way to limit network traffic between pods as well as between pods with external services. Kubernetes network policy applies to layers 3-4 of the OSI model.

To identify source and destination pods, network policies can use labelling and pod selectors. However, they may also contain IP addresses, port numbers or any combination of these.

Regularly Scans Images for Vulnerabilities

Container images, like virtual machines can include vulnerable binaries or application libraries. Regular scanning of images with an automated scanner is the best way to prevent potential threats.

Amazon Elastic Container Registry can scan images stored there by either an automated trigger (every 24hrs) or manually. ECR uses as an open-source image scanning tool.

The results of the scan are sent to EventBridge’s ECR stream. The ECR console allows you to view scan results. Images with CRITICAL or HIGH vulnerabilities must be removed or rebuilt. It is important to replace vulnerable images as quickly as possible if they become deployed.

Code

One can think of a policy as a collection of rules that regulate behavior. It can be challenging to find and enforce policies across Kubernetes clusters.

Because requirements can change, they must be adaptable. Policies-ascode (PaC), which automate security compliance and privacy control, can be used to detect, prevent and respond effectively to persistent threats. There are many third-party options that can be used to configure and manage EKS cluster policies.

Conclusion

This article explains the fundamentals of Kubernetes deployment, and how it can be secured on AWS.

• Understanding shared responsibility model Security and compliance are shared responsibilities in the use of managed services such as EKS.
• Penetration testing and Practice Red/Blue Team – The red team investigates vulnerabilities in different systems while the blue team handles vulnerability defense.
• Auditing and log –collecting audit logs and analysing them can help to identify root causes of production problems.
• Data-at-rest encryption–Kubernetes offers three AWS native storage solutions that offer data-at-rest encryption.
• Network Policy–network policy uses pod selectors to identify source and destination pods.
• Regularly scan images for potential vulnerabilities–containers images may contain potentially vulnerable binaries or application libraries. Regular scanning of images with an automated scanner is the best way to prevent threats.
• Code–policy as-code solutions are able to detect, prevent and respond effectively to persistent threats. They automate security compliance and privacy control.

This will help you to secure Kubernetes on AWS.