Kubernetes Runtime Security: Key Risks, Controls & Best Practices

Kubernetes runtime security is crucial for protecting live, running environments from threats that static security measures alone cannot address. Unlike static security, which focuses on pre-deployment risks, runtime security addresses challenges such as malware infections, malicious network traffic, and compromised nodes within active Kubernetes clusters. Despite the absence of built-in runtime security controls in Kubernetes, external tools and practices, such as role-based access controls (RBAC), Pod Security Standards, observability software, and runtime security enforcement solutions, are essential for detecting and mitigating these threats. The complexity of Kubernetes, with its numerous components and relationships, makes runtime threat detection particularly challenging, necessitating comprehensive monitoring and automated responses. Groundcover is highlighted as an observability platform that enhances runtime security by providing visibility into cluster activities through efficient data collection methods like eBPF, allowing security teams to detect anomalies and respond proactively without significant performance overhead.