IAM Guide: Kubernetes on AWS

Kubernetes security encompasses authentication, authorization, and TLS/SSL communication as key elements to ensure a secure interaction within a cluster's configuration. Authentication is crucial for identifying entities that access the Kubernetes cluster, focusing on administrative tasks rather than end-user application access. Authorization follows, allowing administrators to define granular permissions for users through policies. Secure communication is facilitated by TLS certificates, signed by trusted authorities, to verify the identity of interacting elements. Several authentication mechanisms are available, including certificates, static password files, static token files, and bearer tokens. Kubernetes service accounts enable processes and services to securely communicate with the cluster. Integration with identity management solutions like Amazon IAM and AzureAD is recommended for optimizing authentication processes. Additionally, IAM roles for service accounts are highlighted as a secure method for managing cloud resource access, emphasizing best practices like the principle of least privilege, regular role review, and activity monitoring to maintain a secure cloud infrastructure.