Mesh your Kubernetes cluster to the rest of your network with the Tailscale Kubernetes operator

Tailscale, a programmable network known for its ability to manage connections using ACLs, has released the Tailscale Kubernetes operator in beta, allowing users to seamlessly integrate Kubernetes services with their existing networks. This infrastructure-agnostic tool enables connectivity between resources regardless of their location or form, whether they are in the cloud, on-premises, or in containers. While not a traditional service mesh, Tailscale facilitates secure, peer-to-peer networking with end-to-end encryption and can interoperate with service meshes to extend connectivity beyond containerized services. The new operator simplifies the deployment of Tailscale within Kubernetes clusters, enabling users to expose services to their tailnet and securely connect to the Kubernetes control plane without internet exposure. It offers flexibility in connecting containerized and non-containerized workloads and supports both ingress and egress traffic management. The Tailscale Kubernetes operator can be deployed using a Helm chart or a manifest file, reducing setup overhead and allowing for dynamic proxy management as services are exposed.