Securing Kubernetes Clusters using Authentication and Authorization
Lab Steps
The hands-on lab is part of these learning paths
Ready for the real environment experience?
Description
There are many facets to security in Kubernetes. One small oversight can leave your cluster vulnerable to leaking sensitive data, running foreign workloads, and a host of other attacks. This lab shows you how to practice defense in depth in Kubernetes by covering the main security concepts including authentication, and authorization. Examples of potential exploits from improperly configured clusters are also illustrated followed by guidance on how to prevent the attacks.
This lab is valuable to anyone working with Kubernetes, but the content has been prepared considering topics described in the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Exam Curriculum. Completion of the lab will help you get hands-on experience, which is essential for passing the CKA exam.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this lab you will be able to:
- Understand Kubernetes' authentication model
- Create users and groups in Kubernetes and use role-based access control for authorization
Intended Audience
- Kubernetes cluster administrators
- Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) examinees
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with:
- Working with Kubernetes to deploy applications
- Working at the command line in Linux
- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), particularly using OpenSSL to generate keys and certificates
The following Labs can be used to fulfill the prerequisites: Deploy a Stateless Application in a Kubernetes Cluster, Deploy a Stateful Application in a Kubernetes Cluster, and Best Practices for Deploying SSL/TLS.
Updates
December 2nd, 2022 - Updated instructions to switch back to the admin context
Logan has been involved in software development and research since 2007 and has been in the cloud since 2012. He is an AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional, Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert, MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, Google Cloud Certified Associate Cloud Engineer, Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), and Certified OpenStack Administrator (COA). He earned his Ph.D. studying design automation and enjoys all things tech.