Kyverno

Kyverno is a policy engine designed specifically for Kubernetes that allows users to manage policies as Kubernetes resources using Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs). It supports validation, mutation, and generation of Kubernetes resources, enabling organizations to enforce security, compliance, and operational best practices in Kubernetes environments.

Key Characteristics

• Kubernetes-Native: Built specifically for Kubernetes environments
• CRD-Based: Uses Kubernetes CRDs for policy management
• Policy Types: Supports validation, mutation, and generation
• Context-Aware: Can access external data for policy decisions

Advantages

• Kubernetes Integration: Deep integration with Kubernetes
• Simplicity: YAML-based policies familiar to Kubernetes users
• No Sidecars: No need for sidecar containers
• Performance: Efficient policy evaluation

Disadvantages

• Kubernetes Specific: Limited to Kubernetes environments
• Learning Curve: Requires understanding of Kubernetes concepts
• Complexity: Complex policies can be difficult to debug
• Maintenance: Requires ongoing policy maintenance

Best Practices

• Use version control for policy definitions
• Test policies in non-production clusters
• Monitor policy evaluation performance
• Regularly review and update policies

Use Cases

• Kubernetes security policy enforcement
• Compliance policy implementation
• Resource validation and mutation
• Multi-tenant cluster management