Security Best Practices

Implementing proper security measures is essential when optimizing your Kubernetes infrastructure with Stackbooster.io. This guide outlines recommended best practices to ensure your environment remains secure while achieving cost optimization.

Account Security

User Authentication

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all Stackbooster.io user accounts
• Use Single Sign-On (SSO) if available for your organization
• Implement strong password policies requiring minimum 12 characters with complexity
• Regularly audit user access and remove accounts for departed team members
• Use dedicated accounts rather than sharing credentials

API Keys

• Rotate API keys regularly (at least quarterly)
• Use separate API keys for different environments (dev, staging, prod)
• Set appropriate expiration dates on all API keys
• Store API keys securely using a secret management solution
• Limit API key permissions to only what's necessary

Session Management

• Set appropriate session timeouts (we recommend 8 hours maximum)
• Enable IP-based restrictions for accessing sensitive environments
• Regularly review active sessions and terminate unknown sessions
• Enable login notifications for unusual access patterns

AWS Integration Security

IAM Best Practices

• Use IAM roles instead of access keys whenever possible
• Follow least privilege principle by allowing only required permissions
• Create dedicated IAM roles for Stackbooster.io integration
• Use external IDs in trust relationships to prevent confused deputy problems
• Enable AWS CloudTrail to audit all actions taken by Stackbooster.io

Account Isolation

• Consider separate AWS accounts for production vs. non-production environments
• Use AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts with centralized policies
• Implement Service Control Policies (SCPs) to set guardrails on permissions
• Tag all resources managed by Stackbooster.io for clear identification

Network Security

• Use private VPC endpoints for AWS services when possible
• Implement security groups to control traffic to and from EKS clusters
• Enable VPC flow logs for network traffic auditing
• Consider AWS PrivateLink for secure connectivity to Stackbooster.io APIs

Kubernetes Security

Cluster Access Controls

• Implement Kubernetes RBAC with granular permissions
• Use dedicated service accounts for the Stackbooster.io agent
• Regularly rotate service account tokens
• Implement Pod Security Policies or Pod Security Standards
• Enable audit logging in your EKS clusters

Node Security

• Keep EKS and node AMIs up-to-date with latest security patches
• Use private subnets for worker nodes whenever possible
• Implement node security groups with minimal required access
• Enable GuardDuty for EKS to detect suspicious activities
• Consider using AWS Nitro Enclaves for sensitive workloads

Workload Security

• Set resource quotas and limits on all namespaces
• Scan container images for vulnerabilities before deployment
• Use trusted container registries with image signing
• Implement network policies to control pod-to-pod communication
• Follow the principle of least privilege for pod security contexts

Data Protection

Sensitive Information

• Never store credentials in container images
• Use AWS Secrets Manager or Kubernetes Secrets for sensitive information
• Encrypt EKS etcd backups
• Implement appropriate encryption for data at rest
• Regularly rotate secrets and credentials

Monitoring and Alerting

• Enable CloudWatch Container Insights for monitoring EKS
• Set up alerts for unusual resource utilization patterns
• Monitor for unauthorized access attempts
• Track configuration changes across your infrastructure
• Implement automated responses to common security events

Regular Security Audits

• Perform periodic security reviews of your EKS environment
• Use tools like kube-bench to check CIS Kubernetes benchmarks
• Review IAM permissions for excessive access
• Test disaster recovery procedures to ensure data integrity
• Conduct penetration testing on your Kubernetes environment

Incident Response

• Develop a security incident response plan
• Document procedures for containing and remediating breaches
• Establish communication channels for security incidents
• Practice your incident response process with simulated scenarios
• Keep forensic logs for post-incident analysis

By following these best practices, you'll maintain a strong security posture while optimizing your Kubernetes costs with Stackbooster.io.

For more information about specific security features in Stackbooster.io, refer to our Permissions Management and Data Privacy guides.