Defense in Depth with Kubernetes Network Policies and Row-Level Security
Kubernetes Network Policies control pod-to-pod, pod-to-service, and ingress/egress traffic. They act as a firewall at the namespace level, using labels to define which connections are allowed. Without them, every pod can reach every other pod, a design that exposes sensitive services to unnecessary risk. A well-defined Network Policy minimizes the blast radius of a compromise and ensures that only the required flows exist.
Row-Level Security (RLS) sits at the data layer. It filters database query results so that users or services only see rows they are authorized to access. In PostgreSQL, RLS is implemented with policies attached to tables. These policies execute automatically during queries, making it impossible for unauthorized clients to retrieve restricted data.
When combined, Kubernetes Network Policies and Row-Level Security deliver layered isolation. Network Policies guard the perimeter inside the cluster. RLS enforces trust boundaries inside the database. Used together, they prevent unauthorized network paths from ever delivering unauthorized rows—a defense-in-depth model where infrastructure and application concerns reinforce each other.
To deploy this combination effectively:
- Identify all pod communication paths and reduce them to the minimum required.
- Apply Kubernetes Network Policies with strict selectors for ingress and egress.
- Enable Row-Level Security in your database and write policies tied to roles or tenant IDs.
- Audit both layers regularly to catch drift before it becomes exposure.
Every extra connection or unfiltered row is an attack surface. Reduce them. Document them. Test them. With precise Network Policies and disciplined Row-Level Security, your system resists lateral movement and data leakage.
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