Kubernetes Network Policies and PII Catalogs: Protecting Sensitive Data in Your Cluster

Kubernetes Network Policies exist to prevent that moment. They are not firewalls in the traditional sense, but precise rules that control pod-to-pod and pod-to-service communication inside the cluster. Combined with a clear PII Catalog, they create enforceable boundaries between trusted and untrusted workloads.

A PII Catalog is a structured inventory of Personally Identifiable Information across your systems. In Kubernetes, mapping this catalog to namespaces, labels, and selectors allows you to isolate pods handling sensitive data from the rest. Network Policies then ensure only approved connections can reach those pods.

Define ingress rules so only specific services or namespaces can reach PII-handling pods. Use egress rules to block outbound traffic to unauthorized endpoints. Apply policies at the namespace level for broad isolation, then refine at the pod level using labels. Review each policy against your PII Catalog to verify data paths are compliant.

Audit frequently. Deploy default deny policies as the baseline. Document every allowed connection in the context of your PII Catalog. Tie policies directly to compliance requirements so there is no ambiguity about why a connection exists.

Kubernetes makes it easy to overexpose sensitive data. A disciplined approach to Network Policies, anchored by a living PII Catalog, turns that risk into a controlled surface.

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