Mapping Kubernetes Network Policies to NIST 800-53

The cluster was silent except for the hum of packets moving. You know they are moving fast, but you cannot see them. Without control, chaos waits.

Kubernetes Network Policies are the line between order and breach. They define which pods can talk to which, at what ports, and over which protocols. This is more than configuration—it is enforcement. NIST 800-53 makes it clear: access control must be explicit, network boundaries must be guarded, and every flow must be intentional.

Mapping Kubernetes Network Policies to NIST 800-53 starts with understanding both. The framework’s AC (Access Control) family demands strict limits on communications. SC (System and Communications Protection) calls for segmentation, isolation, and monitoring. When applied to a Kubernetes environment, these controls mean you set ingress and egress rules for namespaces, restrict traffic to whitelisted services, and log the policy decisions for audit.

Create a deny-by-default posture. Write policies that only allow traffic required for function. Use namespace selectors for isolating workloads with different data sensitivity levels. Add egress restrictions to prevent unapproved data exfiltration. Pair with NetworkPolicy objects that enforce TLS where applicable. Ensure all rules are version-controlled and reviewed, satisfying NIST 800-53’s configuration management requirements.

Audit regularly. Integrate policy and flow logs into your SIEM for continuous monitoring. Map each rule directly to the relevant NIST 800-53 control identifier. This ensures the network layer of your Kubernetes platform holds up under compliance review and operational reality.

Kubernetes will not protect you by default. NIST 800-53 will not enforce itself. The combination, applied correctly, gives you predictable, compliant, and secure networking inside the cluster.

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