Audit Logging and Compliance

Audit Logging and Compliance

Audit logging provides visibility into cluster activities, essential for security monitoring and compliance. Kubernetes audit logs capture all API requests, including who made the request, what was requested, and the response. Properly configured audit policies balance completeness with performance, capturing security-relevant events without overwhelming storage systems. These logs form the foundation for threat detection and forensic analysis.

Compliance requirements significantly impact Kubernetes security architecture. Regulations like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR impose specific security controls that must be mapped to Kubernetes configurations. For example, PCI-DSS requires network segmentation between payment processing and other systems, implemented through namespaces and network policies. Understanding compliance requirements early in the design process prevents costly retrofitting.

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Kubernetes Benchmark provides a comprehensive security baseline. These benchmarks cover control plane configuration, node security, and workload hardening. Regular assessment against CIS benchmarks helps identify security gaps and demonstrates due diligence to auditors. Automated tools can continuously validate compliance, ensuring configurations don't drift from security baselines.