Plan for network policies to manage traffic flow within the cluster.

To enhance security and better control traffic flow within the Kubernetes cluster, we will implement Network Policies using Cilium as the CNI. The goal is to ensure strict traffic segmentation, following a default-deny security model where only necessary communications are explicitly allowed.

With Cilium’s eBPF-powered capabilities, we can enforce fine-grained filtering rules at both L3/L4 (IP, ports) and L7 (protocol-aware) levels. This will not only improve network segmentation but also boost performance and observability through Hubble, Cilium’s monitoring tool.

The deployment will follow a phased approach: we will start by auditing existing traffic flows, applying least-privilege policies, and then refining the rules progressively. Rigorous testing will be conducted to validate policy enforcement and adjust configurations based on application needs.

By securing internal cluster communications, we will reduce the attack surface, mitigate security risks, and maintain full control over network traffic.