Why Networking Policies Matter

Imagine running a busy office building. You wouldn’t want just anyone wandering into sensitive meeting rooms or accessing confidential files, right? Similarly, in Kubernetes, not all pods need—or should—talk to each other. Networking Policies help you set these boundaries, ensuring that your cluster is both secure and efficient.

How They Work

By default, Kubernetes is like an open highway—any pod can talk to any other pod. While this might be fine for small setups, it’s risky for production environments. Networking Policies allow you to flip the default behavior by explicitly defining rules for pod communication.

Here’s how they work:

  1. Selectors: Choose which pods the policy applies to using labels.
  2. Ingress Rules: Define what can enter the pod.
  3. Egress Rules: Specify what the pod can send out.

You define these rules in YAML manifests, and Kubernetes enforces them.

How to Set Up Kubernetes Network Policies

Now that you know what Networking Policies are, let’s walk through setting them up step by step.

1. Start with the Basics

To begin, ensure your Kubernetes cluster is using a CNI plugin that supports Network Policies, such as Calico, Cilium, or Weave Net. Without a compatible plugin, these policies won’t have any effect.

2. Define a Default Deny Policy

The best way to secure your cluster is by blocking all traffic by default and then selectively allowing only the traffic you need.

YAML Example: Default Deny Policy

This policy blocks all ingress and egress traffic in a namespace:


  apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1  
kind: NetworkPolicy  
metadata:  
  name: default-deny  
  namespace: my-namespace  
spec:  
  podSelector: {}  
  policyTypes:  
  - Ingress  
  - Egress

Apply it with:


  kubectl apply -f default-deny.yaml

3. Add Specific Policies

Once the default deny policy is in place, you can create specific policies to allow necessary communication.

Example 1: Allow Frontend to Access Backend

Imagine your frontend pods need to talk to backend pods on port 8080.


  apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1  
kind: NetworkPolicy  
metadata:  
  name: allow-frontend-to-backend  
  namespace: my-namespace  
spec:  
  podSelector:  
    matchLabels:  
      app: backend  
  policyTypes:  
  - Ingress  
  ingress:  
  - from:  
    - podSelector:  
        matchLabels:  
          app: frontend  
    ports:  
    - protocol: TCP  
      port: 8080

Example 2: Allow DNS Access for All Pods

To enable DNS resolution, you’ll need to allow traffic to the kube-dns service.


  apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1  
kind: NetworkPolicy  
metadata:  
  name: allow-dns  
  namespace: my-namespace  
spec:  
  podSelector: {}  
  policyTypes:  
  - Egress  
  egress:  
  - to:  
    - namespaceSelector:  
        matchLabels:  
          name: kube-system  
      podSelector:  
        matchLabels:  
          k8s-app: kube-dns  
    ports:  
    - protocol: UDP  
      port: 53  
    - protocol: TCP  
      port: 53

Challenges and Gotchas

While Networking Policies are powerful, they can get tricky:

  • CNI Dependency: Ensure your plugin supports Network Policies.
  • Complex Configurations: Large setups with many microservices require careful planning to avoid unintended communication blocks.
  • Default Deny Policy: Always start with a default deny policy to ensure no unintended access.

Test Your Policies

Once policies are applied, test them to ensure they work as intended:

Use kubectl exec to run commands from one pod to another. Example:


  kubectl exec -it <pod-name> -- curl <target-service>

Tools like Calico’s Policy Editor or NetworkPolicy Editor can simulate policies before applying them.

Key Benefits

  • Improved Security: Reduce attack surfaces by limiting pod communication.
  • Fine-grained Control: Precisely manage traffic flow in your cluster.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Meet strict data flow requirements.

Resources for Learning More

  1. Official Kubernetes Documentation:
  2. Cilium Network Policies:
  3. Weave Net: