Kyverno

Kyverno manages policy management and enforcement in Kubernetes and other cloud-native environments, where the lack of standardized governance can lead to security vulnerabilities and compliance issues.

Technically, Kyverno operates as a Kubernetes admission controller, scanner, and command-line tool, allowing it to validate, mutate, generate, and clean up Kubernetes resources. It leverages declarative YAML policies, eliminating the need for a new programming language, and integrates with familiar tools like kubectl, git, and kustomize. Kyverno also supports advanced logic handling through JMESPath and the Common Expressions Language (CEL), enabling complex policy definitions.

Operationally, Kyverno policies can be managed both within and outside of Kubernetes clusters. The Kyverno CLI facilitates policy application and testing as part of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. The Policy Reporter provides in-cluster management of policy violations with a graphical web interface, while Kyverno JSON extends policy application to non-Kubernetes workloads and any JSON payload. Additionally, Kyverno Chainsaw offers declarative end-to-end testing for policies, ensuring robust policy validation.

Key considerations include the integration with OCI container image verification to secure the software supply chain and the potential for policy complexity to impact performance. However, Kyverno's design ensures that policies are treated as Kubernetes API resources, making them manageable and scalable within the existing Kubernetes ecosystem. This approach simplifies policy lifecycle management and enhances overall governance and compliance in cloud-native environments.