Minimize IAM Roles

Updated Mar 11, 2022 ·

Overview

For cloud-managed Kubernetes environments, minimizing IAM (Identity and Access Management) roles is important to follow the principle of least privilege and enhance security.

1. Review Existing Roles

   • Review the IAM roles linked to your Kubernetes cluster.

2. Identify Unnecessary Permissions

   • Check each IAM role’s permissions.
   • Remove any unnecessary permissions.

3. Apply Least Privilege

   • Assign only the minimum permissions required.
   • Avoid broad, overly permissive roles.

4. Use Specific Roles for Specific Tasks

   • Create roles for specific tasks, not general ones.
   • Tailor roles to different responsibilities.

5. Regularly Audit IAM Roles

   • Perform regular audits of IAM roles.
   • Remove unused roles and permissions.

6. Implement Role Hierarchy

   • Organize roles by responsibilities.
   • Link roles based on their scope.

7. Use Managed Policies

   • Use pre-configured managed policies when possible.
   • AWS, for example, offers managed policies for specific use cases.

8. Utilize Service Accounts

   • Assign IAM roles to Kubernetes Service Accounts.
   • Limit permissions for workloads with service accounts.

9. Enable Session Policies

   • Set limits on the duration and scope of IAM role sessions.
   • Restrict permissions using session policies.

10. Rotate Credentials Regularly

    • Rotate IAM credentials (keys, tokens) frequently.
    • Automate credential rotation for better security.

11. Enable Logging and Monitoring

    • Enable logging like AWS CloudTrail for IAM activities.
    • Monitor logs for unauthorized access or changes.

12. Educate IAM Users

    • Educate users on secure IAM practices.
    • Promote the use of temporary credentials when possible.

Note

• IAM practices may vary by cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP).

• Align IAM roles with Kubernetes workload requirements.

• Document changes and test in non-production.

• Consider the impact on existing workloads before modifying IAM roles.