7 Best Kubernetes Security Solutions and Vendors - 2024

A 2024 Red Hat survey revealed that 90% of organizations encountered at least one Kubernetes security incident in the past year. Kubernetes is undoubtedly one of the leading choices for container orchestration, and choosing the right security tools for Kubernetes is more critical than ever. The ecosystem offers a wide array of tools and solutions to secure Kubernetes clusters, each with its own strengths and trade-offs. In this article, we have handpicked seven top Kubernetes security solutions, and included their pricing information, and pros, and cons, to help you choose the right one for your environment.

Kubernetes Security Solutions: Pros, Cons, and Pricing

These are the most popular open-source Kubernetes security solutions and vendors that offer robust protection from various types of cyber attacks and data leaks. 

1. Pomerium

Overview:
Pomerium is an open-source identity-aware proxy designed to secure Kubernetes clusters by enabling identity and context-based access control. This is one of the leading Kubernetes security solutions because it integrates seamlessly with existing identity providers and enforces policies at the application layer, ensuring that only authorized users can access specific resources.

Pricing:

• Open-source: Free.

• Pomerium Zero: Free for personal use, $7/mo/user (annual plan) or $9/mo/user (month-to-month)

• Enterprise: Custom pricing, depending on deployment and support needs.

Pros:

• Identity-aware access control ensures fine-grained security.

• Has its own Ingress Controller that simplifies integration and configuration.

• Easy integration with existing identity providers like Okta, Google, and Active Directory.

• Supports both web applications and APIs.

• Provides continuous verification, enforcing zero trust security model.

• Transparent access with minimal disruption to existing workflows.

Cons:

• Configuration can be complex for less experienced teams.

• Requires additional components (e.g., a database for storing sessions) for full functionality.

2. Aqua Security

Overview:
Aqua Security provides a comprehensive security platform for Kubernetes, offering runtime protection, vulnerability scanning, and compliance management. It’s designed to secure the entire application lifecycle, from development to production.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: Available.

• Starter: Starts at $100/month.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing based on deployment size and features.

Pros:

• Covers the full container lifecycle.

• Advanced runtime security features, including threat detection and response.

• Extensive integration with CI/CD pipelines and cloud providers.

• Robust compliance reporting.

Cons:

• Pricing can be high, especially for smaller teams or startups.

• Can be overwhelming due to the breadth of features, which may not all be necessary for every use case.

3. Falco

Overview:
Falco, originally created by Sysdig, is an open-source runtime security tool that detects unusual activity in your Kubernetes environment. It’s highly configurable and can be integrated into various monitoring and alerting systems.

Pricing:

• Open-source: Free.

• Sysdig Secure (Commercial Support): Starts at $1,500/year for 10 nodes.

Pros:

• Real-time detection of security events and anomalies.

• Open-source and highly customizable.

• Integrates well with existing alerting systems like Prometheus and Grafana.

• Lightweight and doesn’t add much overhead to clusters.

Cons:

• Configuration requires a deep understanding of Kubernetes and its security risks.

• Limited to runtime monitoring; lacks some broader security features like vulnerability scanning.

4. Twistlock (Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud)

Overview:
Twistlock, now part of Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Cloud suite, offers a robust container and Kubernetes security solution with a focus on vulnerability management, compliance, and runtime defense.

Pricing:

• Prisma Cloud Compute Edition: Starts at approximately $400 per year per workload.

Pros:

• Comprehensive security coverage for containers and Kubernetes.

• Strong integration with other Palo Alto Networks products.

• Automated vulnerability scanning and policy enforcement.

• User-friendly interface with clear insights and reporting.

Cons:

• Pricing can quickly escalate with large deployments.

• The transition from Twistlock to Prisma Cloud may introduce complexity for existing users.

5. Kubescape

Overview:
Kubescape is an open-source Kubernetes security vendor that provides configuration scanning based on the NSA and CISA Kubernetes Hardening Guidance. It helps identify misconfigurations and security risks early in the development process.

Pricing:

• Open-source: Free.

• Commercial Support: Pricing on request.

Pros:

• Open-source and freely available.

• Aligns with established security benchmarks (NSA and CISA).

• Easy to integrate into CI/CD pipelines.

• Regular updates and active community support.

Cons:

• Focuses mainly on configuration scanning; and lacks runtime security features.

• Requires manual intervention to fix identified issues.

• Commercial support might be necessary for larger environments, adding to costs.

6. Kubernetes Network Policy by Calico

Overview:
Calico, a networking and network security solution for containers, provides Kubernetes Network Policy enforcement, which allows users to define and enforce network traffic rules within their Kubernetes clusters.

Pricing:

• Open-source: Free.

• Calico Enterprise: Starts at $99 per node per year.

Pros:

• Powerful network policy enforcement with detailed control.

• Integration with Kubernetes’ native network policy API.

• Scalable and suitable for large, complex environments.

• Extensive documentation and community support.

Cons:

• The open-source version lacks some advanced features found in the enterprise version.

• Complex to configure for users unfamiliar with network policies.

• Can be resource-intensive in large deployments.

7. Anchore

Overview:
Anchore focuses on container image security by providing deep image scanning capabilities, allowing organizations to identify vulnerabilities, insecure configurations, and policy violations before deploying containers to Kubernetes.

Pricing:

• Open-source: Free.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing based on deployment.

Pros:

• Excellent container image scanning with detailed vulnerability reports.

• Integration with CI/CD pipelines for automated scanning.

• Supports custom security policies.

• The open-source version provides substantial functionality.

Cons:

• Limited to image scanning; does not cover runtime or network security.

• High learning curve for complex policy configurations.

• Enterprise features can be expensive for smaller teams.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Kubernetes security solution depends on your specific needs, resources, and expertise. Open-source tools like Falco, Pomerium, and Kubescape offer great value for teams with limited budgets but require a solid understanding of Kubernetes security. On the other hand, comprehensive platforms like Aqua Security, Twistlock, and Calico Enterprise provide robust features at a higher cost, making them suitable for larger organizations with complex security requirements. By carefully evaluating the pros, cons, and pricing of each solution, you can secure your Kubernetes clusters effectively while balancing cost and functionality.