AccuKnox Open Source Hours

AccuKnox OpenSource Office Hours: Deep Dive into KubeArmor and System Policy Enforcement

In the evolving world of Kubernetes and cloud-native security, runtime protection is often overlooked in favor of network-level defenses. But threats like supply chain attacks and container compromise don’t always arrive through the front door. That’s why AccuKnox is opening up its expertise to the community through Open Source Office Hours—a dedicated session focused on system policy enforcement using KubeArmor, a powerful open source security solution.

KubeArmor is a Linux Security Module (LSM)-based policy enforcement engine built specifically for Kubernetes. During the Office Hours, the AccuKnox team dives into what sets KubeArmor apart in the security landscape, how it works, and why system policy enforcement is a must-have for modern container environments. Whether you’re new to Kubernetes security or looking to strengthen runtime protections, this session offers a valuable deep dive into a cutting-edge open source tool designed for scalable, declarative policy enforcement.

What Are System Policies, and Why Do They Matter?

To kick things off, the session clarifies what system policies are. System policies govern what a container or pod can do from the perspective of the host system—such as which processes it can spawn, which files it can access, or which kernel capabilities it can use. These granular controls go beyond network policies and are essential for defending against non-network-based threats, such as compromised container images or insider attacks.

The need for this type of security is clear: if an attacker gets inside a container through a tainted image, traditional network defenses are irrelevant. KubeArmor provides visibility and control at the system level, enforcing policies in real-time to stop malicious behavior where it happens.

KubeArmor: The Open Source Answer to Kubernetes Runtime Security

KubeArmor is unique because it applies LSMs like AppArmor or SELinux inside Kubernetes pods, rather than just at the host level. This approach brings traditional Linux security primitives into the Kubernetes domain—allowing users to specify runtime behavior for each pod using declarative YAML policies.

Unlike pod security policies (PSPs), which act as admission controllers at deployment time, KubeArmor enforces policies at runtime, monitoring what processes and file paths a pod can use and immediately acting on violations. It also overcomes limitations of tools like Seccomp, which only allow static profiles that can’t be changed after a container starts.

Most importantly, KubeArmor is open source, making it accessible, transparent, and community-driven. The AccuKnox team walks attendees through how to install KubeArmor, apply sample policies, and receive real-time telemetry alerts on policy violations—empowering users to gain runtime visibility and enforcement without complex setup or vendor lock-in.

Comparing with Other Kubernetes Security Tools

The Office Hours also highlights how KubeArmor differs from existing solutions. While tools like Falco and Tracee offer observability and detection via eBPF, they often stop at alerting and don’t provide enforcement. KubeArmor complements these solutions by taking action based on defined policies, preventing violations in real time.

It also addresses common limitations of AppArmor and SELinux: their policy syntax is hard to master, they aren’t stackable, and they lack fine-grained pod-level control in Kubernetes. KubeArmor solves these pain points by abstracting policy definitions into user-friendly YAML configurations that are applied per pod.

Bridging the Gap Between Observability and Protection

Another key takeaway is that runtime security isn’t just about monitoring—it’s about proactive control. KubeArmor bridges the gap by integrating observability (via telemetry and alerts) with active protection (via system call filtering and file access control). This makes it a vital part of achieving compliance and defense-in-depth in Kubernetes environments.

Join the Open Source Movement

With KubeArmor, AccuKnox is driving a shift toward practical, powerful, and accessible open source runtime protection. The Open Source Office Hours not only showcase the tool’s capabilities but also foster collaboration with the broader Kubernetes and security community.

If you’re building secure Kubernetes workloads and want to learn how to implement system-level controls effectively, the AccuKnox Open Source Office Hours are a great starting point.