Secure Service-to-Service Communication in Kubernetes
By default, Kubernetes services communicate in plaintext. Any pod on the network can intercept traffic between services. NetworkPolicies restrict which pods can communicate, but they do not encrypt traffic or verify identity.
The Three Layers of Secure Communication
Identity (SPIFFE/SPIRE): Every service gets a cryptographic certificate proving who it is
Encryption (mTLS): All traffic is encrypted and both sides verify each other
Authorization (OPA): Policies control which services can access which endpoints
This page is a focused entry point into the larger course. Use it to understand the vocabulary, the production problem, and the first practical module to open next.
Read the overview to map the concept to real engineering work.
Follow the linked module for exercises, diagrams, and implementation details.
Return to the full curriculum when you need adjacent topics and a complete learning path.