Kubernetes has become an enterprise’s go-to platform for orchestrating and managing container workloads for cloud-native software. As more organizations adopt it and cloud-native software scales and becomes more complex, the need for container security is high. Kubernetes and container workloads have become a prime enterprise attack surface—67% of organizations delayed or slowed down deployment due to Kubernetes security concerns.
There are numerous choices for container security. What sets Check Point CloudGuard apart? Its unique two-axes defense-in-depth approach scans, protects, and detects across an enterprise’s entire container environment. Think of it like this: one axis spans the software development lifecycle (SDLC), while the other deploys interlocking protection and detection engines throughout the runtime stack.
In this blog, we explore the distinct ways that Check Point CloudGuard aligns with enterprise needs to tackle today’s container security challenges.
3 differentiators of Check Point CloudGuard:
- Powerful runtime protection
Most tools provide minimum runtime security by observing the workload and container runtime environment, or logs to detect and mitigate threats. Check Point CloudGuard takes runtime protection a step further by offering a broader platform approach with runtime detectors covering the entire runtime stack, including:
- CloudGuard Network Security NGFW provides IPS, DLP, and threat extraction and emulation services at network layers 3 and 4
- Cloud Workload Protection Runtime-Module delivers advanced eBPF-based scans of kernel processes and network calls. Continuous monitoring by Kubernetes Security Posture Management (KSPM) ensures adherence to frameworks and regulations
- Cloud Detection and Response continuously monitors Kubernetes logs and cross-correlates them with MITRE ATT&CK TTPs and indicators of compromise (IoCs) from Check Point ThreatCloud AI to spot events that might indicate an attack is taking place
- The Web Application and API Firewall (WAF), which does not rely on signatures, is the only WAF in the world known to have stopped devastating zero-days like Log4Shell, MoveIt, and Fluent Bit before they were publicly disclosed
- Multi-layered shift-left
While the tools and modules above emphasize runtime (i.e., shift-right security and breach prevention), shifting security left is invaluable for reducing the attack surface and the number of alerts encountered by security practitioners. However, most shift-left tools focus on specific points pre-deployment; Check Point, on the other hand, integrates security into every stage of the SDLC “left” of runtime, ensuring multi-layered risk prevention stretching all the way from developer’s machines through git repos and registries to admission controllers. Importantly, this is achieved by independent modules employing different types of scans at different levels of the stack and in distinct phases of development and deployment, namely:
- Code Security scans K8s and container services configuration files, serving software and DevOps engineers by extending shift-left scans from the developer’s machine to the CI/CD toolchain. This reduces the volume and severity of vulnerabilities while keeping security practitioners apprised of findings and remediation efforts
- Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) Shift-Left is designed for DevOps and DevSecOps. It scans node, cluster, and container configurations and content from git repos through registries and onwards to admission (when requests are executed)
- A KSPM module helps security and compliance experts by scanning clusters, nodes, and image configuration before, during, and after deployment
- Tools tailored to every role
According to insights from the Check Point 2024 Cloud Security Report, over time, many CISO organizations have relinquished control of cloud security to DevOps and developer teams. The move has led to a loss of oversight and visibility, resulting in significant frustration for CISOs. Check Point addresses this issue with security tools built for CISOs but designed for the stakeholders in charge of each component at every stage along the SDLC.
Furthermore, Check Point’s breach prevention engines extend the period engineers have to address issues found in production (e.g., a misconfigured cluster, malware-infected container, etc.).
For example, suppose the security practitioner gets an alert that a container image contains a vulnerable version of Fluent Bit. In that case, CloudGuard might suggest deploying its WAF as a countermeasure until engineers address the issue at the source. This ensures engineers have enough time to address the issue thoroughly and run adequately robust tests while keeping the organization safe from any exploitation attempt of the vulnerable Fluent Bit without disrupting business operations. Importantly, the CISO’s control does not stop there, as CloudGuard provides detailed reports regarding the progress of the remediation by engineers leveraging its cross-SDLC visibility – from the developer’s machine to admission.
As reliance on Kubernetes continues to evolve, enterprises can no longer rely on inflexible security tools that don’t keep up with the modern threats to their cloud ecosystem. Check Point CloudGuard’s Container Security platform isn’t just another cloud security platform. It offers a complete security solution to protect Kubernetes workloads across all clouds and at every stage of an enterprise’s development lifecycle.
Read our whitepaper, Consolidating Kubernetes, Container, and Cloud Security with Check Point CloudGuard.