Cilium
eBPF-based Kubernetes CNI that delivers networking, observability, L3-L7 network policy, and identity-based security for container workloads.
Technical Architecture & Overview
Cilium is an open-source networking, observability, and security solution with an eBPF-based data plane for Kubernetes and cloud-native workloads. It provides a CNI, identity-aware network policy, Layer 7 protocol awareness, and transparent encryption.
Targeted Technical Use Cases
Securing and observing Kubernetes network traffic with identity-based policies and eBPF.
Evaluation & Trade-offs
Core Strengths
- +High-performance eBPF networking and policy enforcement.
- +Identity-based security decoupled from IP addressing.
- +Observability through Hubble with flow logs and service maps.
Trade-Offs & Limitations
- -Requires modern Linux kernels and eBPF support.
- -Advanced features such as cluster mesh and service mesh add operational complexity.
Defensive Security Application
Enforcing least-privilege network policies, encrypting pod traffic, and monitoring east-west traffic in Kubernetes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cilium?→
Cilium is an open-source networking, observability, and security solution with an eBPF-based data plane for Kubernetes and cloud-native workloads. It provides a CNI, identity-aware network policy, Layer 7 protocol awareness, and transparent encryption.
What is Cilium used for?→
Securing and observing Kubernetes network traffic with identity-based policies and eBPF.
What are the strengths of Cilium?→
- +High-performance eBPF networking and policy enforcement.
- +Identity-based security decoupled from IP addressing.
- +Observability through Hubble with flow logs and service maps.
What are the limitations of Cilium?→
- +Requires modern Linux kernels and eBPF support.
- +Advanced features such as cluster mesh and service mesh add operational complexity.
How is Cilium used defensively?→
Enforcing least-privilege network policies, encrypting pod traffic, and monitoring east-west traffic in Kubernetes.