implementing-kubernetes-network-policy-with-calico

name	implementing-kubernetes-network-policy-with-calico
description	Implement Kubernetes network segmentation using Calico NetworkPolicy and GlobalNetworkPolicy for zero-trust pod-to-pod communication.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	container-security
tags	["calico","kubernetes","network-policy","network-segmentation","zero-trust","cni"]
version	1.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["PR.PS-01","PR.IR-01","ID.AM-08","DE.CM-01"]

Implementing Kubernetes Network Policy with Calico

Overview

Calico is an open-source CNI plugin that provides fine-grained network policy enforcement for Kubernetes clusters. It implements the full Kubernetes NetworkPolicy API and extends it with Calico-specific GlobalNetworkPolicy, supporting policy ordering, deny rules, and service-account-based selectors.

When to Use

• When deploying or configuring implementing kubernetes network policy with calico capabilities in your environment
• When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
• When building or improving security architecture for this domain
• When conducting security assessments that require this implementation

Prerequisites

• Kubernetes cluster (v1.24+)
• Calico CNI installed (v3.26+)
• kubectl and calicoctl CLI tools
• Cluster admin RBAC permissions

Installing Calico

Operator-based Installation (Recommended)

# Install the Tigera operator
kubectl create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/projectcalico/calico/v3.27.0/manifests/tigera-operator.yaml

# Install Calico custom resources
kubectl create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/projectcalico/calico/v3.27.0/manifests/custom-resources.yaml

# Verify installation
kubectl get pods -n calico-system
watch kubectl get pods -n calico-system

# Install calicoctl
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/projectcalico/calico/v3.27.0/manifests/calicoctl.yaml

Verify Calico is Running

# Check Calico pods
kubectl get pods -n calico-system

# Check Calico node status
kubectl exec -n calico-system calicoctl -- calicoctl node status

# Check IP pools
kubectl exec -n calico-system calicoctl -- calicoctl get ippool -o wide

Kubernetes NetworkPolicy

Default Deny All Traffic

# deny-all-ingress.yaml
apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1
kind: NetworkPolicy
metadata:
  name: 
   

   {}
  
     



 
 

   
   

   {}