Kubernetes runtime security requires moving beyond static image scanning to active defense of live workloads. Cilium Tetragon, built on eBPF, operates directly inside the Linux kernel to monitor system calls, process execution, network behavior, and file integrity in real time. Key threat vectors covered include container escape, lateral movement, cryptomining, data exfiltration, and supply chain attacks. Tetragon provides kernel-level precision, Kubernetes-aware identity enrichment, and inline enforcement via TracingPolicy CRDs that can kill processes or override syscall return values before an attack completes. The guide also covers process-to-network correlation, DNS exfiltration detection, privilege escalation monitoring via SUID binaries, and compliance use cases for PCI-DSS, SOC 2, NIST 800-190, and CIS Kubernetes Benchmark.
