Kyverno
UnclaimedUnified Policy as Code for Kubernetes and beyond, simplified with YAML and CEL.
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Uses familiar YAML and CEL, reducing the learning curve for Kubernetes users.
Biggest con
Requires familiarity with Kubernetes concepts for effective policy creation.
TL;DR - Kyverno
- Enforces policies across Kubernetes and other infrastructure using YAML and CEL.
- Provides validation, mutation, generation, and cleanup of Kubernetes resources.
- Designed for ease of adoption with Kubernetes-native types and minimal learning curve.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is Kyverno?
Kyverno is an open-source policy engine designed to secure, automate, and operate infrastructure and applications using Policy as Code. It allows users to define policies in YAML and CEL (Common Expression Language), integrating seamlessly into existing Kubernetes workflows. Initially built for Kubernetes, Kyverno's capabilities extend to validating Terraform plans, Dockerfiles, and authorizing HTTP/Envoy requests, making it a versatile tool for policy enforcement across various environments.
This tool is ideal for platform engineers, DevOps teams, and security professionals who need to enforce best practices, security policies, and compliance requirements in their Kubernetes clusters and other infrastructure. By providing capabilities like resource validation, mutation, generation, and cleanup, Kyverno helps standardize configurations, automate tasks, and reduce the need for complex custom controllers, ultimately improving operational efficiency and security posture.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Uses familiar YAML and CEL, reducing the learning curve for Kubernetes users.
- Kubernetes-native design integrates seamlessly with existing workflows.
- Comprehensive capabilities including validation, mutation, generation, and cleanup.
- High performance and security due to CEL's pre-compilation and sandboxed execution.
- Extensive policy library and rich documentation for easy adoption.
Cons
- Requires familiarity with Kubernetes concepts for effective policy creation.
- While extending beyond Kubernetes, its core strength and primary focus remain Kubernetes.
- Comparison with other tools might require understanding specific nuances of each policy engine.
Key Features
YAML & CEL based policy languageKubernetes resource validationKubernetes resource mutationKubernetes resource generationKubernetes resource cleanupContainer image verification (Sigstore Cosign & Notary)Runtime controlsShift-left and CI/CD integration
Pricing
Free
Kyverno is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
Reviews
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Kyverno FAQ
How does Kyverno help enforce security policies in Kubernetes environments?
Kyverno enforces security policies by allowing users to define rules in YAML and CEL for resource validation, mutation, generation, and cleanup. This integration into Kubernetes workflows helps standardize configurations and automate tasks, enhancing the overall security posture of clusters.
Which teams benefit most from using Kyverno?
Kyverno is ideal for platform engineers, DevOps teams, and security professionals. These teams can leverage its capabilities to enforce best practices, security policies, and compliance requirements across their Kubernetes clusters and other infrastructure.
How does Kyverno compare to Terraform for policy enforcement?
While Terraform focuses on infrastructure provisioning, Kyverno specializes in policy enforcement, including validating Terraform plans. Kyverno's core strength lies in its Kubernetes-native design and comprehensive policy capabilities like validation, mutation, and generation within the cluster.
What kind of limitations should users consider when adopting Kyverno?
Users should be aware that effective policy creation in Kyverno requires familiarity with Kubernetes concepts. Although it extends beyond Kubernetes, its primary focus and core strength remain within the Kubernetes ecosystem.
Does Kyverno include a free tier?
Kyverno is free to use, as it is an open-source policy engine. There is no paid plan required to utilize its features for policy as code.
How does Kyverno simplify policy definition for Kubernetes users?
Kyverno simplifies policy definition by utilizing familiar YAML and CEL, which reduces the learning curve for Kubernetes users. This approach allows for seamless integration with existing Kubernetes workflows and leverages a comprehensive policy library.
Can Kyverno be used to validate infrastructure beyond Kubernetes?
Yes, Kyverno's capabilities extend beyond Kubernetes to include validating Terraform plans and Dockerfiles. It can also authorize HTTP/Envoy requests, making it a versatile tool for policy enforcement across various environments.
Source: kyverno.io