Secure Kubernetes Without Secrets

Eliminate static credentials with just in time workload identity.

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60% of K8s breaches caused by mismanaged secrets, 40%+ of K8s environments embed cleartext cloud keys in containers

Challenges

Kubernetes delivers speed, but its default identity model creates risk.

  • Secrets sprawl across YAML, Config files, and vaults.
  • Workloads depend on service account (bearer) tokens that, once stolen, can be replayed.
  • Cluster components rely on brittle certificates and manual PKI processes.
  • Admins use Kubernetes credentials that linger on laptops and repos.

Even in managed clusters, the problem persists. Credentials are scattered, long-lived, and difficult to rotate. One leaked secret can give attackers persistence, lateral movement, and control which can turn Kubernetes’ velocity into a security liability.

Defakto eliminates secrets, not scale

The answer isn’t better vaults or faster rotation. What’s missing is an identity-first foundation. Security needs proof and visibility, while platform teams need an approach that won’t slow down delivery.

Defakto closes this gap by extending modern identity into Kubernetes. Instead of patching together secret managers and error-prone manual processes, Defakto provides a single trust model across applications, pods, services, clusters, and even service meshes. The result: Kubernetes enables rapid innovation at enterprise scale, with the resilience and guardrails required for security and compliance — while extending trust seamlessly across cloud-native, bare-metal, and traditional on-prem systems.

Defakto Kubernetes difference

The Defakto difference in Kubernetes

Defakto issues short-lived attested cryptographic identities at runtime, so workloads authenticate securely without static tokens or manual PKI. Access is scoped to purpose, enforced by policy, and revoked when no longer needed. With Defakto, organizations can:

  • Stop secrets sprawl
    No database or API credentials stored in files or environment variables for attackers to exploit
  • Eliminate Vaults
    Eliminate operational complexity.
  • Eliminate error-prone PKI processes
    No tickets, CSRs, or manual certificate handling; lifecycle is fully automated
  • Unify identity everywhere
    One consistent control plane spans clusters, clouds, and service meshes (like Istio)
  • Close the door on whole classes of attacks
    By removing static credentials, Defakto eliminates the risk thread actors count on

Kubernetes enables speed and scale. With Defakto, security keeps pace.

Capabilities

Defakto’s Non-Human IAM Platform capabilities for Kubernetes

Workload identity per pod

Every workload, pod or container gets its own short-lived, verifiable identity. Services authenticate each other over mutual TLS, ensuring that only known workloads can connect.

Dynamic workload attestation

Identities are issued after verifying application context like namespace, labels, and node identity.

Automated credentials lifecycle

Certificates and credentials are issued, rotated automatically, closing exposure gaps.

Granular, policy-first access control

Least privilege enforced at the workload level with identity, not tokens or IP addresses.

Multi-cluster and hybrid trust

Identity is unified across multiple clusters and clouds allowing workloads to authenticate across boundaries with consistent trust domains.

Built-in observability

Every identity and access decision is logged and auditable.

Business Outcomes

What you get when Kubernetes stops using secrets

When Kubernetes stops relying on secrets, risk goes down, compliance gets easier, and every workload aligns with your Zero Trust strategy.

Shrink cluster attack surface

No static secrets means nothing for attackers to steal. Reduced breach risk.

Eliminate the secret rotation treadmill

Never run a manual secret rotation campaign again.

Boost reliability and uptime

Automated certificate rotation prevents outages keeping clusters resilient at scale.

Bridge the gap between security and platform teams

Security gets control and visibility; developers run faster without credential friction.

Accelerate Zero Trust in Kubernetes

Identity-first security brings Kubernetes into alignment with enterprise Zero Trust strategies.

Eliminate credential debt

No more static secrets or overprivileged admin credentials reducing burden for engineering teams.

Simplify compliance and audit

Every action is auditable, making compliance and regulatory reporting available in real time.