Description: Kubernetes Service Accounts are special entities that provide a unique identity for processes running within a pod. These accounts allow pods to authenticate and authorize themselves to interact with the Kubernetes API and other resources within the cluster. Each service account is associated with an access token that is automatically mounted into the pod, facilitating secure communication between system components. Additionally, service accounts can be configured with specific roles and permissions, allowing the principle of least privilege to be applied, which is essential in a Zero Trust security approach. This means that each process or application only has access to the resources it truly needs, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access. Service accounts are fundamental for managing security in cloud-native environments, where multiple applications may interact with each other and with other cloud services. Proper use of service accounts is key to maintaining data integrity and confidentiality in a Kubernetes environment, especially in distributed architectures and in the cloud.
