Kyverno

C
C tier on Infrastructure Policy as Code ToolsScore 6.9 · #9 of 24
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
api, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows
kyverno.io
The Kyverno homepage

Summary

Kyverno is a free, open-source policy engine designed for Kubernetes. It lets platform engineering teams define and enforce policy as code: stable policy types can validate, mutate, generate, or delete resources, and verify container image signatures and attestations. The Kyverno CLI can test policies against Kubernetes resource manifests in CI pipelines before resources are applied to a live cluster. Documentation describes use with Helm, YAML manifests, GitHub Actions, and GitOps tools such as ArgoCD. Kyverno is installed in a Kubernetes cluster; Helm is recommended for production deployments, while YAML manifests are also available. A standard installation requires an admission controller, with background, reports, and cleanup controllers optional. Production installations should use high availability mode. Kyverno supports CEL-based policy types and describes applying Kubernetes-style policies beyond Kubernetes as part of its mission. The project documents Cosign signatures for container images and manifests, and lists CLI binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Kyverno’s resource webhooks default to fail-closed, so matching requests can fail if the API server cannot reach Kyverno.

Who it is for

Kyverno is intended for platform engineering teams managing security, compliance, automation, and governance through policy as code. It suits teams working with Kubernetes clusters and policy checks in CI pipelines.

What is good

  • Free and open source
  • Can validate, mutate, generate, or delete resources
  • CLI tests policies against manifests in CI
  • Works with Helm, YAML, and GitOps tools

What to know first

  • Requires installation in a Kubernetes cluster
  • Production deployments should use high availability mode
  • Fail-closed webhooks can block matching requests if Kyverno is unreachable
  • Legacy ClusterPolicy and CleanupPolicy types are deprecated

Verdict

Kyverno provides Kubernetes-native policy enforcement and pre-deployment testing, with support for several deployment and GitOps workflows. Teams should account for its cluster requirement and fail-closed webhook behavior when planning operations.

Kyverno plans and pricing

All plans
Kyverno Free Open-source project · Apache License 2.0 github.com · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on infrastructure policy as code tools

Kubernetes security
Yeskyverno.io
Admission control
Yeskyverno.io
Deployment model
self_hostedkyverno.io

Facts

Purpose
Kyverno is a Kubernetes-native policy engine for defining and enforcing policy as code.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Policy language
Kyverno supports CEL-based policy types and describes applying Kubernetes-style policies outside Kubernetes as part of its mission.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Policy actions
Its stable policy types can validate, mutate, generate, and delete resources, and verify container image signatures and attestations.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
CI testing
The Kyverno CLI can test policies in CI pipelines against Kubernetes resource manifests before they are applied to a live cluster.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Integrations
The documentation describes using Kyverno with Helm, YAML manifests, GitHub Actions, and GitOps tools such as ArgoCD.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Deployment
Kyverno is installed in a Kubernetes cluster, with Helm recommended for production deployments and YAML manifests also available.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Availability
A standard installation has a required admission controller and optional background, reports, and cleanup controllers; production installations should use high availability mode.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Security
Kyverno’s documentation describes Cosign signatures for container images and manifests and lists release artifacts including CLI binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Security review
The project documents a 2023 third-party security audit and security assessments conducted as part of its CNCF graduation process.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Operational consideration
Kyverno’s resource webhooks default to fail-closed, so matching resource requests can fail when the API server cannot reach Kyverno.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Legacy policy limit
The documentation marks legacy ClusterPolicy and CleanupPolicy types deprecated in v1.19 and says they are scheduled for removal in v1.20.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Support
The project directs users to its Kubernetes Slack channels, GitHub, and mailing list for questions and discussion.kyverno.io · 4 Oct 2026
Intended users
The project describes Kyverno as designed for platform engineering teams and enabling security, compliance, automation, and governance through policy as code.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
Project status
The CNCF lists Kyverno as a Graduated project, with graduation recorded in March 2026.cncf.io · 4 Oct 2026

Company

Founded
2019kyverno.io · 28 Sept 2026

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