Security Guide

NeuVector Container Security

Full lifecycle container security for Kubernetes. Runtime protection, vulnerability scanning, compliance automation, and Layer 7 network security — now fully open-source from SUSE.

100%

Open Source

Layer 7

Container Firewall

<2%

CPU Overhead

Air-Gap

Ready

Overview

What is NeuVector?

NeuVector is the only 100% open-source, full lifecycle container security platform. Acquired by SUSE in 2021 and released under Apache 2.0 license, NeuVector provides runtime protection, network security, vulnerability management, and compliance automation for Kubernetes environments.

Unlike agent-based security tools, NeuVector runs as containers within your Kubernetes cluster. It automatically discovers application behavior, generates network policies, and enforces zero-trust security without requiring application modifications. The Layer 7 container firewall provides deep packet inspection that no other solution offers.

THNKBIG deploys NeuVector for organizations across Austin, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, and nationwide. As a SUSE Rancher partner, we provide integrated NeuVector security for multi-cluster Kubernetes environments.

Capabilities

NeuVector Security Features

Complete container security from build to runtime. Every capability you need to secure Kubernetes workloads.

Runtime Protection

Real-time threat detection and automated response for running containers. NeuVector monitors container behavior and blocks attacks without requiring application changes.

  • Zero-day attack prevention
  • Process and file system monitoring
  • Network threat detection
  • Automated incident response
  • Container quarantine

Network Security

Layer 7 container firewall with deep packet inspection. Automatically discovers application behavior and enforces micro-segmentation policies.

  • Layer 7 container firewall
  • Auto-learned network policies
  • Deep packet inspection
  • East-west traffic visibility
  • Protocol-aware filtering

Vulnerability Management

Continuous scanning of images, registries, and running containers. Integrates into CI/CD pipelines to shift security left.

  • Image vulnerability scanning
  • Registry integration
  • Runtime scanning
  • CI/CD pipeline integration
  • CVE prioritization

Compliance & Audit

Automated compliance checks against CIS benchmarks, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and custom policies. Continuous monitoring with audit-ready reports.

  • CIS Kubernetes benchmarks
  • PCI-DSS compliance
  • HIPAA controls
  • Custom policy engine
  • Audit trail logging

Admission Control

Prevent vulnerable or non-compliant images from deploying. Policy-based admission control integrated with Kubernetes.

  • Image signing verification
  • Vulnerability thresholds
  • License compliance
  • Custom admission rules
  • Registry whitelisting

Data Loss Prevention

Detect and prevent sensitive data exfiltration from containers. Monitor network traffic for PII, credentials, and confidential data.

  • Sensitive data detection
  • Credit card patterns
  • PII identification
  • Custom DLP rules
  • Egress monitoring
Comparisons

NeuVector vs Alternatives

How NeuVector compares to other container security platforms.

NeuVector vs Aqua Security

NeuVector is fully open-source (Apache 2.0) since SUSE acquisition. Lower TCO with no per-node licensing. Native Rancher integration for unified management.

Best for: Organizations seeking open-source security with enterprise support options.

NeuVector vs Sysdig Secure

NeuVector includes Layer 7 container firewall with DPI, which Sysdig lacks. Better runtime protection with automatic network policy generation.

Best for: Environments requiring deep network security and micro-segmentation.

NeuVector vs Prisma Cloud (Twistlock)

NeuVector runs entirely within Kubernetes (no SaaS dependency). Better for air-gapped and regulated environments. More transparent pricing.

Best for: Government, defense, and regulated industries with data residency requirements.

NeuVector vs Falco

NeuVector is a complete platform vs Falco's runtime-only focus. Includes vulnerability scanning, admission control, DLP, and compliance automation.

Best for: Teams needing a unified security platform rather than point solutions.
Deployment

Deployment Options

Deploy NeuVector however fits your infrastructure — standalone, Rancher-integrated, or air-gapped.

Standalone

Deploy NeuVector directly on any Kubernetes cluster. Works with EKS, AKS, GKE, OpenShift, and vanilla Kubernetes.

Steps

  1. 1 Helm chart deployment
  2. 2 Configure scanner
  3. 3 Enable runtime protection
  4. 4 Set network policies

Rancher Integration

Deploy and manage NeuVector through Rancher Manager. Unified security management across all your Rancher-managed clusters.

Steps

  1. 1 Enable in Rancher Apps
  2. 2 Configure per-cluster
  3. 3 Centralized dashboard
  4. 4 Fleet-wide policies

Air-Gapped

Deploy NeuVector in disconnected environments. Pre-package images, vulnerability databases, and updates for offline operation.

Steps

  1. 1 Mirror container images
  2. 2 Offline CVE database
  3. 3 Private registry config
  4. 4 Manual update process
Use Cases

NeuVector by Industry

How organizations in regulated industries use NeuVector for container security.

Financial Services

Challenge

PCI-DSS compliance for containerized payment processing applications.

Solution

NeuVector provides continuous PCI-DSS compliance monitoring, network segmentation for cardholder data environments, and audit-ready reporting for QSA assessments.

Automated compliance reduces audit prep from weeks to hours.

Healthcare

Challenge

HIPAA compliance for containers processing protected health information.

Solution

Runtime protection prevents unauthorized data access. DLP detects PHI in network traffic. Audit logging provides the technical safeguards HIPAA requires.

Continuous HIPAA compliance monitoring with real-time alerts.

Government & Defense

Challenge

STIG compliance and zero-trust security for classified workloads.

Solution

NeuVector runs entirely on-premises in air-gapped environments. Layer 7 firewall enforces zero-trust networking. Supports FIPS-compliant deployments.

ATO-ready security posture for IL-4/IL-5 environments.

Retail & E-Commerce

Challenge

Protect customer data during Black Friday traffic spikes while maintaining performance.

Solution

NeuVector's lightweight runtime protection adds minimal overhead. Auto-scaling security that grows with your application.

Security that scales with demand without performance impact.

FAQ

NeuVector FAQ

NeuVector is a full lifecycle container security platform that provides runtime protection, vulnerability management, compliance automation, and network security for Kubernetes environments. It runs as containers within your cluster, monitoring and protecting workloads in real-time. NeuVector automatically learns application behavior and creates network policies, detects and blocks threats at runtime, scans for vulnerabilities continuously, and ensures compliance with security standards.
Yes. Since SUSE acquired NeuVector in 2021, the entire platform has been open-sourced under the Apache 2.0 license. You can deploy the open-source version for free on any Kubernetes cluster. SUSE also offers NeuVector Prime with enterprise support, SLA guarantees, and additional features for production deployments.
NeuVector differentiates with its Layer 7 container firewall (unique in the market), fully on-premises deployment option (critical for air-gapped environments), open-source licensing, and native Rancher integration. Unlike SaaS-dependent solutions, NeuVector runs entirely within your infrastructure, making it suitable for regulated and disconnected environments.
Yes. NeuVector is designed for disconnected operation. All components run within your Kubernetes cluster with no external dependencies. For vulnerability scanning, you can mirror the CVE database internally and update it through secure file transfer. This makes NeuVector ideal for government, defense, and classified environments.
NeuVector integrates natively with Rancher Manager. You can deploy and manage NeuVector across all Rancher-managed clusters from a single interface. Security policies can be defined at the fleet level and applied consistently across environments. The integration also provides unified RBAC and centralized visibility into security posture across your entire Kubernetes estate.
NeuVector is designed for minimal overhead. The runtime protection components use eBPF for efficient kernel-level monitoring without modifying applications. Typical CPU overhead is less than 2%, and network latency impact is negligible. NeuVector scales horizontally with your cluster and doesn't become a bottleneck during traffic spikes.
Yes. NeuVector includes built-in compliance templates for CIS Kubernetes benchmarks, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, NIST, and SOC 2. It continuously monitors your environment against these standards and generates audit-ready reports. You can also create custom compliance policies for organization-specific requirements.
The fastest way to start is deploying NeuVector via Helm chart on any Kubernetes cluster. For Rancher users, NeuVector is available directly from the Rancher Apps catalog. THNKBIG can help with production deployments, policy configuration, and integration with your existing security tooling. Contact us for a NeuVector assessment.
NeuVector Services

Deploy NeuVector with Expert Support

Our US-based team specializes in NeuVector deployments for regulated industries. From initial deployment to policy configuration and ongoing management, we ensure your Kubernetes security meets compliance requirements.

Talk to a NeuVector Expert
Related

Related Resources

SUSE Rancher Partnership

Rancher multi-cluster management with integrated NeuVector security.

Kubernetes Security Hub

Comprehensive security guidance for Kubernetes environments.

Kubernetes STIG Guide

DISA STIG compliance for federal Kubernetes deployments.

Zero-Trust Security Services

Implement zero-trust architecture with NeuVector and network policies.

Government Kubernetes

FedRAMP and IL-5 compliant Kubernetes with NeuVector security.

Healthcare Kubernetes

HIPAA-compliant container security for healthcare organizations.

Ready to make AI operational?

Whether you're planning GPU infrastructure, stabilizing Kubernetes, or moving AI workloads into production — we'll assess where you are and what it takes to get there.

Schedule an Infrastructure Assessment Call Us Directly

US-based team · All US citizens · Continental United States only