This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of cloud-native architectures, exploring the various components and the unique security challenges they present. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of cloud-native design, including microservices, containerization, and orchestration. They will also learn about the shared responsibility model in cloud environments and the specific security controls and best practices required to mitigate risks.

In this chapter, students will delve into the world of automated penetration testing tools and frameworks specifically tailored for cloud-native environments. They will explore a wide range of open-source and commercial solutions, such as Falco, Trivy, and Guardrails, and understand how to leverage these tools to streamline the testing process. Students will learn to evaluate the capabilities of these tools, how to integrate them into their security workflows, and how to interpret the results to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities.

This chapter focuses on the integration and orchestration of various security tools and services to create a seamless and efficient cloud-native penetration testing workflow. Students will learn how to leverage automation and scripting to streamline the testing process, from initial reconnaissance and vulnerability scanning to exploitation and reporting. They will also explore the use of infrastructure-as-code (IaC) and pipeline-as-code (PaC) approaches to ensure the reproducibility and consistency of their testing efforts.

In this chapter, students will delve into the practical aspects of exploiting vulnerabilities in cloud-native environments. They will learn how to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities, craft targeted attacks, and demonstrate the real-world impact of these vulnerabilities. Through hands-on exercises and case studies, students will gain the skills to simulate realistic attack scenarios and understand the potential consequences of unaddressed security issues.

The final chapter of the course focuses on the effective communication of cloud-native penetration testing findings to various stakeholders, including technical and non-technical audiences. Students will learn how to present the results of their testing in a clear and concise manner, highlighting the significance of identified vulnerabilities and providing actionable recommendations for remediation. They will also explore strategies for collaborating with development and operations teams to ensure that security considerations are seamlessly integrated into the cloud-native development lifecycle.