OpenSec Atlas

typhoon: An Open Source Tool for Container Security | OpenSec Atlas

Container Security

Tool

typhoon

Typhoon is a minimal, free, and privacy-respecting Kubernetes distribution designed for declarative infrastructure provisioning with Terraform.

Visit Website View on GitHub

About This Tool

Minimal and free Kubernetes distribution with Terraform

Primary Use Case

Typhoon is used to deploy and manage stable Kubernetes clusters across various platforms using Terraform modules, making it ideal for labs, datacenters, and cloud environments. It targets users who want a minimal Kubernetes setup with upstream compatibility and advanced customization features without vendor lock-in or cost.

Key Features

Upstream Kubernetes v1.33.1 distribution
Supports single or multi-master clusters
Networking options with Cilium or Flannel
On-cluster etcd with TLS and RBAC enabled
SELinux enforcing and network policy support
Advanced features like worker pools, preemptible workers, and customization snippets
Terraform modules for multiple platforms and OSes (Fedora CoreOS, Flatcar Linux)
Ready for common Kubernetes addons like Ingress, Prometheus, and Grafana

Insights & Recommendations

Typhoon emphasizes upstream Kubernetes compatibility and privacy, making it suitable for users who prefer minimal, vendor-neutral Kubernetes setups. It requires familiarity with Terraform and Kubernetes cluster management. Some platform modules are in alpha or beta status, so users should verify stability for production use.

Installation

Choose your platform and operating system from supported options (e.g., AWS Fedora CoreOS, Bare-Metal Flatcar Linux)
Clone the Typhoon repository or navigate to the relevant Terraform module directory
Configure your Terraform variables and cluster settings as per your environment
Run 'terraform init' to initialize the Terraform working directory
Run 'terraform apply' to provision the Kubernetes cluster
Access and manage your Kubernetes cluster using standard kubectl commands

Usage

terraform init

Initializes the Terraform working directory for the selected Typhoon module

terraform apply

Applies the Terraform configuration to provision the Kubernetes cluster

Smart Usage Notes

Leverage Typhoon's Terraform modules to automate secure Kubernetes cluster provisioning with hardened configurations to reduce attack surface.Integrate Typhoon with continuous compliance tools to detect drift from secure baselines in infrastructure as code deployments.Use Typhoon clusters as isolated environments for blue team training and purple team exercises simulating real-world Kubernetes attack scenarios.Combine Typhoon with runtime security tools (e.g., Falco, Cilium) to enhance detection and response capabilities in container environments.Adopt Typhoon for labs and testing to validate cloud-native security controls and policies before production rollout.