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Ensure Kubernetes Engine uses HTTP load balancing

HTTP/HTTPS load balancing provides global load balancing for HTTP/HTTPS requests destined for your cluster. Enabling HTTP/HTTPS load balancers will let the Kubernetes Engine to terminate unauthorized HTTP/HTTPS requests and make better context-aware load balancing decisions.

Category

Controls

Medium

Applies to

Google Cloud

Coverage

null controls, 1 queries

Asset types

1 covered

Overview

HTTP/HTTPS load balancing provides global load balancing for HTTP/HTTPS requests destined for your cluster. Enabling HTTP/HTTPS load balancers will let the Kubernetes Engine to terminate unauthorized HTTP/HTTPS requests and make better context-aware load balancing decisions.

Remediation guidance

Before you proceed to enable HTTP load balancing, consult with your team to find out why it is disabled (it is enabled by default)

.1. Login to GCP Portal 2. Go to Kubernetes Engine (Left Panel) 3. Select Kubernetes clusters 4. From the list of clusters, choose the reported cluster 5. Click on EDIT button 6. Set 'HTTP load balancing' to Enabled 7. Click on Save

Multiple Remediation Paths

Google Cloud

SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Enforce Organization Policies at org/folder level so new resources inherit secure defaults.

gcloud org-policies set-policy policy.yaml

ASSET-LEVEL: Use the product-specific remediation steps above for only the impacted project/resources.

PREVENTIVE: Use org policy constraints/custom constraints and enforce checks in deployment pipelines.

References for Service-Wide Patterns

  • GCP Organization Policy overview: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/organization-policy/overview
  • GCP Organization policy constraints catalog: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/organization-policy/org-policy-constraints
  • gcloud org-policies: https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/org-policies

Operational Rollout Workflow

Use this sequence to reduce risk and avoid repeated drift.

1. Contain at Service-Wide Scope First (Recommended)

  • Google Cloud: apply organization policy constraints at org/folder scope.
gcloud org-policies set-policy policy.yaml

2. Remediate Existing Affected Assets

  • Execute the control-specific Console/CLI steps documented above for each flagged resource.
  • Prioritize internet-exposed and production assets first.

3. Validate and Prevent Recurrence

  • Re-scan after each remediation batch.
  • Track exceptions with owner and expiry date.
  • Add preventive checks in IaC/CI pipelines.

Query logic

These are the stored checks tied to this control.

Kubernetes Engine uses HTTP load balancing

Connectors

Google Cloud

Covered asset types

Cluster

Expected check: eq []

{gkeClusters(where:{httpLoadBalancingEnabled:false}){...AssetFragment}}
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