cloud-security

Workload Identity

Definition

Workload identity provides cloud-native mechanisms for workloads (pods, VMs, functions) to authenticate to cloud services using their platform-assigned identity rather than long-lived credentials. GCP Workload Identity Federation allows Kubernetes pods to impersonate GCP service accounts via OIDC token exchange.

Workload identity eliminates the most common cloud credential management anti-pattern of storing service account keys as Kubernetes secrets or environment variables.

Related Terms

IRSA

IAM Roles for Service Accounts

Managed Identity

Managed Identity (Azure)

SPIFFE

Secure Production Identity Framework for Everyone

← Back to Glossary

Ship secure code faster

Crash Override integrates security into the developer workflow. No context switching, no waiting on reviews.

Talk to a Human See the Product