---
title: Understanding cluster compliance
exercise: 5
date: '2024-10-23'
tags: ['openshift','compliance','nist','rhacs']
draft: false
authors: ['default']
summary: "Let's apply an industry benchmark!"
---

The first two days of the consulting engagement at ACME have whirled by. You're working remotely today for day three and are pairing up with Melissa from the banks compliance squad.

On the agenda today is to harden the `prd-acme-hub` cluster by understanding and remediating compliance against the [NIST 800-53 benchmark](https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-53r5.pdf).

The bank must comply with this specific benchmark to meet the requirements of their regulation legislation known as APRA (ACME Penny Regulation Act, 1998).

![meeting](/static/images/security/meeting.png)


## 5.1 Installing the compliance operator

You’re got an upcoming Microsoft Skype for Business™ video call with Melissa in 30 minutes to show her how compliant the cluster is currently.

Time to quickly get the OpenShift Compliance Operator installed and run a scan via Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security. Better hurry!

As with last time, to limit PTSD induced panic attacks among the ACME  platform team the operator must be set to update mode `Manual`.

Documentation you may find helpful is:

- https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/openshift_container_platform/4.16/html/security_and_compliance/compliance-operator#installing-compliance-operator-web-console_compliance-operator-installation


## 5.2 Scheduling a compliance scan

Operator installed it's time to join the virtual meeting with Melissa and step her through how to run a compliance scan against NIST 800-53 and visualise results using the Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security Dashboard.

Create a new scan schedule named `prd-acme-hub-nist-daily` targeting the appropriate benchmarks.

<Zoom>
|![compliance report](/static/images/security/report.png)                       | 
|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------:|
| *Viewing a compliance report in Red Hat Advanced Cluster Security*            |
</Zoom>

Documentation you may find helpful is:

- https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/red_hat_advanced_cluster_security_for_kubernetes/4.5/html/operating/managing-compliance#scheduling-compliance-scans-and-assessing-profile-compliance


## 5.3 Remediating a compliance issue

Scan finished you begin stepping through Melissa the individual results.

## 5.4 - Check your work

If you've successfully run the compliance scan and remediated the compliance issue please post an issue in `#event-anz-ocp-security-hackathon` with the message:

> Please review [team name] solution for exercise 5, our payments processor application is now unhackable.

**WARNING: The hackathon team will perform a brief penetration test of the application. If your application is not actually secured and remains exploitable by the log4shell vulnerability one of your OpenShift cluster nodes will be deleted for the lulz. No pressure!**

This exercise is worth `25` points. The event team will reply in slack to confirm your updated team total score 🎉 

![safe](/static/images/security/hack-prevented.png)