What is EBPF Security?

Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) isn’t an agent. And it doesn’t exactly function like one, either. What is it? What does it do, and what security gaps does it close that agents can’t? What about performance? We’re breaking down what eBPF security includes, but then going deeper into visibility tradeoffs, operational overhead, and compliance concerns that teams must consider alongside this “kernel superpower.”

Back to Basics: What is eBPF Security?

Let’s start with eBPF itself. This kernel-based technology isn’t new. In fact, Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) has been around since the 1990s filtering network packets in Linux. Originally designed for packet capture in tools like tcpdump, eBPF allowed for lightweight inspection of network traffic. But that’s all it did.

In 2014, developers introduced an extension that supported custom, sandboxed programs to run safely in the Linux kernel, turning eBPF into what’s often called a “universal in-kernel virtual machine.” In other words, eBPF could now execute verified, isolated programs securely in the kernel so they can’t crash or compromise the operating system.

When did eBPF security emerge? eBPF’s functionality has expanded far beyond network filtering. Today, eBPF technology is useful for tasks like:  

• Monitoring system calls
• Managing memory
• Enforcing security policies

eBPF security includes the tools and approaches to cybersecurity that leverage eBPF technology for threat detection, policy enforcement, and attack prevention. 

What is eBPF?	What is eBPF Security?
Kernel-level technology for Linux	Security solution powered by eBPF
Runs sandboxed programs in the kernel	Detects, blocks, and responds to threats in real time
Focuses on performance, networking	Focuses on visibility, threat detection, and compliance
Requires custom development	Pre-built security platforms leverage its power
System observability & telemetry	Full-stack security with active policy enforcement

As the landscape of organizational computing changes, eBPF security has emerged as a next-generation solution. eBPF’s deep system visibility and real-time detection capabilities make it exceptionally well-suited for protecting modern ephemeral, containerized, and cloud-native workloads running on platforms like Kubernetes. 

Core Pillars of eBPF Security

eBPF Security extends eBPF into a comprehensive security solution by integrating system-wide visibility, real-time threat detection, security policy enforcement, and minimal performance overhead. After all, running without agents minimizes system impact and avoids data duplication and context switching, making eBPF security a lightweight solution with extraordinary power.

Deep Visibility

eBPF runs directly in the Linux kernel while collecting data from system events like file access, process execution, and network traffic without requiring additional agents. That creates full-stack observability across workloads, containers, and cloud infrastructure.

That allows for:

• Monitoring container lifecycle events in Kubernetes
• Tracking all system calls to detect suspicious patterns
• Inspecting live network traffic for policy enforcement

Real-time Threat Detection

eBPF runs sandboxed programs in the kernel for real-time detection and response to malicious behavior. Suspicious activities like privilege escalations, container escapes, and unauthorized process executions can trigger immediate alerts or be blocked automatically.

That allows for:

• Blocking unapproved processes from launching.
• Detecting container escapes during runtime.
• Enforcing zero-trust network policies at the kernel level.

Tech Specs: How eBPF Delivers Better Visibility and Threat Detection

eBPF attaches small, sandboxed programs to specific hooks within the Linux kernel, such as system calls, tracepoints, kprobes (kernel probes), or network sockets. These hooks allow eBPF to intercept and analyze events at a granular level as they happen.

Once attached, eBPF programs run in a sandboxed environment. First, eBPF programs are verified by the kernel to ensure they cannot crash the system or compromise its stability. Further, eBPF programs operate within their own memory space, preventing interference with other kernel processes.

eBPF’s primary power happens through its integration with kernel subsystems:

1. System Calls: eBPF tracks and filters specific system calls, such as execve for process creation for real-time detection of suspicious activity.
2. Networking: eBPF captures and processes network packets so it can enforce policies or inspect traffic at the kernel level without copying data to user space.
3. Performance Monitoring: eBPF optimizes system performance with minimal overhead by accessing kernel performance counters directly.

By running directly in the kernel, eBPF eliminates the need for context switching (moving data between user space and kernel space), making it extremely lightweight and efficient compared to traditional methods. It’s this technical architecture that has allowed eBPF to deliver deeper observability and more precise enforcement.

System Monitoring with Agents vs eBPF

Visibility and threat detection are critical, but organizations can achieve both with agents — software components installed on computers, servers, or containers to monitor, collect, and report on system activity. So what’s the difference between the two?

Agents are software loaded into systems to perform their work. They work in user space, consuming resources like memory, CPU, and disk I/O, and they communicate with a central server. They’re heavier compared to sensors with more generalized tasks.

Because they’re outside the kernel, agents’ real-time visibility into kernel-space activities can be limited. Further, agents present compatibility issues in different environments, from virtual machines to bare metal, complicating management.

Let’s break it down, including a third option: sidecars. Sidecars are commonly used in Kubernetes environments and run as separate containers within a pod. Sidecars provide features like service monitoring, security policies, and logging. However, they’re limited to the application they are paired with, making them less comprehensive than agents or eBPF.

	eBPF	Agents	Sidecars
Where it Runs	Kernel space (inside the OS kernel)	User space (outside the OS kernel)	Alongside services as a container or microservice
How it Works	Runs inside the OS kernel, monitoring system-level events directly	Installs as software on each host; requests OS data	Deploys alongside application containers, intercepting data and requests
Data Access Level	Full system access, including system calls, processes, and network traffic	Limited to what the operating system (OS) allows; can miss deeper events	Limited to the application or service it runs alongside
Installation	Built into the Linux kernel; no installation needed	Requires manual installation per system	Installed per container or service in Kubernetes
Use Cases	Security enforcement, real-time monitoring, observability	Security monitoring, endpoint protection	Service-to-service security, monitoring, and proxying

If both agents and eBPF security have benefits, why not use both eBPF and agents? And what about eBPF in non-Linux environments?

With complex architectures, organizations might be tempted to use agents or employ both technologies. However, workloads on Windows or other operating systems can still leverage real-time security monitoring through integrations or platforms that adopt eBPF’s lightweight, in-kernel approach. For instance:

• Cloud provider integrations: Direct connections to platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Azure allow for real-time monitoring of Windows-based workloads through cloud-native APIs. They provide telemetry, event data, and policy enforcement without kernel-level tools.
• Agentless integrations:  Security platforms can collect runtime metrics, cloud telemetry, and event logs without requiring installed agents or custom eBPF integrations.
• Orchestrator-level monitoring: Kubernetes clusters, whether running on Linux or Windows nodes, can be monitored using Kubernetes’ built-in telemetry and orchestration data.
• Event-driven security: Event APIs allow continuous tracking of critical system events from file access to process creation, providing near real-time security insights.

While eBPF delivers kernel-level visibility in Linux, its influence has extended into non-Linux environments through technologies inspired by eBPF. Organizations can adopt these complementary tools to actualize cross-platform security while keeping the unique advantages of eBPF and without deploying both.

Besides, new challenges emerge for those looking to combine agents and eBPF:

1. Performance Overhead

Running both eBPF and agents can increase CPU, memory, and storage consumption because eBPF already provides lightweight, in-kernel monitoring. Agents add additional system resource use, especially when collecting logs or running frequent scans.

2. Management Complexity

Combining two monitoring layers adds deployment and operational complexity, like installation and maintenance. Agents require updates, configuration management, and compatibility checks, and some tools may duplicate policies like process monitoring unless carefully tuned.

3. Redundant Data Collection

Running both eBPF and agents can mean duplicate event data, creating event dashboards flooded with redundant logs. It all leads to higher storage costs keeping this unnecessary data in the cloud.

4. Security Risks from Agents

While eBPF runs inside the kernel in a sandboxed environment, agents introduce additional attack surfaces. Agents running with high privileges can become attractive targets for malware or system compromise. Incorrect agent configurations can also expose sensitive data or weaken system defenses.

In the end, agents can be useful tools for those with largely Windows workloads, in mixed OS environments, or with compliance mandates requiring detailed app-level logs. Custom enterprise applications may also depend on agents for historical data retention and specialized monitoring. Yet, for other organizations, eBPF offers more comprehensive visibility while using fewer resources.

Compliance and eBPF Security

Traditional compliance tools often rely on agents and manual log management, which can leave gaps in monitoring or expose critical data to tampering. eBPF-powered security changes the game by capturing system-level events directly within the Linux kernel. That gives teams a view from within, along with tamper-proof logs and automated policy enforcement.

Here are compliance use cases that align with an approach that relies on eBPF.

Kernel-Level Audit Logs

eBPF can capture system-level events like file access, process execution, and system calls in real time. That capability is critical for audits involving system integrity or insider threat detection. Use eBPF to meet these system-level monitoring requirements for standards like ISO 27001, PCI DSS, or NIST 800-53.

Real-Time Data Collection

Since eBPF collects telemetry in real time, it supports continuous compliance monitoring without delays. That makes it more difficult to miss critical events. Financial services companies might use eBPF for 24/7 monitoring of sensitive transactions to comply with SOC 2 or GDPR.

Minimal Data Tampering Risk

Because eBPF runs inside the Linux kernel, it’s hard for attackers to bypass or tamper with monitoring. That reduces the risk of undetected breaches, helping meet compliance requirements for audit trails and incident response, and might benefit companies like those in healthcare who must comply with HIPAA and keep immutable system logs.

Built-In Security Controls

eBPF supports policy enforcement by allowing tools to block unauthorized processes or traffic in real time. That goes beyond passive logging. It’s useful for organizations who need to block unauthorized access to payment processing systems for PCI DSS compliance.

eBPF isn’t just an improvement over traditional compliance tools. It fundamentally shifts how organizations approach compliance, embedding monitoring and enforcement directly into the operating system. Unlike user-space agents, which can be resource-intensive and prone to tampering, eBPF leverages the Linux kernel to ensure a lightweight, secure, and granular view of system activity. And that depth allows organizations to implement proactive compliance, where risks are mitigated before violations occur.

On a technical level, eBPF’s programmability allows security teams to create customized policies that align with specific compliance requirements, such as blocking unauthorized file modifications. This flexibility also makes eBPF future-proof, as it can adapt to new compliance standards or evolving threats without architectural overhauls.

For businesses operating in high-stakes industries, like finance, healthcare, or retail, eBPF offers a unique advantage: it can meet compliance mandates as well as improve security posture. That’s not only a more efficient way to check compliance boxes, but a foundational technology for reducing risk, streamlining audits, and building trust in systems that demand integrity at every level.

Upwind Makes it Simpler to Deploy eBPF

eBPF shifts the security paradigm. However, implementing eBPF can be complex, requiring deep Linux expertise and significant development effort. Upwind simplifies eBPF adoption while maintaining the full power of eBPF’s kernel-level observability. With runtime security, contextual analysis, and proactive compliance enforcement, Upwind delivers eBPF’s benefits with minimal operational overhead. 

Whether monitoring Kubernetes workloads, protecting containerized applications, or ensuring compliance, Upwind gives companies the tools to leverage eBPF. Want to see how? Schedule a demo.

FAQ

How does eBPF work with cloud-native services like AWS and Azure?

While eBPF itself is Linux-specific, many security platforms, like Upwind’s comprehensive CNAPP, integrate cloud APIs from providers like AWS or Google with cloud control plane data alongside eBPF telemetry for unified, end-to-end security monitoring across environments.  

Cloud API integrations provide key insights beyond Linux workloads by collecting:

• Cloud service events: Instance launches, security group changes, and access logs.
• IAM activity: API usage and identity access patterns.
• Container orchestration events: Kubernetes pod lifecycle events and configuration changes.

With multiple data streams, monitoring is extended beyond Linus-only environments and helps detect both system-level threats (via eBPF) and cloud-specific risks.

What’s the difference between eBPF and agentless security?

Agentless security collects data from cloud APIs without installing software on workloads. eBPF goes deeper. It inspects kernel-level system events directly from the OS, for better visibility. 

Agentless security covers cloud control plane events. It uses external APIs, cloud management consoles, and hypervisors, and ultimately relies on cloud service providers like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for event logs, telemetry, and runtime data. With eBPF there’s no need to rely on external sources. Real-time visibility comes from the operating system instead.

Workloads running in Linux already benefit from the visibility and threat detection afforded by eBPF. But other workloads, even if running in the same cloud, like AWS, need more protection. Agentless security extends security to cloud resources running on other operating systems.

Is eBPF vulnerable to attacks?

eBPF runs inside the kernel with strict verification and isolation, so it’s difficult for attackers to tamper with or disable it. That’s a core differentiator from agent security, which expands an organization’s attack surface.

Can eBPF help with compliance reporting?

Yes. eBPF offers multiple tasks that help with reporting. It can:

• Capture system-level audit logs
• Enforce policies
• Provide observability and monitoring 

All of these capabilities are required by frameworks like NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS.