Where is role-based access control applied in Azure Kubernetes Service?

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a critical feature in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) that helps manage who can access specific resources and what actions they can perform within the Kubernetes environment. Applying RBAC at the cluster level allows for a centralized management mechanism, enabling administrators to define roles and permissions for users, groups, or service accounts.

When RBAC is implemented at the cluster level, it governs access across all namespaces and resources within the cluster, ensuring consistent security practices are in place. This level of access control is essential in environments where multiple teams may be working within the same Kubernetes cluster, as it allows for the segregation of duties and the enforcement of least privilege principles.

Managing access at the cluster level provides flexibility and control to define user roles that can operate at different scopes, including permissions for specific resources like pods, deployments, and namespaces, without the need to repeat configurations for each segment. Therefore, this comprehensive approach to access control greatly enhances the security and governance of services running in Azure Kubernetes Service.