NHI Forum
Read the full blog here: https://goteleport.com/blog/internal-service-certificates-with-workload-identity/?utm_source=nhimg.org
Securing internal communication between services has become a necessity in modern cloud infrastructure. Teleport Workload Identity offers a powerful way to establish mutual TLS (mTLS) using short-lived X.509 certificates—ensuring secure authentication and encryption for machines, services, and workloads.
Why TLS & Workload Identity Matter
TLS (Transport Layer Security) encrypts traffic between services. But TLS alone isn't enough—mTLS adds identity verification on both sides, ensuring only verified workloads can talk to each other.
The problem? Managing certificates for thousands of services is complex. Static secrets, manual certificate rotation, and weak authentication introduce risk.
Teleport Workload Identity automates certificate provisioning and renewal, powered by a secure internal Certificate Authority (CA).
How Teleport Workload Identity Works
Teleport's solution automates secure identity provisioning without long-lived credentials.
Key Components:
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Bots: Represent workload identities
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tbot agent: Installs near your services to fetch certificates
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Teleport Cluster: Issues short-lived X.509 certificates
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RBAC: Enforces strict access control
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SPIFFE/SVID: Provides open standards for identity compatibility
Audit Logging & Visibility
Teleport provides full audit logs for:
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Bot joins
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Certificate issuance events (SVID)
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Identity details and usage context
Logs can be exported to SIEM platforms for real-time monitoring and incident response.
Benefits of Using Teleport Workload Identity
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Zero long-lived secrets
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Automatic certificate rotation
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Full audit logs
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Platform-native authentication
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SPIFFE compatible (SVIDs, trust bundles)
Final Thoughts
Teleport Workload Identity enables secure, scalable mTLS between your services—across any environment. It’s a modern solution to an old problem: establishing trust without sacrificing agility.