Three levels of isolation for teams or customers sharing EKS: namespaces with quotas and network policies, dedicated node pools, or a cluster each. What each actually isolates (containers share a kernel), what it costs (from nothing to $73 a month per cluster plus duplicated add-ons), and how to choose per tenant rather than per platform.
Namespace per tenant
Shares nodes and the kernel. Fine for internal teams; soft isolation for customers.
Node pool per tenant
Tenants never share a node, so a container escape stays inside one tenant's machines.
Cluster per tenant
The hard boundary. $73 a month per cluster plus duplicated add-ons and operations.
Three isolation levels, from cheapest to strongest
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Internal teams: namespaces, with quotas, default-deny network policies and a cost report per namespace.
Paying customers on a shared product: namespaces for most, a node pool for any that run their own code or hold regulated data.
Enterprise or regulated customers who ask for their own environment: a cluster each, in their own account, built from the same code as everyone else's.
Whatever the level, the tenant ID belongs in every label, log line and cost tag, so isolation can be audited and billed.
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As of November 2, 2026. Provided as is, for general information, and accurate to the best of our knowledge on the date shown. Not legal, compliance, tax, financial or other professional advice. Prices, limits and vendor services change; check current vendor documentation before relying on anything here. Terms of use.