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Related: IBM’s definition of observability
This data spans infrastructure layers, workloads, and communication patterns across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Traditionally, performance-focused engineering teams have relied on one set of observability tools, while security teams have used another. The result is a divide in tooling and perspective, where performance optimization and threat detection are treated as separate disciplines.
Kernel-level programmability is beginning to bridge that gap. A technology called eBPF now makes it possible to capture security-relevant signals directly from inside the operating system, in real time. With this, observability becomes more than a tool for performance tuning; it becomes a frontline source of security intelligence.
Legacy signals fall short
Logs, metrics, and traces have long been the core pillars of observability. Logs are event records used by SIEM platforms. Metrics are numerical time series that power APM tools. Traces follow request paths across services. Each offers value, but when it comes to detecting threats as they happen, they fall short.
Most analysis happens after an event has occurred. Even when a suspicious pattern emerges, the available data is often delayed or incomplete. Runtime visibility from application or kernel logs helps, but not always enough to catch fast-moving threats. To stay ahead, teams need signals that surface closer to the point of execution.
Lewis
That’s where a new class of telemetry comes in: security significant events. These are real-time indicators of malicious or risky behavior originating from the kernel or network layers. Unlike traditional observability data, these signals arrive at the exact moment of execution and often carry enough context to stand on their own.
Examples include an unexpected process launching inside a container, a privilege escalation attempt, or unusual pod-to-pod communication. They also capture scenarios like an unprivileged container reading sensitive files or a kernel module loading unexpectedly. These are precise, actionable signals that give security teams visibility into what would otherwise be invisible.
eBPF—a game-changer
Kapuscinska
Before eBPF, capturing this kind of insight was technically possible, but practically unworkable. Kernel and network tracing tools could generate data, but the volume was enormous and unfiltered. Valuable signals were buried in noise, and the performance overhead was too great for production use. Organizations were forced to choose between depth and feasibility.
eBPF changes that equation. It instruments the kernel safely and on demand. Instead of flooding systems with raw data, eBPF filters, enriches, and aggregates at the source. It can tie network and process-level activity into a single, relevant signal. This reduces the data volume dramatically while preserving context.
Crucially, eBPF achieves this without altering kernel source code or requiring invasive modules. It runs safely and efficiently, making it feasible to deploy continuous monitoring even in production environments. Security teams gain visibility without sacrificing performance.
What emerges is a new foundation: a convergence of kernel-level telemetry and network visibility. The best implementations are transparent to workloads, requiring no code changes, and work equally well across Kubernetes, bare-metal, and VM environments.
From telemetry to action
To be effective, enriched kernel signals need to integrate with existing telemetry pipelines. These signals should flow into metrics systems, log platforms, and tracing backends without requiring major tooling changes. Observability that operates at the right layer of the stack can catch events before they’re exploited, reducing evasion windows and detection delays.
Security operations benefit across the board. By adopting eBPF-powered observability, organizations reduce the need for complex post-incident correlation. Detection becomes faster, triage more focused, and response more confident. Instead of stitching together clues after the fact, teams can act on trustworthy signals in real time.
Real-time observability isn’t just a performance booster anymore—it’s becoming essential infrastructure for modern security.
About the essayists: Dean Lewis is Senior Technical Marketing Engineer and Anna Kapuscinska is Software Engineer at Isovalent, a Mountain View, Calif.-based provider of cloud-native networking and security tools.
The post GUEST ESSAY: Observability is no longer passive — it’s now a real-time driver of security action first appeared on The Last Watchdog.
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