Octelium

Octelium is an open-source, self-hosted access platform for people, workloads, and AI agents working across applications and hybrid infrastructure. It suits Kubernetes operators who need application-level access policies across varied services. Its breadth is a strong reason to consider it; the requirement to run Kubernetes is a substantial operational commitment.

Overview

Octelium puts protected resources behind identity-aware proxies and evaluates requests with policies at the application layer. That gives teams a way to govern access across SaaS, applications, and hybrid infrastructure in one platform. It reaches beyond conventional remote network access, which makes it a better fit for organizations with varied services and identities than for teams seeking only a straightforward business VPN.

Deployment runs on Kubernetes. A quick installer can provision a single-node Cluster on a fresh Linux server or VM, while larger deployments can use managed or on-premises multi-node Kubernetes. The installer provides a practical route to evaluation, but production use still calls for Kubernetes operations.

Key features

The protocol range includes HTTP, gRPC, web applications, SSH, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, MySQL, RDP, DNS, SOCKS5, TCP, UDP, MCP, and LLM modes. That coverage can bring application, database, infrastructure, and AI access into a shared policy model. Organizations with a narrow access need may find the breadth unnecessary relative to the work of running the platform.

Human identity integrations support OIDC and SAML 2.0 providers including Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Keycloak, and Auth0, as well as GitHub OAuth2. Native authentication includes FIDO2 and WebAuthn passkeys, TPM 2.0, and TOTP. This mix gives teams several ways to connect existing identity systems and authenticate users.

Octelium stores upstream credentials as Cluster Secrets and injects them after authorization. Users and workloads therefore do not need to carry those credentials, a useful separation for access to protected services.

Its MCP gateway can authorize tool calls and their arguments, while the LLM gateway can enforce model and token limits and record token usage. These controls make Octelium relevant to teams governing AI access alongside conventional services, rather than adding a separate policy layer only for AI tools.

OpenTelemetry-based, layer-7-aware logs and metrics can capture request details, database queries, Kubernetes operations, and SSH session recordings. Enterprise telemetry integrations include Datadog, Splunk, Elastic, Grafana, ClickHouse, Kafka, Prometheus, Azure Monitor, and Logz.io. Octelium says its identity-aware application auditing can provide access evidence for SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001, and internal security controls; that evidence can support compliance work, though it does not itself establish compliance.

Pricing

Free and open source: free, self-hosted, and free forever for personal and evaluation use. This is the route for individuals and teams assessing the platform. Its stated use is personal and evaluation, so organizations needing commercial rights should consider the Enterprise package.

Enterprise package: custom pricing, billed by contacting Octelium. It includes a commercial license, premium support, and enterprise features: a web console, SCIM 2.0 provisioning, encrypted Secret management, just-in-time access, multi-region Clusters, and managed upgrades. This package is aimed at organizations that need those capabilities and commercial licensing; it carries a quote-based buying process.

Platforms

Octelium supports API, Linux, web, and self-hosted deployments, with a hybrid deployment model and both inline and API-based controls. Kubernetes is the runtime foundation: a single-node Cluster can run on a fresh Linux VM or server, while larger installations can use managed or on-premises multi-node Kubernetes. Teams without Kubernetes capacity should weigh that requirement before choosing it.

Who it's for

Octelium is a strong candidate for Kubernetes-running organizations that need policy-based access for people, workloads, and AI agents across multiple protocols. Its secret injection, identity options, and detailed access telemetry are especially relevant where teams need to control credentials and understand activity at the application layer.

It is less compelling for a small team with a single, conventional remote-access requirement or for an organization unable to operate Kubernetes. The free plan supports personal and evaluation use; teams moving into commercial use should account for the Enterprise package.

Pros and cons

• Broad service coverage: Support for web, databases, infrastructure protocols, and MCP/LLM modes can reduce the need for separate access policy layers.
• Credentials stay out of users' hands: Cluster Secrets are injected after authorization, so users and workloads need not hold upstream credentials.
• Detailed activity visibility: Layer-7 logs and metrics include database, Kubernetes, and SSH activity, with integrations for a range of telemetry platforms.
• Kubernetes is required: Even the single-node installer provisions a Kubernetes Cluster, adding an operational prerequisite that may rule it out for some teams.
• Commercial use requires Enterprise: The free plan is for personal and evaluation use; commercial licensing and premium support are in the custom-priced package.

Alternatives

Cloudflare Access is a practical alternative for organizations wanting a freemium option with a free plan under 50 users and a listed Pay-as-you-go plan at $7 a month. Its broader platform support also spans mobile and desktop operating systems, while Octelium centers on self-hosted Kubernetes access and a wide protocol set.

Dope Security CASB Neural may suit teams prioritizing a paid secure web gateway with on-device SSL inspection, URL filtering, cloud app controls, anti-malware, and Shadow IT discovery for Mac and Windows. Octelium is the more relevant fit when the goal is identity-aware access to infrastructure and applications across many protocols.

Airtel Business Connect is another paid option to compare for business connectivity. Netskope One CASB and Versa Cloud Access Security Broker are paid CASB alternatives. Check Point Harmony SASE offers a 30-day trial before a license is required. Fortra ZTNA is a paid option with demo and quote requests. Netskope One Private Access is a paid enterprise product with a free trial. These are alternatives to compare when their product category or platform coverage better matches a team's requirements.

Readers comparing the broader categories can also browse Cloud Access Security Broker Software and Business VPN Software.

Verdict

Choose Octelium if your organization already runs Kubernetes and needs one application-layer policy platform for human, workload, and AI access across varied services. Its strongest case is the combination of protocol breadth, secret injection, and detailed auditing. Look elsewhere if Kubernetes is outside your operating model, or if you need a commercial license and support without moving to a custom-priced Enterprise package.