Set up App and API Protection for PHP in Kubernetes

Docs > Datadog Security > App and API Protection > Enabling App and API Protection > Enabling App and API Protection for PHP > Set up App and API Protection for PHP in Kubernetes

You can enable App and API Protection for PHP services with the following setup options:

If your PHP service already has APM tracing set up and running, then skip to service configuration
If your PHP service doesn't have APM tracing set up, you can easily enable App and API Protection with Datadog's Automatic Installation
Otherwise, keep reading the following manual setup instructions

Overview

App and API Protection leverages the Datadog PHP library to monitor and secure your PHP service. The library integrates seamlessly with your existing application without requiring code changes.

For detailed compatibility information, including supported PHP versions, frameworks, and deployment environments, see PHP Compatibility Requirements.

This guide explains how to set up App and API Protection (AAP) for PHP applications. The setup involves:

Installing the Datadog Agent
Enabling App and API Protection monitoring
Running your PHP application with the Datadog Agent
Verifying the setup

Prerequisites

Kubernetes cluster
PHP application containerized with Docker
kubectl configured to access your cluster
Helm (recommended for Agent installation)
Your Datadog API key
Datadog PHP tracing library (see version requirements)

1. Installing the Datadog Agent

Install the Datadog Agent by following the setup instructions for Kubernetes.

2. Enabling App and API Protection monitoring

Automatically enabling App and API Protection through Remote Configuration

You can enable remote configuration on your services dashboard. Simply check the box for the service you want to enable App and API Protection for under "Activate on your APM services".

Manually enabling App and API Protection monitoring

Install the Datadog PHP tracing library using an init container or in your application’s Dockerfile:

RUN curl -LO https://github.com/DataDog/dd-trace-php/releases/latest/download/datadog-setup.php
RUN php datadog-setup.php --php-bin=all

Configure and run your service with Datadog:

APM Tracing Enabled

Start your PHP application with App and API Protection enabled using environment variables:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: your-php-app
spec:
  template:
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: your-php-app
        image: <CONTAINER_IMAGE>/<TAG>
        env:
        - name: DD_APPSEC_ENABLED
          value: "true"
        - name: DD_SERVICE
          value: "<MY_SERVICE>"
        - name: DD_ENV
          value: "<MY_ENV>"

APM Tracing Disabled

To disable APM tracing while keeping App and API Protection enabled, you must set the APM tracing variable to false.

Start your PHP application with App and API Protection enabled using environment variables:

apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
  name: your-php-app
spec:
  template:
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: your-php-app
        image: <CONTAINER_IMAGE>/<TAG>
        env:
        - name: DD_APPSEC_ENABLED
          value: "true"
        - name: DD_APM_TRACING_ENABLED
          value: "false"
        - name: DD_SERVICE
          value: "<MY_SERVICE>"
        - name: DD_ENV
          value: "<MY_ENV>"