diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
index c2583626c4..3103719899 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ jobs:
               - 'scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness.sh'
               # Stages exact admission and pull-time signer routes before the
               # compatibility-image workloads consume them.
-              - 'scripts/tests/test-coroot-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh'
+              - 'scripts/tests/test-compatibility-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh'
               # The trigger-set test for the liveness WORKFLOW (listed above), so a
               # PR that edits only the test still runs it.
               - 'scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness-workflow.sh'
@@ -2550,11 +2550,11 @@ jobs:
           bash scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness.sh
           bash scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness-workflow.sh
 
-      - name: 🔏 Validate Coroot compatibility-image verifier prerequisite
+      - name: 🔏 Validate compatibility-image verifier prerequisites
         if: needs.changes.outputs.k8s == 'true'
         run: |
-          shellcheck scripts/tests/test-coroot-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
-          bash scripts/tests/test-coroot-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
+          shellcheck scripts/tests/test-compatibility-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
+          bash scripts/tests/test-compatibility-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
 
       - name: 🔏 Validate image-signature enforcement probe
         if: needs.changes.outputs.k8s == 'true'
diff --git a/k8s/bases/infrastructure/cluster-policies/best-practices/verify-app-images.yaml b/k8s/bases/infrastructure/cluster-policies/best-practices/verify-app-images.yaml
index b482b931d6..f1ef57ad13 100644
--- a/k8s/bases/infrastructure/cluster-policies/best-practices/verify-app-images.yaml
+++ b/k8s/bases/infrastructure/cluster-policies/best-practices/verify-app-images.yaml
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ metadata:
       publish-app for app images, the platform's dedicated compatibility-image
       publishers, each Crossplane provider's own package workflow, KSail's
       publish-ksail-analysis-runner.yaml workflow, the mail bootstrap publisher,
-      the dedicated customer identity publisher, the source-built Dex
-      publisher, and KSail's release workflow.
+      the dedicated customer identity, Dex and Longhorn migration publishers,
+      and KSail's release workflow.
       Each class is verified only against its own identity;
       third-party images admit unverified.
 spec:
@@ -112,6 +112,18 @@ spec:
           identities:
             - issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
               subjectRegExp: ^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-coroot-checkpoint-hotfix\.yaml@refs/heads/main$
+    - name: publishlonghornretirement
+      cosign:
+        keyless:
+          identities:
+            - issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
+              subjectRegExp: ^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v1-retirement\.yaml@refs/heads/main$
+    - name: publishlonghornv2
+      cosign:
+        keyless:
+          identities:
+            - issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
+              subjectRegExp: ^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v2-only\.yaml@refs/heads/main$
     # The reports-controller repair is signed only by its dedicated publisher.
     - name: publishkyvernoreports
       cosign:
@@ -235,6 +247,12 @@ spec:
           image != 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-dex' &&
           !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-dex:') &&
           !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-dex@') &&
+          image != 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager' &&
+          !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager:') &&
+          !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager@') &&
+          image != 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager' &&
+          !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager:') &&
+          !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager@') &&
           image != 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kubescape-storage' &&
           !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kubescape-storage:') &&
           !image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kubescape-storage@') &&
@@ -348,6 +366,28 @@ spec:
       message: >-
         Coroot node-agent compatibility image is not signed by the platform
         repository's dedicated main-branch publisher (keyless cosign)
+    - expression: |-
+        (images.containers + images.initContainers + images.ephemeralContainers)
+        .filter(image,
+          image == 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager' ||
+          image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager:') ||
+          image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager@'))
+        .map(image, verifyImageSignatures(image, [attestors.publishlonghornretirement]))
+        .all(e, e > 0)
+      message: >-
+        The Longhorn V1 retirement image must be signed by its dedicated
+        main-branch publisher.
+    - expression: |-
+        (images.containers + images.initContainers + images.ephemeralContainers)
+        .filter(image,
+          image == 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager' ||
+          image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager:') ||
+          image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager@'))
+        .map(image, verifyImageSignatures(image, [attestors.publishlonghornv2]))
+        .all(e, e > 0)
+      message: >-
+        The Longhorn V2-only manager image must be signed by its dedicated
+        main-branch publisher.
     - expression: |-
         (images.containers + images.initContainers + images.ephemeralContainers)
         .filter(image,
diff --git a/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-binding-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml b/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-binding-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..97dc4bf4ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-binding-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+apiVersion: admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1
+kind: MutatingAdmissionPolicyBinding
+metadata:
+  name: longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime
+spec:
+  policyName: longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime
+  matchResources:
+    matchPolicy: Exact
+    namespaceSelector:
+      matchLabels:
+        kubernetes.io/metadata.name: longhorn-system
diff --git a/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml b/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25fc425b99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+---
+apiVersion: admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1
+kind: MutatingAdmissionPolicy
+metadata:
+  name: longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime
+spec:
+  failurePolicy: Fail
+  reinvocationPolicy: IfNeeded
+  matchConstraints:
+    matchPolicy: Exact
+    resourceRules:
+      - apiGroups: [""]
+        apiVersions: [v1]
+        operations: [CREATE]
+        resources: [pods]
+        scope: Namespaced
+  matchConditions:
+    - name: longhorn-controller
+      expression: |-
+        request.namespace == 'longhorn-system' &&
+        request.userInfo.username == 'system:serviceaccount:longhorn-system:longhorn-service-account' &&
+        object.metadata.namespace == request.namespace &&
+        object.spec.serviceAccountName == 'longhorn-service-account'
+    - name: native-v1-manager
+      expression: |-
+        has(object.metadata.labels) &&
+        object.metadata.name.matches('^instance-manager-[a-f0-9]{32}$') &&
+        'longhorn.io/component' in object.metadata.labels &&
+        object.metadata.labels['longhorn.io/component'] == 'instance-manager' &&
+        'longhorn.io/instance-manager-type' in object.metadata.labels &&
+        object.metadata.labels['longhorn.io/instance-manager-type'] == 'aio' &&
+        'longhorn.io/data-engine' in object.metadata.labels &&
+        object.metadata.labels['longhorn.io/data-engine'] == 'v1' &&
+        'longhorn.io/managed-by' in object.metadata.labels &&
+        object.metadata.labels['longhorn.io/managed-by'] == 'longhorn-manager'
+    - name: instance-manager-owner
+      expression: |-
+        has(object.metadata.ownerReferences) &&
+        size(object.metadata.ownerReferences) == 1 &&
+        object.metadata.ownerReferences.all(owner,
+          owner.apiVersion == 'longhorn.io/v1beta2' &&
+          owner.kind == 'InstanceManager' &&
+          owner.name == object.metadata.name &&
+          owner.uid.matches('^[a-f0-9]{8}-[a-f0-9]{4}-[a-f0-9]{4}-[a-f0-9]{4}-[a-f0-9]{12}$') &&
+          has(owner.controller) && owner.controller)
+    - name: approved-privileged-container
+      expression: |-
+        object.spec.restartPolicy == 'Never' &&
+        (!has(object.spec.initContainers) || size(object.spec.initContainers) == 0) &&
+        size(object.spec.containers) == 1 &&
+        object.spec.containers.all(container,
+          container.name == 'instance-manager' &&
+          container.image == 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager:v1.13.0-retirement.1-725bb1d09517c84f8b73ff2c0cf175421df351f1-1@sha256:93cfc83d8bab91f9b6fbffe20bf9bdaca28e877d91d7b740cae003bf6853059f' &&
+          has(container.securityContext) &&
+          has(container.securityContext.privileged) && container.securityContext.privileged &&
+          !has(container.securityContext.runAsUser) && !has(container.securityContext.runAsGroup) &&
+          (!has(container.securityContext.runAsNonRoot) || !container.securityContext.runAsNonRoot))
+    - name: no-pod-identity-override
+      expression: |-
+        !has(object.spec.securityContext) ||
+        (!has(object.spec.securityContext.runAsUser) && !has(object.spec.securityContext.runAsGroup) &&
+         (!has(object.spec.securityContext.runAsNonRoot) || !object.spec.securityContext.runAsNonRoot))
+  mutations:
+    - patchType: JSONPatch
+      jsonPatch:
+        expression: |-
+          [
+            JSONPatch{op: 'add', path: '/spec/containers/0/securityContext/runAsUser', value: 0},
+            JSONPatch{op: 'add', path: '/spec/containers/0/securityContext/runAsGroup', value: 0}
+          ]
diff --git a/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/kustomization.yaml b/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/kustomization.yaml
index ae3920fbb8..7d2082e8c5 100644
--- a/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/kustomization.yaml
+++ b/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/kustomization.yaml
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ resources:
   # runtime-generated DaemonSet. Both are exact and version-coupled (#3931).
   - cluster-policies/remove-longhorn-registrar-prestop.yaml
   - cluster-policies/remove-existing-longhorn-registrar-prestop.yaml
+  # Keep the existing root identity for the exact temporary V1 benchmark runtime.
+  - cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml
+  - cluster-policies/mutating-admission-policy-binding-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml
   # Prod-only: retrofit the two non-privilege C-0211 fields onto the four
   # Longhorn CSI sidecar Deployments that predate the longhorn-system
   # baseline-context opt-in. mutate-existing only -- nothing writes those
diff --git a/scripts/guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh b/scripts/guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh
index 9cc84c1a7f..ff11f9d6f3 100755
--- a/scripts/guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh
+++ b/scripts/guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh
@@ -769,16 +769,18 @@ while IFS=$'\t' read -r file label; do
       refuse "production render $label holds consumer generation or cloning that cannot be accounted for by a static build, so its consumers are UNKNOWN"
   done <<<"$generated"
   # Admit only complete reviewed apiVersion/kind/spec surfaces: the two
-  # HelmRelease defaults (#5357) and the native Gateway peer policy. The latter
-  # changes only physical-peer fields and its ownership marker on one fixed
-  # CiliumEnvoyConfig; neither carries a publication consumer or constructor.
-  # Its complete spec fingerprint includes every scope, variable and patch.
+  # HelmRelease defaults (#5357), the native Gateway peer policy, and the V1
+  # benchmark runtime policy (#5665). The Gateway policy changes peer fields
+  # on one fixed CiliumEnvoyConfig. The benchmark policy sets container UID
+  # and GID only on CREATE of an exact Longhorn Pod shape. Neither kind carries
+  # a publication consumer or constructor. The fingerprint includes every
+  # scope, variable and patch.
   # A larger or changed policy cannot inherit approval from its name or paths.
   # Canonical JSON includes every CEL expression,
   # selector, operation and evaluation field, without whitespace normalization
   # inside strings. An altered expression or added field cannot inherit an
   # approval from the policy's name or its mutation paths. These patches touch
-  # only fixed defaults or Gateway peer fields, never chart values or consumers.
+  # only fixed defaults, Gateway peer fields or a Pod security context.
   if ! yq -o=json -I=0 '.. | select(type == "!!map" and (.kind == "MutatingPolicy" or .kind == "MutatingAdmissionPolicy"))
       | {"apiVersion": .apiVersion, "kind": .kind, "spec": .spec}' "$file" |
     jq -cS . >"$work/reviewed-mutation-candidates.jsonl"; then
@@ -794,7 +796,8 @@ while IFS=$'\t' read -r file label; do
     case "${candidate_digest%% *}" in
       43b7eaf13a1b754ed0449239ce9e337de6881751fd009c738efb46e367524824 | \
         691bf7d05ed9d87ae261f34d51e7cd062d345a6af8f6bb2dcf1ec1aeb3dade17 | \
-        92dc171d2b1e73eec7679ae3f74e806a3fc8472f7ed3445bfca1541c3d27941d)
+        92dc171d2b1e73eec7679ae3f74e806a3fc8472f7ed3445bfca1541c3d27941d | \
+        55d0841bf6699a0cbf7bb40bcf2b154facc2305cae538b9f75b71774651895d3)
         reviewed_cel_surfaces="$(jq -ce --argjson candidate "$candidate" '. + [$candidate]' <<<"$reviewed_cel_surfaces")" ||
           refuse 'could not record the complete reviewed mutation policy'
         ;;
diff --git a/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/go.mod b/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/go.mod
index 59a9307b19..865711dcc6 100644
--- a/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/go.mod
+++ b/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/go.mod
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ require (
 	k8s.io/apimachinery v0.36.4
 	k8s.io/apiserver v0.36.4
 	k8s.io/client-go v0.36.4
+	sigs.k8s.io/yaml v1.6.0
 )
 
 require (
@@ -80,5 +81,4 @@ require (
 	sigs.k8s.io/json v0.0.0-20250730193827-2d320260d730 // indirect
 	sigs.k8s.io/randfill v1.0.0 // indirect
 	sigs.k8s.io/structured-merge-diff/v6 v6.3.3 // indirect
-	sigs.k8s.io/yaml v1.6.0 // indirect
 )
diff --git a/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/runtime_admission_test.go b/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/runtime_admission_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2b90f61970
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/migrate-longhorn-v2/testdata/retirement-fence-proof/runtime_admission_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+package retirementproof_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	registration "k8s.io/api/admissionregistration/v1"
+	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/admission"
+	plugincel "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/admission/plugin/cel"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/admission/plugin/policy/mutating/patch"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/admission/plugin/webhook/matchconditions"
+	celconfig "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/apis/cel"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/authentication/user"
+	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/cel/environment"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/yaml"
+)
+
+const retirementImage = "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager:v1.13.0-retirement.1-725bb1d09517c84f8b73ff2c0cf175421df351f1-1@sha256:93cfc83d8bab91f9b6fbffe20bf9bdaca28e877d91d7b740cae003bf6853059f"
+const longhornCreator = "system:serviceaccount:longhorn-system:longhorn-service-account"
+const retirementPolicyPath = "../../../../k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies/"
+
+func TestNativeRetirementRuntimeAdmission(t *testing.T) {
+	var policy registration.MutatingAdmissionPolicy
+	readRetirementManifest(t, "mutating-admission-policy-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml", &policy)
+	var binding registration.MutatingAdmissionPolicyBinding
+	readRetirementManifest(t, "mutating-admission-policy-binding-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml", &binding)
+	scope := registration.NamespacedScope
+	match := registration.Exact
+	wantMatch := &registration.MatchResources{
+		MatchPolicy: &match,
+		ResourceRules: []registration.NamedRuleWithOperations{{
+			RuleWithOperations: registration.RuleWithOperations{
+				Operations: []registration.OperationType{registration.Create},
+				Rule:       registration.Rule{APIGroups: []string{""}, APIVersions: []string{"v1"}, Resources: []string{"pods"}, Scope: &scope},
+			},
+		}},
+	}
+	wantBindingMatch := &registration.MatchResources{
+		MatchPolicy: &match,
+		NamespaceSelector: &metav1.LabelSelector{
+			MatchLabels: map[string]string{"kubernetes.io/metadata.name": "longhorn-system"},
+		},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(policy.Spec.MatchConstraints, wantMatch) || !reflect.DeepEqual(binding.Spec.MatchResources, wantBindingMatch) ||
+		policy.Name != "longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime" || binding.Name != policy.Name || binding.Spec.PolicyName != policy.Name ||
+		binding.Spec.ParamRef != nil || policy.Spec.FailurePolicy == nil || *policy.Spec.FailurePolicy != registration.Fail ||
+		len(policy.Spec.Mutations) != 1 || policy.Spec.Mutations[0].JSONPatch == nil || len(policy.Spec.MatchConditions) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("deployed admission policy must match only Longhorn Pod creation with fail-closed semantics")
+	}
+	compiler, err := plugincel.NewCompositedCompiler(environment.MustBaseEnvSet(environment.DefaultCompatibilityVersion()))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	expressions := make([]plugincel.ExpressionAccessor, 0, len(policy.Spec.MatchConditions))
+	for _, condition := range policy.Spec.MatchConditions {
+		item := matchconditions.MatchCondition(condition)
+		expressions = append(expressions, &item)
+	}
+	matcher := matchconditions.NewMatcher(compiler.CompileCondition(expressions, plugincel.OptionalVariableDeclarations{}, environment.StoredExpressions),
+		policy.Spec.FailurePolicy, "mutating", "policy", policy.Name)
+	mutation := compiler.CompileMutatingEvaluator(&patch.JSONPatchCondition{Expression: policy.Spec.Mutations[0].JSONPatch.Expression},
+		plugincel.OptionalVariableDeclarations{HasPatchTypes: true}, environment.StoredExpressions)
+
+	for _, test := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		edit    func(*unstructured.Unstructured, *user.DefaultInfo)
+		matches bool
+	}{
+		{"native controller", func(*unstructured.Unstructured, *user.DefaultInfo) {}, true},
+		{"different creator", func(_ *unstructured.Unstructured, u *user.DefaultInfo) { u.Name = "system:admin" }, false},
+		{"different service account", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementPodSpec(p)["serviceAccountName"] = "default"
+		}, false},
+		{"different namespace", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) { p.SetNamespace("other") }, false},
+		{"V2", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			labels := p.GetLabels()
+			labels["longhorn.io/data-engine"] = "v2"
+			p.SetLabels(labels)
+		}, false},
+		{"no labels", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) { p.SetLabels(nil) }, false},
+		{"different image", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementPodContainers(p)[0].(map[string]any)["image"] = retirementImage[:len(retirementImage)-1] + "b"
+		}, false},
+		{"stock image", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementPodContainers(p)[0].(map[string]any)["image"] = "longhornio/longhorn-instance-manager:v1.13.0"
+		}, false},
+		{"extra container", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementPodSpec(p)["containers"] = append(retirementPodContainers(p), map[string]any{"name": "other"})
+		}, false},
+		{"unprivileged", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementContainerSecurity(p)["privileged"] = false
+		}, false},
+		{"explicit container UID", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementContainerSecurity(p)["runAsUser"] = int64(65532)
+		}, false},
+		{"explicit pod group", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementPodSpec(p)["securityContext"].(map[string]any)["runAsGroup"] = int64(65532)
+		}, false},
+		{"nonroot required", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) {
+			retirementPodSpec(p)["securityContext"].(map[string]any)["runAsNonRoot"] = true
+		}, false},
+		{"unpaired owner", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) { p.SetName("instance-manager-other") }, false},
+		{"missing owner", func(p *unstructured.Unstructured, _ *user.DefaultInfo) { p.SetOwnerReferences(nil) }, false},
+	} {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			pod := retirementRuntimePod()
+			creator := &user.DefaultInfo{Name: longhornCreator}
+			test.edit(pod, creator)
+			gvk := schema.GroupVersionKind{Version: "v1", Kind: "Pod"}
+			gvr := schema.GroupVersionResource{Version: "v1", Resource: "pods"}
+			a := admission.NewAttributesRecord(pod, nil, gvk, pod.GetNamespace(), pod.GetName(), gvr, "", admission.Create, &metav1.CreateOptions{}, false, creator)
+			v := &admission.VersionedAttributes{Attributes: a, VersionedKind: gvk, VersionedObject: pod}
+			result := matcher.Match(context.Background(), v, nil, nil)
+			if result.Error != nil || result.Matches != test.matches {
+				t.Fatalf("match = %+v, want %v", result, test.matches)
+			}
+			if !result.Matches {
+				return
+			}
+			out, err := patch.NewJSONPatcher(mutation).Patch(compiler.CreateContext(context.Background()),
+				patch.Request{MatchedResource: gvr, VersionedAttributes: v, ObjectInterfaces: admission.NewObjectInterfacesFromScheme(runtime.NewScheme())},
+				celconfig.RuntimeCELCostBudget)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			patched, ok := out.(*unstructured.Unstructured)
+			if !ok {
+				t.Fatalf("patched object has type %T, want *unstructured.Unstructured", out)
+			}
+			security := retirementContainerSecurity(patched)
+			if security["runAsUser"] != int64(0) || security["runAsGroup"] != int64(0) || security["privileged"] != true || security["seLinuxOptions"] == nil {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected security context: %+v", security)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func readRetirementManifest(t *testing.T, file string, target any) {
+	t.Helper()
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile(retirementPolicyPath + file)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := yaml.UnmarshalStrict(raw, target); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func retirementRuntimePod() *unstructured.Unstructured {
+	const name = "instance-manager-11111111111111111111111111111111"
+	return &unstructured.Unstructured{Object: map[string]any{
+		"apiVersion": "v1",
+		"kind":       "Pod",
+		"metadata": map[string]any{
+			"name": name, "namespace": "longhorn-system",
+			"labels": map[string]any{
+				"longhorn.io/component": "instance-manager", "longhorn.io/data-engine": "v1",
+				"longhorn.io/instance-manager-type": "aio", "longhorn.io/managed-by": "longhorn-manager",
+			},
+			"ownerReferences": []any{map[string]any{
+				"apiVersion": "longhorn.io/v1beta2", "kind": "InstanceManager", "name": name,
+				"uid": "11111111-1111-4111-8111-111111111111", "controller": true,
+			}},
+		},
+		"spec": map[string]any{
+			"serviceAccountName": "longhorn-service-account", "restartPolicy": "Never",
+			"securityContext": map[string]any{"fsGroupChangePolicy": "OnRootMismatch"},
+			"containers": []any{map[string]any{"name": "instance-manager", "image": retirementImage,
+				"securityContext": map[string]any{"privileged": true, "seLinuxOptions": map[string]any{}}}},
+		},
+	}}
+}
+
+func retirementPodSpec(pod *unstructured.Unstructured) map[string]any {
+	return pod.Object["spec"].(map[string]any)
+}
+
+func retirementPodContainers(pod *unstructured.Unstructured) []any {
+	return retirementPodSpec(pod)["containers"].([]any)
+}
+
+func retirementContainerSecurity(pod *unstructured.Unstructured) map[string]any {
+	return retirementPodContainers(pod)[0].(map[string]any)["securityContext"].(map[string]any)
+}
diff --git a/scripts/tests/arc-staging/image_routing_test.go b/scripts/tests/arc-staging/image_routing_test.go
index f0a188fe7b..500178244b 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/arc-staging/image_routing_test.go
+++ b/scripts/tests/arc-staging/image_routing_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ func TestAnalysisImageAdmissionRoutingAndSignerIsolation(t *testing.T) {
 	policy := readYAML(t, "k8s/bases/infrastructure/cluster-policies/best-practices/verify-app-images.yaml")
 	evaluator := newImagePolicyEvaluator(t, policy)
 	identityPublisher := "https://github.com/devantler-tech/business-site/.github/workflows/publish-identity.yaml@refs/heads/main"
+	retirementPublisher := "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v1-retirement.yaml@refs/heads/main"
+	v2Publisher := "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v2-only.yaml@refs/heads/main"
 	tests := []struct {
 		repository, attestor, subject string
 	}{
@@ -33,6 +35,10 @@ func TestAnalysisImageAdmissionRoutingAndSignerIsolation(t *testing.T) {
 		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kubescape-storage", "publishkubescapestorage", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-kubescape-storage-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main"},
 		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kubescape-node-agent", "publishkubescapenodeagent", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-kubescape-node-agent-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main"},
 		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot-node-agent", "publishcorootnodeagent", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-coroot-node-agent-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main"},
+		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager", "publishlonghornretirement", retirementPublisher},
+		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager", "publishlonghornv2", v2Publisher},
+		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager-other", "publishapp", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/actions/.github/workflows/publish-app.yaml@" + strings.Repeat("b", 40)},
+		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager/other", "publishapp", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/actions/.github/workflows/publish-app.yaml@" + strings.Repeat("b", 40)},
 		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot", "publishcorootcheckpoint", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-coroot-checkpoint-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main"},
 		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot-cluster-agent", "publishcorootcheckpoint", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-coroot-checkpoint-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main"},
 		{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot-other", "publishapp", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/actions/.github/workflows/publish-app.yaml@" + strings.Repeat("b", 40)},
@@ -71,6 +77,8 @@ func TestAnalysisImageAdmissionRoutingAndSignerIsolation(t *testing.T) {
 						{"identity pull request ref", strings.Replace(identityPublisher, "refs/heads/main", "refs/pull/1/merge", 1), githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == ""},
 						{"identity lookalike branch", identityPublisher + "-other", githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == ""},
 						{"checkpoint signer", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-coroot-checkpoint-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main", githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == "" || fixture.attestor == "publishcorootcheckpoint"},
+						{"Longhorn retirement signer", retirementPublisher, githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == "" || fixture.attestor == "publishlonghornretirement"},
+						{"Longhorn V2-only signer", v2Publisher, githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == "" || fixture.attestor == "publishlonghornv2"},
 						{"reports signer", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-kyverno-reports-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main", githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == "" || fixture.attestor == "publishkyvernoreports"},
 						{"migrate signer", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-kyverno-migration-runtime.yaml@refs/heads/main", githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == "" || fixture.attestor == "publishkyvernomigrate"},
 						{"background signer", "https://github.com/devantler-tech/platform/.github/workflows/publish-kyverno-background-hotfix.yaml@refs/heads/main", githubIssuer, fixture.attestor == "" || fixture.attestor == "publishkyvernobackground"},
diff --git a/scripts/tests/refresh-flux-ghcr-auth/fake_kubectl_test.go b/scripts/tests/refresh-flux-ghcr-auth/fake_kubectl_test.go
index f1580660d5..ad4678f31b 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/refresh-flux-ghcr-auth/fake_kubectl_test.go
+++ b/scripts/tests/refresh-flux-ghcr-auth/fake_kubectl_test.go
@@ -1203,9 +1203,23 @@ func fakeKubectlPatchConsolidatedImageValidatingPolicy(args []string, patchFile
 	spec, _ := patch["spec"].(map[string]any)
 	webhookConfiguration, _ := spec["webhookConfiguration"].(map[string]any)
 	attestors, _ := spec["attestors"].([]any)
-	if webhookConfiguration["timeoutSeconds"] != float64(30) || len(attestors) != 15 {
+	if webhookConfiguration["timeoutSeconds"] != float64(30) || len(attestors) != 17 {
 		return commandFailure(91, "consolidated image-validating policy patch omitted its timeout or attestors")
 	}
+	longhornPublishers := map[string]struct {
+		repository string
+		subject    string
+	}{
+		"publishlonghornretirement": {
+			repository: "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager",
+			subject:    `^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v1-retirement\.yaml@refs/heads/main$`,
+		},
+		"publishlonghornv2": {
+			repository: "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager",
+			subject:    `^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v2-only\.yaml@refs/heads/main$`,
+		},
+	}
+	longhornAttestors := make(map[string]bool, len(longhornPublishers))
 	storageAttestorValid := false
 	kubescapeNodeAgentAttestorValid := false
 	corootNodeAgentAttestorValid := false
@@ -1221,7 +1235,8 @@ func fakeKubectlPatchConsolidatedImageValidatingPolicy(args []string, patchFile
 	for _, rawAttestor := range attestors {
 		attestor, _ := rawAttestor.(map[string]any)
 		name, _ := attestor["name"].(string)
-		if name != "publishkubescapestorage" && name != "publishkubescapenodeagent" && name != "publishcorootnodeagent" && name != "publishcorootcheckpoint" && name != "publishkyvernoreports" && name != "publishkyvernomigrate" && name != "publishkyvernobackground" && name != "publishwarzone" && name != "publishksailanalysis" && name != "publishprivatemail" && name != "publishcustomeridentity" && name != "publishdexsecurity" {
+		longhornPublisher, isLonghornPublisher := longhornPublishers[name]
+		if !isLonghornPublisher && name != "publishkubescapestorage" && name != "publishkubescapenodeagent" && name != "publishcorootnodeagent" && name != "publishcorootcheckpoint" && name != "publishkyvernoreports" && name != "publishkyvernomigrate" && name != "publishkyvernobackground" && name != "publishwarzone" && name != "publishksailanalysis" && name != "publishprivatemail" && name != "publishcustomeridentity" && name != "publishdexsecurity" {
 			continue
 		}
 		cosign, _ := attestor["cosign"].(map[string]any)
@@ -1233,6 +1248,10 @@ func fakeKubectlPatchConsolidatedImageValidatingPolicy(args []string, patchFile
 		identity, _ := identities[0].(map[string]any)
 		issuerValid := identity["issuer"] == "https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com"
 		subject, _ := identity["subjectRegExp"].(string)
+		if isLonghornPublisher {
+			longhornAttestors[name] = issuerValid && subject == longhornPublisher.subject
+			continue
+		}
 		switch name {
 		case "publishkubescapestorage":
 			storageAttestorValid = issuerValid && subject == "^https://github\\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\\.github/workflows/publish-kubescape-storage-hotfix\\.yaml@refs/heads/main$"
@@ -1285,9 +1304,19 @@ func fakeKubectlPatchConsolidatedImageValidatingPolicy(args []string, patchFile
 	dedicatedRoutesCustomerIdentity := false
 	genericExcludesDex := false
 	dedicatedRoutesDex := false
+	genericExcludesLonghorn := make(map[string]bool, len(longhornPublishers))
+	dedicatedRoutesLonghorn := make(map[string]bool, len(longhornPublishers))
 	for _, rawValidation := range validations {
 		validation, _ := rawValidation.(map[string]any)
 		expression, _ := validation["expression"].(string)
+		for name, publisher := range longhornPublishers {
+			if strings.Contains(expression, "attestors.publishapp") {
+				genericExcludesLonghorn[name] = imageRouteContains(expression, publisher.repository, true)
+			}
+			if strings.Contains(expression, "attestors."+name) {
+				dedicatedRoutesLonghorn[name] = imageRouteContains(expression, publisher.repository, false)
+			}
+		}
 		if strings.Contains(expression, "attestors.publishapp") {
 			genericExcludesCustomerIdentity = strings.Contains(expression, "image != 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/business-site-identity'") &&
 				strings.Contains(expression, "!image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/business-site-identity:')") &&
@@ -1383,6 +1412,11 @@ func fakeKubectlPatchConsolidatedImageValidatingPolicy(args []string, patchFile
 				strings.Contains(expression, "image.startsWith('ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-dex@')")
 		}
 	}
+	for name := range longhornPublishers {
+		if !longhornAttestors[name] || !genericExcludesLonghorn[name] || !dedicatedRoutesLonghorn[name] {
+			return commandFailure(91, "consolidated image-validating policy patch omitted the exact %s publisher identity or repository routing", name)
+		}
+	}
 	if !storageAttestorValid || !kubescapeNodeAgentAttestorValid || !corootNodeAgentAttestorValid ||
 		!checkpointAttestorValid || !genericExcludesCheckpoint || !dedicatedRoutesCheckpoint ||
 		!reportsAttestorValid || !genericExcludesReports || !dedicatedRoutesReports ||
@@ -1413,18 +1447,18 @@ func fakeKubectlPatchConsolidatedImageValidatingPolicy(args []string, patchFile
 }
 
 func checkpointRouteContains(expression string, excluded bool) bool {
+	return imageRouteContains(expression, "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot", excluded) &&
+		imageRouteContains(expression, "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot-cluster-agent", excluded)
+}
+
+func imageRouteContains(expression, repository string, excluded bool) bool {
 	comparison, negation := "==", ""
 	if excluded {
 		comparison, negation = "!=", "!"
 	}
-	for _, repository := range []string{"ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot", "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot-cluster-agent"} {
-		if !strings.Contains(expression, "image "+comparison+" '"+repository+"'") ||
-			!strings.Contains(expression, negation+"image.startsWith('"+repository+":')") ||
-			!strings.Contains(expression, negation+"image.startsWith('"+repository+"@')") {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
+	return strings.Contains(expression, "image "+comparison+" '"+repository+"'") &&
+		strings.Contains(expression, negation+"image.startsWith('"+repository+":')") &&
+		strings.Contains(expression, negation+"image.startsWith('"+repository+"@')")
 }
 
 func fakeKubectlDeleteRetiredImageValidatingPolicy(args []string) int {
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test-coroot-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh b/scripts/tests/test-compatibility-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
similarity index 78%
rename from scripts/tests/test-coroot-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
rename to scripts/tests/test-compatibility-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
index 72639c8956..8053e3f508 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/test-coroot-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/test-compatibility-image-verifier-prerequisite.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-# Regression contract for staging the two agent compatibility-image signer
-# routes before either DaemonSet consumes those images in production.
+# Regression contract for staging dedicated compatibility-image signers
+# before production workloads consume those images.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -53,9 +53,16 @@ while IFS='|' read -r repository attestor workflow; do
   })" || fail "the Talos verifier rule for ${repository} is missing"
   [[ "${node_identity}" == "${expected_identity}" ]] ||
     fail "the Talos and admission identities differ for ${repository}"
+  first_rule="$({
+    REPOSITORY="${repository}" yq -er '[.rules[].image | select(. == strenv(REPOSITORY) or test("^ghcr[.]io/devantler-tech/[*]$"))] | .[0]' "${node_verifier}"
+  })" || fail "the Talos rule order is unreadable for ${repository}"
+  [[ "${first_rule}" == "${repository}" ]] ||
+    fail "the Talos generic rule shadows ${repository}"
 done <<'ROUTES'
 ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kubescape-node-agent|publishkubescapenodeagent|publish-kubescape-node-agent-hotfix
 ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-coroot-node-agent|publishcorootnodeagent|publish-coroot-node-agent-hotfix
+ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager|publishlonghornretirement|publish-longhorn-v1-retirement
+ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager|publishlonghornv2|publish-longhorn-v2-only
 ROUTES
 
-printf 'Agent compatibility-image verifier prerequisite is valid.\n'
+printf 'Compatibility-image verifier prerequisites are valid.\n'
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test-guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh b/scripts/tests/test-guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh
index 8eacc6e2bd..5f893a5d75 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/test-guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/test-guard-consumer-discovery-conservation.sh
@@ -1168,6 +1168,29 @@ YAML
     expect_refusal "an altered native Gateway peer $variant cannot inherit approval" "$root" 'CEL admission mutation' 'consumers are UNKNOWN'
   done
 
+  # Only the complete benchmark runtime spec can pass. Its real binding adds
+  # a second namespace restriction, while the policy also fences the request.
+  root="$(fixture reviewed-native-longhorn-benchmark)"
+  benchmark_policies="$REPO_ROOT/k8s/providers/hetzner/infrastructure/cluster-policies"
+  cp "$benchmark_policies/mutating-admission-policy-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml" "$root/k8s/providers/prod/apps/benchmark-runtime.yaml"
+  cp "$benchmark_policies/mutating-admission-policy-binding-longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime.yaml" "$root/k8s/providers/prod/apps/benchmark-binding.yaml"
+  printf '  - benchmark-runtime.yaml\n  - benchmark-binding.yaml\n' >>"$root/k8s/providers/prod/apps/kustomization.yaml"
+  expect_pass 'the native benchmark runtime changes only the exact Pod security context' "$root" '2 consumer(s)'
+  for variant in resource-scope patch-path; do
+    root="$(fixture "native-longhorn-benchmark-$variant")"
+    cp "$WORK/reviewed-native-longhorn-benchmark/k8s/providers/prod/apps/benchmark-runtime.yaml" "$root/k8s/providers/prod/apps/benchmark-runtime.yaml"
+    policy="$root/k8s/providers/prod/apps/benchmark-runtime.yaml"
+    case "$variant" in
+      resource-scope) yq -i '.spec.matchConstraints.resourceRules[0].resources += ["*"]' "$policy" ;;
+      patch-path) yq -i '.spec.mutations[0].jsonPatch.expression |= sub("securityContext/runAsUser", "image")' "$policy" ;;
+    esac
+    if cmp -s "$WORK/reviewed-native-longhorn-benchmark/k8s/providers/prod/apps/benchmark-runtime.yaml" "$policy"; then
+      fail "native benchmark runtime negative control did not change $variant"
+    fi
+    printf '  - benchmark-runtime.yaml\n' >>"$root/k8s/providers/prod/apps/kustomization.yaml"
+    expect_refusal "an altered native benchmark runtime $variant cannot inherit approval" "$root" 'unevaluated CEL admission mutation' 'consumers are UNKNOWN'
+  done
+
   # #5096: the one reviewed CEL mutation shape passes; each variant widens
   # exactly one thing and must be refused again.
   root="$(fixture reviewed-cel-mutation)"
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test-inventory-first-party-image-signatures.sh b/scripts/tests/test-inventory-first-party-image-signatures.sh
index 12074e68e7..5987217b14 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/test-inventory-first-party-image-signatures.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/test-inventory-first-party-image-signatures.sh
@@ -301,12 +301,14 @@ expected_globs="$(printf '%s\n' \
   'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-kyverno-background' \
   'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/business-site-identity' \
   'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-dex' \
+  'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager' \
+  'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager' \
   'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/*')"
 if [ "$real_globs" != "$expected_globs" ]; then
-  echo "FAIL  the real rules must retain all sixteen exact ordered image routes"
+  echo "FAIL  the real rules must retain all eighteen exact ordered image routes"
   failures=$((failures + 1))
 else
-  echo "ok    real rules: sixteen ordered rules, dedicated publishers before catch-all"
+  echo "ok    real rules: eighteen ordered rules, dedicated publishers before catch-all"
 fi
 
 # The real file must also satisfy the completeness gate the fixtures exercise.
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness.sh b/scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness.sh
index fb10336604..16b2bcf66f 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/test-validate-image-verifier-liveness.sh
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ readonly zone_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/world-at-ruin/zone'
 readonly mail_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-private-mail-bootstrap'
 readonly customer_identity_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/business-site-identity'
 readonly dex_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-dex'
+readonly longhorn_retirement_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager'
+readonly longhorn_v2_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager'
 readonly app_pattern='ghcr.io/devantler-tech/*'
 fixture_rules_json="$(yq -o=json '.rules' "${root_dir}/talos/cluster/verify-first-party-images.yaml" | jq '
   map({imagePattern: .image, skip: (.skip // false), deny: (.deny // false),
@@ -247,7 +249,9 @@ write_healthy_rules() {
     resource_obj 0012 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${background_pattern}"
     resource_obj 0013 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${customer_identity_pattern}"
     resource_obj 0014 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${dex_pattern}"
-    resource_obj 0015 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${app_pattern}"
+    resource_obj 0015 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${longhorn_retirement_pattern}"
+    resource_obj 0016 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${longhorn_v2_pattern}"
+    resource_obj 0017 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${app_pattern}"
   } | write_rules "${node}"
 }
 
@@ -273,7 +277,7 @@ run_script() {
 healthy_node good
 output="$(run_script TALOS_NODES=good 2>&1)" || fail "case 1: expected exit 0 for a node that can enforce"
 require_text "${output}" 'OK   good' 'case 1: reports the healthy node'
-require_text "${output}" '16 rule(s) in phase running' 'case 1: counts every declared running rule'
+require_text "${output}" '18 rule(s) in phase running' 'case 1: counts every declared running rule'
 require_text "${output}" 'with exact declared decisions' 'case 1: confirms complete rule decisions were compared'
 require_text "${output}" 'All 1 node(s) can enforce image verification.' 'case 1: reports the summary'
 
@@ -313,27 +317,12 @@ require_text "${output}" 'declared rule set' 'case 1a: names the incomplete poli
 # Case 1b — RED: the right NUMBER of rules is running, but the last pattern is
 # stale. Counts alone cannot prove that the declared ordered policy materialised.
 # ===========================================================================
-write_node driftrules
-{
-  resource_obj 0000 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${analysis_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0001 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${ksail_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0002 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${provider_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0003 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${storage_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0004 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${kubescape_node_agent_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0005 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${coroot_node_agent_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0006 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${checkpoint_server_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0007 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${checkpoint_collector_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0008 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${zone_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0009 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${mail_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0010 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${reports_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0011 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${migrate_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0012 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${background_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0013 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${customer_identity_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0014 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' "${dex_pattern}"
-  resource_obj 0015 running "${rules_owner}" 'ImageVerificationRules.security.talos.dev' 'ghcr.io/devantler-tech/stale-*'
-} | write_rules driftrules
-resource_obj trusted_root.json running "${roots_owner}" 'TUFTrustedRoots.security.talos.dev' |
-  write_roots driftrules
+healthy_node driftrules
+drift_rules="${fixtures}/driftrules/resources/${rules_type}"
+jq -s --arg pattern "${app_pattern}" \
+  'map(if .spec.imagePattern == $pattern then .spec.imagePattern = "ghcr.io/devantler-tech/stale-*" else . end)[]' \
+  "${drift_rules}" >"${work_dir}/changed-rules.json"
+mv "${work_dir}/changed-rules.json" "${drift_rules}"
 status=0
 output="$(run_script TALOS_NODES=driftrules 2>&1)" || status=$?
 [[ "${status}" -eq 1 ]] || fail 'case 1b: a runtime rule pattern that differs from the declaration MUST fail'
diff --git a/scripts/validate-eks-ci-role-policy/approved-surface.txt b/scripts/validate-eks-ci-role-policy/approved-surface.txt
index 957ef00f8a..7e7b693edb 100644
--- a/scripts/validate-eks-ci-role-policy/approved-surface.txt
+++ b/scripts/validate-eks-ci-role-policy/approved-surface.txt
@@ -14,8 +14,12 @@
 
 admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1|MutatingAdmissionPolicyBinding||gateway-receiver 835871036a393f9eed5a90088ec575937b8c8a45393967166b1fa3c15aac2289
 
+admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1|MutatingAdmissionPolicyBinding||longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime e566faddafced4d88af3c547020852d26f75b0eb8d63c5b2887bd0cd6f349f32
+
 admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1|MutatingAdmissionPolicy||gateway-receiver 29a4c24f83df36bb1a1cc5880703564b5b853f46e27828aca4493fdc5017d983
 
+admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1|MutatingAdmissionPolicy||longhorn-v1-benchmark-runtime e2296d89bf4177747418a2ad65850712990fc84a5e9bb4333490038bf73f817d
+
 admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1|ValidatingAdmissionPolicyBinding||gateway-receiver 02e679b3bede26c8ef6793955787d34b266667cafe41636288c87e1fcb83d339
 
 admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1|ValidatingAdmissionPolicyBinding||longhorn-benchmark-delete 33d9144f35086ed96a084f303f90c44c22cc5e19f47a16752a1b871c6de8b04e
diff --git a/talos/cluster/verify-first-party-images.yaml b/talos/cluster/verify-first-party-images.yaml
index 0fd3a6a86a..f24b371c75 100644
--- a/talos/cluster/verify-first-party-images.yaml
+++ b/talos/cluster/verify-first-party-images.yaml
@@ -224,6 +224,15 @@ rules:
     keyless:
       issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
       subjectRegex: ^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-dex-security-image\.yaml@refs/heads/main$
+  # The migration images have separate, exact main-branch publishers.
+  - image: ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-instance-manager
+    keyless:
+      issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
+      subjectRegex: ^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v1-retirement\.yaml@refs/heads/main$
+  - image: ghcr.io/devantler-tech/platform-longhorn-manager
+    keyless:
+      issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
+      subjectRegex: ^https://github\.com/devantler-tech/platform/\.github/workflows/publish-longhorn-v2-only\.yaml@refs/heads/main$
   # First-party APP images retain legacy full-commit verification and accept the
   # two reviewed maintained publisher revisions (v8.0.0 #5213, v19.0.5 #5404).
   # Mutable refs, tags and other maintained commits are refused, as in the app