Container Security

Container security addresses the specific risks introduced by containerization technologies such as Docker and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes. While containers offer significant benefits for application deployment and scalability, they also introduce unique security considerations. Container images may contain vulnerable packages or dependencies. Misconfigured container runtimes can expose host systems. Orchestration platforms introduce complex access control and network policy requirements. The ephemeral nature of containers complicates traditional security monitoring approaches. A comprehensive container security strategy addresses the entire container lifecycle: build-time image scanning, registry security, runtime protection, and orchestration platform hardening.

Container security maps to broader compliance requirements across frameworks. ISO 27001 Annex A controls on secure development (A.8.25-A.8.31), vulnerability management (A.8.8), and configuration management (A.8.9) all apply to containerized environments. SOC 2 requirements for system hardening, change management, and vulnerability management extend to container infrastructure. NIS2's requirements for secure system acquisition, development, and maintenance encompass container security. In technology due diligence, the security maturity of container infrastructure is increasingly assessed as containerization becomes the default deployment model for modern applications.

Practical container security implementation includes several key practices. During the build phase: use minimal base images from trusted sources, scan images for known vulnerabilities before deployment, sign images to ensure integrity, and avoid embedding secrets in image layers. During deployment: enforce pod security standards in Kubernetes, implement network policies to control inter-container communication, use namespaces for workload isolation, and manage secrets through dedicated secrets management tools rather than environment variables. During runtime: monitor container behavior for anomalies, implement read-only file systems where possible, restrict container capabilities and system calls, and maintain audit logs of container lifecycle events. Organizations should also secure the container registry, implement role-based access control for orchestration platforms, and regularly update both container images and the orchestration platform itself.