Containerization is an alternative to full machine virtualization. It consists in encapsulating the application in a container with its own operating environment. Containerization provides the benefits of uploading an application to a virtual machine, because the application can be run on any physical machine without concerns about dependencies.
Container Security Components
Isolation. Each container works independently of the others, thus preventing any potential interference or data leakage between containers.
Image security. Container images are checked and scanned for vulnerabilities. It is important to use verified images from reputable sources and maintain a regular update schedule.
Security at runtime. The security of the container includes the orchestration of the container and the host OS, configuration management, the use of the principles of least privilege and network segmentation.
Best practices for container security
The principle of least privilege. Containers should be run with the minimum possible privileges to perform their functions in order to reduce the potential attack surface.
Regular updates and fixes. Containers and their host systems should be updated regularly to eliminate all known vulnerabilities.
Using security policies. The implementation of security policies such as Pod Security Policies in Kubernetes can ensure the safe operation of containers.
Monitoring and logging. Monitoring container activity and logging can help detect any anomalies or potential security threats.