GRAPHIC APPAREL SHOPContainer security is no longer just an IT best practice, it's a necessity in today's cloud-native landscape. As organizations increasingly deploy containers for modern workloads, especially those powered by artificial intelligence, the stakes for robust security are higher than ever.
Docker, the leader in the container ecosystem, is championing a bold approach: making radical transparency the foundation of its security model. This commitment is transforming expectations across the industry.
Docker’s Five Pillars for Secure Containers
To deliver uncompromising security, Docker has established five core pillars, each designed to minimize risk and maximize trust for every container image:
- Minimal Attack Surface: By including only essential software in container images, Docker drastically reduces the number of potential vulnerabilities. This process slashes CVE exposure by over 98%, demonstrating the power of a lean, purpose-built container.
- Complete Software Bill of Materials (SBOM): Every image comes with an SBOM that lists all included components, both direct and transitive dependencies, using open standards like SPDX and CycloneDX. This transparency lets organizations verify exactly what's inside their containers.
- Verifiable Build Provenance: Docker ensures a clear, auditable chain of custody for every artifact, meeting the rigorous SLSA Build Level 3 standard. This means organizations can trust not only what was built, but how and by whom it was built.
- Standardized Exploitability Assessment: Using OpenVEX, Docker provides public, machine-readable statements regarding the impact of known vulnerabilities, allowing teams to focus on real risks rather than vendor marketing claims.
- Cryptographic Verification: Modern signing tools like Sigstore and Cosign allow anyone to verify the authenticity and integrity of container images. These signatures are public and independent of proprietary systems, putting verification power directly in users' hands.
Why Full Transparency Is Essential
Transparency connects and reinforces each pillar. Docker believes that security cannot rely on trust alone; every security claim should be independently verifiable. By making SBOMs, build processes, and vulnerability assessments openly auditable and using public vulnerability data, Docker empowers users, auditors, and customers to assess security for themselves. This shift turns security into a matter of evidence, not opinion.
Industry Pitfalls: Where Competitors Fall Short
Despite widespread claims of "hardened" container images, many vendors fall short of these standards. Common issues include:
- Incomplete SBOMs: Omissions leave organizations exposed and fail to comply with CISA guidelines.
- Opaque CVE Assessments: Proprietary, undisclosed vulnerability assessment methods erode user trust.
- Unverifiable Build Claims: Only full, transparent compliance with standards like SLSA Build Level 3 truly meets the bar for secure builds.
The message is clear: without all five pillars and genuine transparency, security promises ring hollow.
Raising the Bar for the Entire Industry
Supply chain attacks have become a pressing threat, with the potential for large-scale compromise growing as attackers target open source and container ecosystems. As a steward of a critical part of the software supply chain, Docker recognizes its responsibility to set higher standards.
By delivering fully transparent, verifiable security, Docker encourages all vendors to meet these expectations and empowers customers to ask smart, informed questions about their own container security.
Accessible Security for All
Security should not be exclusive to large enterprises. Docker is committed to affordable pricing for its hardened images, making robust container security accessible to startups and small teams. This democratizes strong security practices and contributes to a safer technology ecosystem for everyone.
Trust Through Evidence, Not Promises
Container security is ultimately about transparency and giving users the tools and information to verify every claim. By embracing openness and challenging the industry to do the same, Docker is helping to create a safer, more trustworthy technology landscape. The future of container security lies in radical transparency, and it's a mission that benefits all.
Radical Transparency: How Docker Is Redefining Container Security