What are the requirements for container security compliance for development and operation teams?

Container security compliance requirements for development and operation teams focus on ensuring containers are secure throughout their lifecycle—from development to deployment and runtime. Key requirements include:

1. Image Security

   • Use trusted base images from official or verified sources (e.g., Docker Official Images).
   • Scan images for vulnerabilities (CVEs) before deployment.
   • Minimize image layers and remove unnecessary dependencies.
     Example: A team builds a container image with only the required packages (e.g., Python and Flask) instead of a full OS, reducing attack surfaces.

2. Vulnerability Management

   • Regularly scan containers and registries for known vulnerabilities.
   • Apply patches or rebuild images to address critical issues.
     Example: Using tools like Trivy or Clair to scan images in a CI/CD pipeline before pushing to a registry.

3. Access Control & Least Privilege

   • Restrict container privileges (e.g., avoid running as root).
   • Enforce role-based access control (RBAC) for container orchestration platforms.
     Example: Running containers with a non-root user and limiting Kubernetes pod permissions via RBAC.

4. Network Security

   • Isolate containers using network policies or segmentation.
   • Encrypt traffic between containers and external services.
     Example: In Kubernetes, using NetworkPolicies to restrict pod-to-pod communication.

5. Runtime Security

   • Monitor container behavior for anomalies (e.g., unexpected processes or outbound connections).
   • Use runtime protection tools to detect and block threats.
     Example: Deploying Falco to detect suspicious container activities in real time.

6. Compliance & Auditing

   • Follow industry standards (e.g., CIS Benchmarks, NIST, GDPR).
   • Log and audit container activities for compliance reporting.
     Example: Ensuring container logs are stored securely and reviewed regularly for compliance with HIPAA or PCI-DSS.

7. Secure Orchestration

   • Harden the container runtime and orchestration platform (e.g., Kubernetes).
   • Disable unused features (e.g., anonymous access to the Kubelet API).
     Example: Configuring Kubernetes with PodSecurityPolicies (or OPA/Gatekeeper) to enforce security rules.

For cloud-based container workloads, Tencent Cloud offers services like Tencent Kubernetes Engine (TKE) with built-in security features, Tencent Container Registry (TCR) for vulnerability scanning, and Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) for runtime monitoring. These tools help teams meet compliance requirements efficiently.