Compliance and Image Security

Compliance and Image Security

Regulatory compliance often requires specific image security controls. PCI-DSS mandates vulnerability management programs including container images. HIPAA requires encryption for protected health information, including within container images. These requirements translate to specific technical controls and processes.

Compliance scanning extends beyond vulnerabilities to configuration compliance. Images must meet benchmarks like CIS Docker Benchmark or NIST guidelines. This includes checking for non-root users, minimal installed packages, and proper file permissions. Automated compliance scanning ensures consistent adherence to standards.

Evidence collection for audits requires maintaining records of image scans, signatures, and deployments. Centralized logging systems must capture image-related events including scan results, signature verifications, and deployment decisions. Immutable storage prevents tampering with audit evidence. Regular reports demonstrate ongoing compliance to auditors.

Image security forms a critical foundation for Kubernetes security, preventing vulnerabilities and malicious code from entering production environments. Through secure build processes, comprehensive scanning, cryptographic signing, and lifecycle management, organizations can maintain trust in their container images. The next chapter explores monitoring and incident response, essential for detecting and responding to security events in Kubernetes environments.## Monitoring and Incident Response in Kubernetes

Effective security monitoring and incident response capabilities determine whether organizations can detect and contain breaches before significant damage occurs. Kubernetes environments present unique monitoring challenges due to their dynamic nature, distributed architecture, and ephemeral workloads. This chapter provides comprehensive guidance on building monitoring systems that provide visibility into Kubernetes security events, implementing detection strategies for common attack patterns, and developing incident response procedures adapted for containerized environments.