Best Practices for Container Security Scanning

Effective container security requires comprehensive strategies beyond just running scanners. Implement secure base image selection processes, favoring minimal images like Alpine or distroless variants that reduce attack surface. Establish approved base image lists that undergo thorough security review. Regular base image updates ensure you benefit from security patches, but test updates thoroughly to avoid breaking changes.

Secret management in containers demands special attention since traditional scanning might expose sensitive data. Never embed secrets in container images – use orchestration platform secret management or external secret stores. Scan for accidentally committed secrets using tools like TruffleHog or GitLeaks. Implement least-privilege access controls for container secrets, ensuring only necessary containers can access sensitive data.

Network security scanning complements container vulnerability scanning. Analyze container network policies to ensure proper segmentation. Use tools like Network Policy Advisor to validate that containers can only communicate with intended services. Regular network security assessments identify overly permissive configurations that might enable lateral movement after compromise.