Implementing Container Scanning in CI/CD

Successful container security requires scanning at multiple pipeline stages, each serving different purposes. Build-time scanning catches vulnerabilities early but might miss issues in base images updated after initial build. Registry scanning continuously monitors stored images for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Runtime scanning validates that deployed containers match their scanned versions and haven't been tampered with. This defense-in-depth approach ensures comprehensive coverage across the container lifecycle.

Pipeline integration requires balancing security thoroughness with build performance. Implement incremental scanning that only analyzes changed layers, significantly reducing scan times for iterative development. Use caching to avoid rescanning unchanged base images. Configure parallel scanning across multiple images to maximize throughput. These optimizations enable security validation without significantly impacting deployment velocity.

Policy gates transform scan results into actionable decisions. Define policies based on vulnerability severity, age, and fix availability. For example, block deployments with critical vulnerabilities that have available patches, but allow known vulnerabilities without fixes to proceed with proper documentation. Implement different policies for different environments – development might allow medium-severity vulnerabilities while production requires clean scans. This graduated approach maintains security standards while enabling business continuity.