The Shared Responsibility Model in Container Security

The Shared Responsibility Model in Container Security

Container security follows a shared responsibility model similar to cloud computing. Platform providers secure the underlying infrastructure, while users bear responsibility for their containers and applications. In self-hosted Docker environments, organizations assume full responsibility for all security layers. Understanding this division helps organizations focus security efforts appropriately and avoid assuming non-existent protections.

Infrastructure security forms the foundation of container security. This includes host operating system hardening, kernel updates, and physical security. Organizations must maintain secure boot processes, implement intrusion detection systems, and monitor host-level activities. The Docker daemon configuration directly impacts infrastructure security through settings like user namespace remapping and seccomp profiles.

Application security remains the user's responsibility regardless of containerization. Vulnerable application code doesn't become secure simply by running in a container. Organizations must continue traditional application security practices including code reviews, dependency scanning, and penetration testing. Containers may even introduce additional application security considerations through environment-specific configurations and inter-container communications.