Containers aren’t VMs. They’re a great lightweight deployment solution, but they’re only as secure as you make them. You need to keep... Cloud Security Best Practices for Docker Containers’ Security Rony Moshkovich 2 min read Rony Moshkovich Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 7/27/20 Published Containers aren’t VMs. They’re a great lightweight deployment solution, but they’re only as secure as you make them. You need to keep them in processes with limited capabilities, granting them only what they need. A process that has unlimited power, or one that can escalate its way there, can do unlimited damage if it’s compromised. Sound security practices will reduce the consequences of security incidents. Don’t grant absolute power It may seem too obvious to say, but never run a container as root. If your application must have quasi-root privileges, you can place the account within a user namespace , making it the root for the container but not the host machine. Also, don’t use the –privileged flag unless there’s a compelling reason. It’s one thing if the container does direct I/O on an embedded system, but normal application software should never need it. Containers should run under an owner that has access to its own resources but not to other accounts. If a third-party image requires the –privileged flag without an obvious reason, there’s a good chance it’s badly designed if not malicious. Avoid running a Docker socket in a container. It gives the process access to the Docker daemon, which is a useful but dangerous power. It includes the ability to control other containers, images, and volumes. If this kind of capability is necessary, it’s better to go through a proper API. Grant privileges as needed Applying the principle of least privilege minimizes container risks. A good approach is to drop all capabilities using –cap-drop=all and then enabling the ones that are needed with –cap-add . Each capability expands the attack surface between the container and its environment. Many workloads don’t need any added capabilities at all. The no-new-privileges flag under security-opt is another way to protect against privilege escalation. Dropping all capabilities does the same thing, so you don’t need both. Limiting the system resources which a container guards not only against runaway processes but against container-based DoS attacks. Beware of dubious images When possible, use official Docker images. They’re well documented and tested for security issues, and images are available for many common situations. Be wary of backdoored images . Someone put 17 malicious container images on Docker Hub, and they were downloaded over 5 million times before being removed. Some of them engaged in cryptomining on their hosts, wasting many processor cycles while generating $90,000 in Monero for the images’ creator. Other images may leak confidential data to an outside server. Many containerized environments are undoubtedly still running them. You should treat Docker images with the same caution you’d treat code libraries, CMS plugins, and other supporting software, Use only code that comes from a trustworthy source and is delivered through a reputable channel. Other considerations It should go without saying, but you need to rebuild your images regularly. The libraries and dependencies that they use get security patches from time to time, and you need to make sure your containers have them applied. On Linux, you can gain additional protection from security profiles such as secomp and AppArmor . These modules, used with the security-opt settings, let you set policies that will be automatically enforced. Container security presents its distinctive challenges. Experience with traditional application security helps in many ways, but Docker requires an additional set of practices. Still, the basics apply as much as ever. Start with trusted code. Don’t give it the power to do more than it needs to do. Use the available OS and Docker features for enhancing security. Monitor your systems for anomalous behavior. If you take all these steps, you’ll ward off the large majority of threats to your Docker environment. Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Eric Jeffery, AlgoSec’s regional solutions engineer, gives his view on the pivotal role of AppSec network engineers and how they can... Application Connectivity Management How AppSec Network Engineers Can Align Security with the Business Eric Jeffery 2 min read Eric Jeffery Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 7/13/22 Published Eric Jeffery, AlgoSec’s regional solutions engineer, gives his view on the pivotal role of AppSec network engineers and how they can positively impact the business It may surprise many people but the number one skills gap hampering today’s application security network engineers is primarily centred around the soft skills which includes communication, writing, presentation, team building and critical thinking. Why is this so important? Because first and foremost, their goal is to manage the organization’s security posture by deploying the best application security tools and technologies for the specific security and growth needs of the business. Keep things safe but don’t get in the way of revenue generation What an application security network engineer should not do is get in the way of developing new business-critical or revenue generating applications. At the same time, they need to understand that they have a leadership role to play in steering a safe and profitable course for the business. Starting with an in depth understanding of all wired traffic, AppSec network engineers need to know what applications are running on the network, how they communicate, who they communicate with and how to secure the traffic and connectivity flow associated with each one of them. An AppSec network engineer’s expertise should extend much more than mastering simple applications such as FTP and SSH. Rather, business traffic continuity should sit at the pinnacle of their responsibilities. There’s a lot of revenue generating traffic that they need to understand and put the right guardrails to protect it. However, equally as important, they need to make sure that the traffic is not hindered by outdated or irrelevant rules and policies, to avoid any negative financial impact on the organization. Layers of expertise beyond the OSI model A good starting point for any AppSec network engineer is to acquire a commanding knowledge of the seven layers of the OSI model, especially Layer 6 which covers Presentation. In practical terms, this means that they should have a thorough understanding of the network and transport layers – knowing what traffic is going across the network and why. It’s also helpful to have basic scripting knowledge and an understanding of simple scripts such as a cron job for scheduling tasks. It could also be useful to know some basic level programming like Perl and PHP. Beyond the network skills, AppSec network engineers should grasp the business vertical in which they operate. Once they gain an understanding of the business DNA and the applications that make it tick, then they can add real value to their organizations. What’s on the network vs. what should be on the network Should AppSec network engineers be expected to understand business and applications? Absolutely. With this level of skill and knowledge, they can help the business progress securely by corelating what is actually in the network environment versus what should be in the environment. Once they have clear understanding, they can clean up then environment and optimize network performance with enhanced security. This becomes more critical as organizations grow and develop, often allowing too much unnecessary traffic into the environment. Typically, this is how the scenario plays out: Applications are added or removed (decommissioned), or a new vendor or solution is brought on board and the firewall turns into a de facto router. The end result of such often leads to new vulnerabilities and too many unnecessary threat vectors. This is precisely where the aforementioned soft skills come in – an AppSec network engineer should be able to call out practices that don’t align with business goals. It’s also incumbent upon organizations to offer soft skills training to help their AppSec network engineers become more valuable to their teams. Need an application view to be effective in securing the business When firewalls become de facto routers, organizations end up relying on other areas for security. However, security needs to be aligned with the applications to prevent cyber attacks from getting onto the network and then from moving laterally across the network, should they manage to bypass the firewalls. All too often, east-west security is inadequate and therefore, AppSec network engineers need to look at network segmentation and application segmentation as part of a holistic network security strategy. The good news is that there are some great new technologies that can help with segmenting an internal network. The lesser good news is that there’s a danger in the thinking that by bolting on new tools, the problem will be solved. So often these tools are only partially deployed before the team moves onto the next “latest and the greatest” solution. When exploring new technologies, AppSec network engineers must ask themselves the following: Is there a matching use case for each solution? Will procurement of another tool lead to securing the environment or will it just be another useless “flavor of the month” tool? Irregardless, once the new technology solution is acquired, it is imperative to align the right skilful people with this technology to enable the organization to intelligently secure the whole environment before moving onto a new tool. To further hone this point, celebrating the introduction of a new firewall is superfluous if at the end of the day, it does not utilize the right rules and policies. Ushering some of these new technologies without proper deployment will only leave gaping holes and give organizations a false sense of security, exposing them to continuous risks. Don’t put the cloud native cart before the horse The role of an AppSec network engineer becomes even more critical when moving to the cloud. It starts with asking probing questions: What are the applications in the business and why are we moving them to the cloud? Is it for scalability, speed of access or to update a legacy system? Will the business benefit from the investment and the potential performance impact? It’s also important to consider the architecture in the cloud: Is it containerized, public cloud, private cloud or hybrid? Once you get definitive answers to these questions, create reference architectures and get senior level buy-in. Finally, think about the order in which the enterprise migrates applications to the cloud and maybe start with some non-critical applications that only affect a small number of locations or people before risking moving critical revenue generating applications. Don’t put the cart before the horse. DevSecOps: We should be working together; you can be sure the criminals are… Network application security is complicated enough without introducing internal squabbles over resources or sacrificing security for speed. Security teams and development teams need to work together and focus on what is best for your business. Again, this where the soft skills like teamwork, communications and project management come into play. The bottom line is this: Understand bad actors and prepare for the worst. The bad guys are just chomping at the bit, waiting for your organizations to make the next mistake. To beat them, DevSecOps teams must leverage all the resources they have available. Future promise or false sense of security? There are some exciting new technologies to look forward to in the horizon to help secure the application environment. Areas like quantum computing, machine learning, AI and blockchain show great promise in outfoxing the cyber criminals in the healthcare and financial services industries. It is expected that the AppSec network engineer will play a vital role in the viability of these new technologies. Yet, the right technology will still need to be applied to the right use case correctly and then fully deployed to in order see any effective results. The takeaway So much of the role of the AppSec network engineer is about taking a cold hard look at the goals of the business and asking some challenging questions. It all starts with “what’s right for the business?” rather than “what’s the latest technology we can get our hands on?” To be an effective AppSec network engineer, individuals should not only know the corporate network inside out, but they also must have an overall grasp of applications and the applicable business cases they support. Furthermore, collaboration with developers and operations (DevOps) becomes an agent for rapid deployment of revenue generating or mission critical applications. But it still goes back to the soft skills. To protect the business from taking needless security risks and demand a seat at the decision-making table, AppSec network engineers need to apply strong leadership, project management and communications skills To learn more on the importance of AppSec network engineers to your organization’s cybersecurity team, watch the following video Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

A Decoy Network The strategy behind Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’ has been used by the military, sports teams, and pretty much anyone looking... Cyber Attacks & Incident Response How to Use Decoy Deception for Network Protection Matthew Pascucci 2 min read Matthew Pascucci Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 6/30/15 Published A Decoy Network The strategy behind Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’ has been used by the military, sports teams, and pretty much anyone looking for a strategic edge against their foes. As Sun Tzu says “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” Sun Tzu understood that to gain an advantage on your opponent you need to catch him off guard, make him believe you’re something you’re not, so that you can leverage this opportunity to your advantage. As security practitioners we should all supplement our security practices with this timed and tested decoy technique against cyber attackers. There are a few technologies that can be used as decoys, and two of the most common are honeypots and false decoy accounts: A honeypot is a specially designed piece of software that mimics another system, normally with vulnerable services that aren’t really vulnerable, in order to attract the attention of an attacker as they’re sneaking through your network. Decoy accounts are created in order to check if someone is attempting to log into them. When an attempt is made security experts can then investigate the attackers’ techniques and strategies, without being detected or any data being compromised. Design the right decoy But before actually setting up either of these two techniques you first need to think about how to design the decoy in a way that will be believable. These decoy systems shouldn’t be overtly obvious, yet they need to entice the hacker so that he can’t pass up the opportunity. So think like an attacker: What would an attacker do first when gaining access to a network? How would he exploit a system? Will they install malware? Will they perform a recon scan looking for pivot points? Figuring out what your opponent will do once they’ve gained access to your network is the key to building attractive decoy systems and effective preventive measures. Place it in plain sight You also need to figure out the right place for your decoys. You want to install decoys into your network around areas of high value, as well as systems that are not properly monitored with other security technologies. They should be hiding in plain sight and mimicking the systems or accounts that they’re living next to. This means running similar services, have hostnames that fall in line with your syntax, running on the same operating systems (one exception is decoys running a few exploitable services to entice the attacker). The goes the same for accounts that you’ve seeded in applications or authentication services. We decided that in addition to family photos, it was time to focus on couples photoshoot ! Last fall we aired our popular City Photoshoot Tips & Ideas and as a result, gave you TONS of ideas and inspiration. And last but not least, you need to find a way to discretely publicize your applications or accounts in order to attract the attacker. Then, when an attacker tries to log in to the decoy applications or accounts (which should be disabled) you should immediately and automatically start tracking and investigating the attack path. Watch and learn Another important point to make is that once a breach attempt has been made you shouldn’t immediately cut off the account. You might want to watch the hacker for a period of time to see what else that he might access on the network. Many times tracking their actions over a period of time will give you a lot more actionable information that will ultimately help you create a far more secure perimeter. Think of it as a plainclothes police officer following a known criminal. Many times the police will follow a criminal to see if he will lead them toward more information about their activities before making an arrest. Use the same techniques. If an attacker trips over a few of carefully laid traps, it’s possible that he’s just starting to poke around your network. It’s up to you, while you have the upper hand, to determine if you start remediation or continue to guide them under your watchful eye. Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

AlgoSec Horizon Security Analyzer delivers visibility analysis of your network applications across your hybrid network Identify compliance gaps Visualize & manage hybrid networks Enable visibility across your hybrid network, optimize firewall rules, and prioritize risks. Schedule a demo Watch a video Visualize your entire network Instantly visualize your entire hybrid network security topology – in the cloud, on-premises, and everything in between. Understand the impact of network security policies on traffic, quickly troubleshoot connectivity issues, plan changes, and perform “what-if” traffic queries. Learn more Optimize the discovery of applications and services Never misplace an application on your network with new AI-powered and enhanced application discovery. Leverage advanced AI to identify your business applications, their utilized resources, and network connectivity accurately. Connect applications to security policy rules Firewall rules support applications or processes that require network connectivity to and from specific servers, users, and networks. With AppViz, automatically associate the relevant business applications that each firewall rule supports, enabling you to review the firewall rules quickly and easily. Read more Micro-segment successfully Master micro-segmentation. Define and enforce network segmentation throughout your entire hybrid network. Be confident that your network security policies don’t violate your network segmentation strategy. Clear answers in clear language Get the answers to your network security policies in plain English. Use AlgoBot, an intelligent chatbot that assists with change management processes. Reduce ticket resolution time by giving other parts of your organization the tools they need to get immediate answers. Always be compliant Identify compliance gaps across your entire hybrid network, so you can stay continuously in compliance. Identify exactly which application and security policy is potentially non-compliant. Always be ready for audits with compliance reports covering leading regulations and custom corporate policies. Identify risky rules Identify risky security policy rules, the assets they expose, and if they’re in use. Prioritize risk based on what your business values most — the applications powering your network. Map, clean up and reduce risk Clean up and optimize your security policy. Uncover unused, duplicate, overlapping,or expired rules, consolidate and reorder rules, and tighten overly permissive “ANY” rules -- without impacting business requirements. End-to-end security management Automation is only one piece of a robust security policy. See how our full solution suite completes the picture. Horizon FireFlow Automate and secure
policy changes Process security changes in a fraction of the time by automating the entire security policy change process. Horizon FireFlow AlgoSec Cloud Effortless cloud management Security management across the multi-cloud and multi-vendor estate AlgoSec Cloud solution Horizon AppViz Optimize the discovery of applications and services Leverage advanced AI to identify your business applications and their network connectivity accurately. AppViz solution Equip yourself with the technical details to discuss with your team and managers Ready for a deep dive? Contact us today Got everything you need?
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You’re about to dive deep! Tech docs Watch the video "I found the product to be the best rule review solution in the market What they say about us Manager AlgoSec’s Firewall Analyzer enables you to instantly visualize your entire hybrid, by pulling pulls information from a wide range of devices and providing you network security topology. Firewall Analyzer helps you assess the impact of network security policies on traffic, troubleshoot connectivity issues, plan changes and perform “what-if” traffic queries. Firewall Analyzer seamlessly integrates with all leading brands of traditional and next generation firewalls and cloud security controls as well as routers, load balancers and web proxies. What is Firewall Analyzer? Firewall Analyzer rule management enables the process of optimizing firewall rules by identifying and removing redundant firewall rules, aligning firewall rule policies with government and industry regulations and preventing inappropriate firewall rule modifications. Firewall Analyzer discovers and prioritizes all risks  and their associated rules and associated applications in your network security policy. Can I analyze my firewall rules? Firewall Analyzer provides pre-populated, audit-ready compliance reports with an overview of events and changes associated with a firewall. Firewall Analyzer automatically analyzes the existing device rule base to identify unused, duplicate or expired rules and then provides recommendations to remove, reorder or consolidate similar rules. Firewall Analyzer optimizes firewall rulesets. Does Firewall Analyzer work with Cisco? The main use of a firewall monitoring tool is to ensure full network visibility. Firewall Analyzer provides you a unified view of all the applications, services and their connectivity flows within an enterprise computer network. What are the main uses of a firewall monitoring tool? Firewall Analyzer includes firewall analysis tools to help you to identify enterprise applications, services and connectivity flows to track events and policy changes in order to clean up and optimize firewall configuration and maintain compliance standards. Can I analyze my firewall’s configuration? Firewall Analyzer provides pre-populated, audit-ready compliance reports with an overview of events and changes associated with a firewall. Firewall Analyzer automatically analyzes the existing device rule base to identify unused, duplicate or expired rules and then provides recommendations to remove, reorder or consolidate similar rules. Firewall Analyzer optimizes firewall rulesets. Can I monitor my firewall changes? FAQ Get the latest insights from the experts The 100x Revolution, learn how to Future-Proof your business applications with Secure Application Connectivity. Anywhere. Download the eBook Case Study- Nationwide Testimonial - AlgoSec Watch it now Product introduction video- Learn the key capabilities of the AlgoSec Secure application connectivity platform. Watch it now Schedule time with a Firewall Analyzer expert Schedule time with a Firewall Analyzer expert Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Over 90% gross dollar retention and 37% year-over-year new business growth reflect demand for visibility across complex hybrid environments AlgoSec Posts 37% YoY new Business Growth in 2025 as Enterprises Prioritize Application-Centric Security Over 90% gross dollar retention and 37% year-over-year new business growth reflect demand for visibility across complex hybrid environments February 18, 2026 Speak to one of our experts RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ, February 18, 2026 – AlgoSec , a global cybersecurity leader, today reported its best year ever with strong year-over-year annual recurring revenue growth, a gross dollar retention rate exceeding 90% and 37% year-over-year new business growth in 2025. The results reflect continued demand for greater visibility and control over application connectivity across hybrid and multi-cloud environments . Founded in 2004, AlgoSec has maintained positive cash flow and remained debt-free throughout its history. Enterprises faced increasing complexity throughout 2025 as application environments spanned data centers, cloud and hybrid infrastructure. That complexity was reflected in AlgoSec’s 2025 State of Network Security Report , based on insights from over 500 cloud and network security professionals globally, which found that multi-cloud environments are now the norm, with Azure emerging as the most widely used cloud platform among respondents. The report also found that automating application connectivity has become the top priority for minimizing risk and downtime as environments continue to expand. In response to these challenges, large, distributed enterprises adopted AlgoSec in 2025. New customers included Vodacom Business, NTT DATA Spain, Gainwell Technologies LLC – Texas, Lamborghini and more. AlgoSec consistently earns high satisfaction scores from real users, scoring 4.5 out of 5 on both G2 and Gartner Peer Insights , outperforming matching peers and being recognized as customer choice in Gartner’s Voice of the Customer report and #1 in PeerSpot . Additionally, AlgoSec’s 4.5 out of 5 Glassdoor rating places the company among top-tier employers. The AlgoSec Horizon platform, released in 2025, is recognized as the industry’s first application-centric security management and automation platform designed specifically for hybrid networks. The platform provides a single source of visibility across multi-clouds and data center environments, enabling security teams to prioritize risk based on business needs while managing security at scale. Through AI-driven visibility and risk mitigation that automatically discovers applications and maps connectivity dependencies, AlgoSec Horizon reduces operational friction, minimizes misconfigurations and supports faster, safer application delivery. “Today’s security teams are managing unprecedented levels of application and infrastructure complexity,” said Yuval Baron , AlgoSec CEO and co-founder. “2025 has been our best year ever. In just a few months, over 100 customers have implemented the AlgoSec Horizon platform. This rapid adoption highlights enterprises’ strategic need for a single platform to secure their hybrid estate, often spanning multiple cloud platforms and data centers. At the same time, organizations must accelerate application connectivity to speed delivery. Together, these capabilities are essential for driving growth and innovation in the AI era.” AlgoSec’s application-centric approach was also recognized by the industry in 2025 , earning the 2025 SC Award for Best Security Company from SC Media at RSAC, a Global InfoSec Award from Cyber Defense Magazine for Best Service as a Cybersecurity Company, and Trailblazer recognition in Network Security and Management from Cyber Defense Magazine’s Top InfoSec Innovator Awards. For more on AlgoSec’s 2025 achievements and innovations, visit www.algosec.com .

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Hybrid cloud computing enables organizations to deploy sensitive workloads on-premise or in a private cloud, while hosting less... DevSecOps Why organizations need to embrace new thinking in how they tackle hybrid cloud security challenges Prof. Avishai Wool 2 min read Prof. Avishai Wool Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 10/9/22 Published Hybrid cloud computing enables organizations to deploy sensitive workloads on-premise or in a private cloud, while hosting less business-critical resources on public clouds. But despite its many benefits, the hybrid environment also creates security concerns. AlgoSec’s co-founder and CTO, Prof. Avishai Wool shares his expert insights on these concerns and offers best practices to boost hybrid cloud security. Hybrid cloud computing combines on-premises infrastructure, private cloud services, and one or more public clouds. Going hybrid provides businesses with enhanced flexibility, agility, cost savings, and scalability to innovate, grow, and gain a competitive advantage. So, how can you simplify and strengthen security operations in the hybrid cloud? It all starts with visibility – you still can’t protect what you can’t see To protect their entire hybrid infrastructure, applications, workloads, and data, security teams need to know what these assets are and where they reside. They also need to see the entire hybrid estate and not just the individual elements. However, complete visibility is a serious hybrid cloud security challenge. Hybrid environments are highly complex, which can create security blind spots, which then prevent teams from identifying, evaluating, and most importantly, mitigating risk. Another hybrid cloud security concern is that you cannot implement a fragmented security approach to control the entire network. With thousands of integrated and inter-dependent resources and data flowing between them, vulnerabilities crop up, increasing the risk of cyberattacks or breaches. For complete hybrid cloud security, you need a holistic approach that can help you control the entire network. Is DevSecOps the panacea? Not quite In many organizations, DevSecOps teams manage cloud security because they have visibility into what’s happening inside the cloud. However, in the hybrid cloud, many applications have servers or clients existing outside the cloud, which DevSecOps may not have visibility into. Also, the protection of data flowing into and out of the cloud is not always under their remit. To make up for these gaps, other teams are required to manage security operations and minimize hybrid cloud risks. These additional processes and team members must be coordinated to ensure continuous security across the entire hybrid network environment. But this is easier said than done. Using IaC to balance automation with oversight is key, but here’s why you shouldn’t solely rely on it Infrastructure as code (IaC) will help you automatically deploy security controls in the hybrid cloud to prevent misconfiguration errors, non-compliance, and violations while in the production stage and pre application testing. With IaC-based security, you can define security best practices in template files, which will minimize risks and enhance your security posture. But there’s an inherent risk in putting all your eggs in the automation and IaC basket. Due to the fact that all the controls are on the operational side, it can create serious hybrid cloud security issues. And without human attention and action, vulnerabilities may remain unaddressed and open the door to cyberattacks. Since security professionals who are not on the operational side must oversee the cloud environment, it could easily open the door to miscommunication and human errors – a very costly proposition for organizations. For this very reason, you should also implement a process to regularly deploy automatic updates without requiring time-consuming approvals that slow down workflows and weaken security. Strive for 95% automated changes and only involve a person for the remaining 5% that requires human input. Hybrid cloud security best practices – start early, start strong When migrating from on-prem to the cloud, you can choose a greenfield migration or a lift-and-shift migration. Greenfield means rolling out a brand-new application. In this case, ensure that security considerations are “baked in” from the beginning and across all processes. This “shift left” approach helps build an environment that’s secure from the get-go. This ensures that all team members adhere to a unified set of security policy rules to minimize vulnerabilities and reduce security risks within the hybrid cloud environment. If you lift-and-shift on-prem applications to the cloud, note any security assumptions made when they were designed. This is important because they were not built for the cloud and may incorporate protocols that increase security risks. Next, implement appropriate measures during migration planning. For example, implement an Application Load Balancer if applications leverage plaintext protocols, and use sidecars to encrypt applications without having to modify the original codebase. You can also leverage hybrid cloud security solutions to detect and mitigate security problems in real-time. Matching your cloud security with application structure is no longer optional Before moving to a hybrid cloud, map the business logic, application structure, and application ownership into the hybrid cloud estate’s networking structure. To simplify this process, here are some tried and proven ways to consider. Break up your environment into a virtual private cloud (VPC) or virtual network. With the VPC, you can monitor connections, screen traffic, create multiple subnets, and also restrict instance access to improve security posture. Use networking constructs to segregate applications into different functional and networking areas in the cloud. This way, you can deploy network controls to segment your cloud estate and ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data and resources. Tag all resources based on their operating system, business unit, and geographical area. Tags with descriptive metadata can help to identify resources. They also establish ownership and accountability, provide visibility into cloud consumption, and help with the deployment of security policies. Conclusion In today’s fast-paced business environment, hybrid cloud computing can benefit your organization in many ways. But to capture these benefits, you should make an effort to boost hybrid cloud security. Incorporate the best practices discussed here to improve security and take full advantage of your hybrid environment. To learn more about hybrid cloud security, listen to our Lessons in Cybersecurity podcast episode or head to our hybrid cloud resource hub here . Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Modern organizations face a wide and constantly changing range of network security threats, and security leaders must constantly update... Network Security Network Security Threats & Solutions for Cybersecurity Leaders Tsippi Dach 2 min read Tsippi Dach Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 2/11/24 Published Modern organizations face a wide and constantly changing range of network security threats, and security leaders must constantly update their security posture against them. As threat actors change their tactics, techniques, and procedures, exploit new vulnerabilities , and deploy new technologies to support their activities — it’s up to security teams to respond by equipping themselves with solutions that address the latest threats. The arms race between cybersecurity professionals and cybercriminals is ongoing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, high-profile ransomware attacks took the industry by storm. When enterprise security teams responded by implementing secure backup functionality and endpoint detection and response, cybercriminals shifted towards double extortion attacks. The cybercrime industry constantly invests in new capabilities to help hackers breach computer networks and gain access to sensitive data. Security professionals must familiarize themselves with the latest network security threats and deploy modern solutions that address them. What are the Biggest Network Security Threats? 1. Malware-based Cyberattacks Malware deserves a category of its own because so many high-profile attacks rely on malicious software to work. These include everything from the Colonial Pipeline Ransomware attack to historical events like Stuxnet . Broadly speaking, cyberattacks that rely on launching malicious software on computer systems are part of this category. There are many different types of malware-based cyberattacks, and they vary widely in scope and capability. Some examples include: Viruses. Malware that replicates itself by inserting its own code into other applications are called viruses. They can spread across devices and networks very quickly. Ransomware. This type of malware focuses on finding and encrypting critical data on the victim’s network and then demanding payment for the decryption key. Cybercriminals typically demand payment in the form of cryptocurrency, and have developed a sophisticated industrial ecosystem for conducting ransomware attacks. Spyware. This category includes malware variants designed to gather information on victims and send it to a third party without your consent. Sometimes cybercriminals do this as part of a more elaborate cyberattack. Other times it’s part of a corporate espionage plan. Some spyware variants collect sensitive information that cybercriminals value highly. Trojans. These are malicious applications disguised as legitimate applications. Hackers may hide malicious code inside legitimate software in order to trick users into becoming victims of the attack. Trojans are commonly hidden as an email attachment or free-to-download file that launches its malicious payload after being opened in the victim’s environment. Fileless Malware. This type of malware leverages legitimate tools native to the IT environment to launch an attack. This technique is also called “living off the land” because hackers can exploit applications and operating systems from inside, without having to download additional payloads and get them past firewalls. 2. Network-Based Attacks These are attacks that try to impact network assets or functionality, often through technical exploitations. Network-based attacks typically start at the edge of the network, where it sends and receives traffic to the public internet. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks. These attacks overwhelm network resources, leading to downtime and service unavailability, and in some cases, data loss . To launch DDoS attacks, cybercriminals must gain control over a large number of compromised devices and turn them into bots. Once thousands (or millions) of bots using unique IP addresses request server resources, the server breaks down and stops functioning. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: These attacks let cybercriminals eavesdrop on communications between two parties. In some cases, they can also alter the communications between both parties, allowing them to plan and execute more complex attacks. Many different types of man-in-the-middle attacks exist, including IP spoofing, DNS spoofing, SSL stripping, and others. 3. Social Engineering and Phishing These attacks are not necessarily technical exploits. They focus more on abusing the trust that human beings have in one another. Usually, they involve the attacker impersonating someone in order to convince the victim to give up sensitive data or grant access to a secure asset. Phishing Attacks. This is when hackers create fake messages telling victims to take some kind of action beneficial to the attacker. These deceptive messages can result in the theft of login credentials, credit card information, or more. Most major institutions are regularly impersonated by hackers running phishing scams, like the IRS . Social Engineering Attacks. These attacks use psychological manipulation to trick victims into divulging confidential information. A common example might be a hacker contacting a company posing as a third-party technology vendor, asking for access to a secure system, or impersonating the company CEO and demanding an employee pay a fictitious invoice. 4. Insider Threats and Unauthorized Access These network security threats are particularly dangerous because they are very difficult to catch. Most traditional security tools are not configured to detect malicious insiders, who generally have permission to access sensitive data and assets. Insider Threats. Employees, associates, and partners with access to sensitive data may represent severe security risks. If an authorized user decides to steal data and sell it to a hacker or competitor, you may not be able to detect their attack using traditional security tools. That’s what makes insider threats so dangerous, because they are often undetectable. Unauthorized Access. This includes a broad range of methods used to gain illegal access to networks or systems. The goal is usually to steal data or alter it in some way. Attackers may use credential-stuffing attacks to access sensitive networks, or they can try brute force methods that involve automatically testing millions of username and password combinations until they get the right one. This often works because people reuse passwords that are easy to remember. Solutions to Network Security Threats Each of the security threats listed above comes with a unique set of risks, and impacts organizations in a unique way. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to navigating these risks. Every organization has to develop a cybersecurity policy that meets its specific needs. However, the most secure organizations usually share the following characteristics. Fundamental Security Measures Well-configured Firewalls. Firewalls control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules. These rules can deny unauthorized traffic attempting to connect with sensitive network assets and block sensitive information from traveling outside the network. In each case, robust configuration is key to making the most of your firewall deployment . Choosing a firewall security solution like AlgoSec can dramatically improve your defenses against complex network threats. Anti-malware and Antivirus Software. These solutions detect and remove malicious software throughout the network. They run continuously, adapting their automated scans to include the latest threat detection signatures so they can block malicious activity before it leads to business disruption. Since these tools typically rely on threat signatures, they cannot catch zero-day attacks that leverage unknown vulnerabilities. Advanced Protection Tools Intrusion Prevention Systems. These security tools monitor network traffic for behavior that suggests unauthorized activity. When they find evidence of cyberattacks and security breaches, they launch automated responses that block malicious activity and remove unauthorized users from the network. Network Segmentation. This is the process of dividing networks into smaller segments to control access and reduce the attack surface. Highly segmented networks are harder to compromise because hackers have to repeatedly pass authentication checks to move from one network zone to another. This increases the chance that they fail, or generate activity unusual enough to trigger an alert. Security and Information Event Management (SIEM) platforms. These solutions give security analysts complete visibility into network and application activity across the IT environment. They capture and analyze log data from firewalls, endpoint devices, and other assets and correlate them together so that security teams can quickly detect and respond to unauthorized activity, especially insider threats. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR). These solutions provide real-time visibility into the activities of endpoint devices like laptops, desktops, and mobile phones. They monitor these devices for threat indicators and automatically respond to identified threats before they can reach the rest of the network. More advanced Extended Detection and Response (XDR) solutions draw additional context and data from third party security tools and provide in-depth automation . Authentication and Access Control Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This technology enhances security by requiring users to submit multiple forms of verification before accessing sensitive data. This makes it useful against phishing attacks, social engineering, and insider threats, because hackers need more than just a password to gain entry to secure networks. MFA also plays an important role in Zero Trust architecture. Strong Passwords and Access Policies. There is no replacement for strong password policies and securely controlling user access to sensitive data. Security teams should pay close attention to password policy compliance, making sure employees do not reuse passwords across accounts and avoid simple memory hacks like adding sequential numbers to existing passwords. Preventing Social Engineering and Phishing While SIEM platforms, MFA policies and strong passwords go a long way towards preventing social engineering and phishing attacks, there are a few additional security measures worth taking to reduce these risks: Security Awareness Training. Leverage a corporate training LMS to educate employees about phishing and social engineering tactics. Phishing simulation exercises can help teach employees how to distinguish phishing messages from legitimate ones, and pinpoint the users at highest risk of falling for a phishing scam. Email Filtering and Verification: Email security tools can identify and block phishing emails before they arrive in the inbox. They often rely on scanning the reputation of servers that send incoming emails, and can detect discrepancies in email metadata that suggest malicious intent. Even if these solutions generally can’t keep 100% of malicious emails out of the inbox, they significantly reduce email-related threat risks. Dealing with DDoS and MitM Attacks These technical exploits can lead to significant business disruption, especially when undertaken by large-scale threat actors with access to significant resources. Your firewall configuration and VPN policies will make the biggest difference here: DDoS Prevention Systems. Protect against distributed denial of service attacks by implementing third-party DDoS prevention solutions, deploying advanced firewall configurations, and using load balancers. Some next generation firewalls (NGFWs) can increase protection against DDoS attacks by acting as a handshake proxy and dropping connection requests that do not complete the TCP handshake process. VPNs and Encryption: VPNs provide secure communication channels that prevent MitM attacks and data eavesdropping. Encrypted traffic can only be intercepted by attackers who go through the extra step of obtaining the appropriate decryption key. This makes it much less likely they focus on your organization instead of less secure ones that are easier to target. Addressing Insider Threats Insider threats are a complex security issue that require deep, multi-layered solutions to address. This is especially true when malicious insiders are actually employees with legitimate user credentials and privileges. Behavioral Auditing and Monitoring: Regular assessments and monitoring of user activities and network traffic are vital for detecting insider threats . Security teams need to look beyond traditional security deployments and gain insight into user behaviors in order to catch authorized users doing suspicious things like escalating their privileges or accessing sensitive data they do not normally access. Zero Trust Security Model. Assume no user or device is trustworthy until verified. Multiple layers of verification between highly segmented networks — with multi-factor authentication steps at each layer — can make it much harder for insider threats to steal data and conduct cyberattacks. Implementing a Robust Security Strategy Directly addressing known threats should be just one part of your cybersecurity strategy. To fully protect your network and assets from unknown risks, you must also implement a strong security posture that can address risks associated with new and emerging cyber threats. Continual Assessment and Improvement The security threat landscape is constantly changing, and your security posture must adapt and change in response. It’s not always easy to determine exactly how your security posture should change, which is why forward-thinking security leaders periodically invest in vulnerability assessments designed to identify security vulnerabilities that may have been overlooked. Once you have a list of security weaknesses you need to address, you can begin the process of proactively addressing them by configuring your security tech stack and developing new incident response playbooks. These playbooks will help you establish a coordinated, standardized response to security incidents and data breaches before they occur. Integration of Security Tools Coordinating incident response plans isn’t easy when every tool in your tech stack has its own user interface and access control permissions. You may need to integrate your security tools into a single platform that allows security teams to address issues across your entire network from a single point of reference. This will help you isolate and address security issues on IoT devices and mobile devices without having to dedicate a particular team member exclusively to that responsibility. If a cyberattack that targets mobile apps occurs, your incident response plan won’t be limited by the bottleneck of having a single person with sufficient access to address it. Similarly, highly integrated security tools that leverage machine learning and automation can enhance the scalability of incident response and speed up incident response processes significantly. Certain incident response playbooks can be automated entirely, providing near-real-time protection against sophisticated threats and freeing your team to focus on higher-impact strategic initiatives. Developing and Enforcing Security Policies Developing and enforcing security policies is one of the high-impact strategic tasks your security team should dedicate a great deal of time and effort towards. Since the cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly changing, you must commit to adapting your policies in response to new and emerging threats quickly. That means developing a security policy framework that covers all aspects of network and data security. Similarly, you can pursue compliance with regulatory standards that ensure predictable outcomes from security incidents. Achieving compliance with standards like NIST, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and HIPPA can help you earn customers’ trust and open up new business opportunities. AlgoSec: Your Partner in Network Security Protecting against network threats requires continuous vigilance and the ability to adapt to fast-moving changes in the security landscape. Every level of your organization must be engaged in security awareness and empowered to report potential security incidents. Policy management and visibility platforms like AlgoSec can help you gain control over your security tool configurations. This enhances the value of continuous vigilance and improvement, and boosts the speed and accuracy of policy updates using automation. Consider making AlgoSec your preferred security policy automation and visibility platform. Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Secure VPC as the main pillar of cloud security Remember the Capital One breach back in 2019 ? 100 million customers' data exposed,... Cloud Security A secure VPC as the main pillar of cloud security Asher Benbenisty 2 min read Asher Benbenisty Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 11/11/24 Published Secure VPC as the main pillar of cloud security Remember the Capital One breach back in 2019 ? 100 million customers' data exposed, over $270 million in fines – all because of a misconfigured WAF. Ouch! A brutal reminder that cloud security is no joke. And with cloud spending skyrocketing to a whopping $675.4 billion this year, the bad guys are licking their chops. The stakes? Higher than ever. The cloud's a dynamic beast, constantly evolving, with an attack surface that's expanding faster than a pufferfish in a staring contest. To stay ahead of those crafty cybercriminals, you need a security strategy that's as agile as a ninja warrior. That means a multi-layered approach, with network security as the bedrock. Think of it as the backbone of your cloud fortress, ensuring all your communication channels – internal and external – are locked down tighter than Fort Knox. In this post, we're shining the spotlight on Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) – the cornerstone of your cloud network security. But here's the kicker: native cloud tools alone won't cut it. They're like a bicycle in a Formula 1 race – good for a leisurely ride, but not built for high-speed security. We'll delve into why and introduce you to AlgoSec, the solution that turbocharges your VPC security and puts you in the driver's seat. The 5 Pillars of Cloud Security: A Quick Pit Stop Before we hit the gas on VPCs, let's do a quick pit stop to recap the five foundational pillars of a rock-solid cloud security strategy: Identity and Access Management (IAM): Control who gets access to what with the principle of least privilege and role-based access control. Basically, don't give the keys to the kingdom to just anyone! Keep a watchful eye with continuous monitoring and logging of access patterns. Integrate with SIEM systems to boost your threat detection and response capabilities. Think of it as having a security guard with night vision goggles patrolling your cloud castle 24/7. Data Encryption: Protect your sensitive data throughout its lifecycle – whether it's chilling in your cloud servers or traveling across networks. Think of it as wrapping your crown jewels in multiple layers of security, making them impenetrable to those data-hungry thieves. Network Security: This is where VPCs take center stage! But it's more than just VPCs – you also need firewalls, security groups, and constant vigilance to keep your network fortress impenetrable. It's like having a multi-layered defense system with moats, drawbridges, and archers ready to defend your cloud kingdom. Compliance and Governance: Don't forget those pesky regulations and internal policies! Use audit trails, resource tagging, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to stay on the right side of the law. It's like having a compliance officer who keeps you in check and ensures you're always playing by the rules. Incident Response and Recovery: Even with the best defenses, breaches can happen. It's like a flat tire on your cloud journey – annoying, but manageable with the right tools. Be prepared with real-time threat detection, automated response, and recovery plans that'll get you back on your feet faster than a cheetah on Red Bull. Why Network Security is Your First Line of Defense Network security is like the moat around your cloud castle, the first line of defense against those pesky attackers. Breaches can cost you a fortune, ruin your reputation faster than a bad Yelp review, and send your customers running for the hills. Remember when Equifax suffered a massive data breach in 2017 due to an unpatched vulnerability? Or the ChatGPT breach in 2023 where a misconfigured database exposed sensitive user data? These incidents are stark reminders that even a small slip-up can have massive consequences. VPCs: Building Your Secure Cloud Fortress VPCs are like creating your own private kingdom within the vast public cloud. You get to set the rules, control access, and keep those unwanted visitors out. This isolation is crucial for preventing those sneaky attackers from gaining a foothold and wreaking havoc. With VPCs, you have granular control over your network traffic – think of it as directing the flow of chariots within your kingdom. You can define routing tables, create custom IP address ranges, and isolate different sections of your cloud environment. But here's the thing: VPCs alone aren't enough. You still need to connect to the outside world, and that's where secure options like VPNs and dedicated interconnects come in. Think of them as secure tunnels and bridges that allow safe passage in and out of your kingdom. Native Cloud Tools: Good, But Not Good Enough The cloud providers offer their own security tools – think AWS CloudTrail, Azure Security Center, and Google Cloud's Security Command Center. They're a good starting point, like a basic toolkit for your cloud security needs. But they often fall short when it comes to dealing with the complexities of today's cloud environments. Here's why: Lack of Customization: They're like one-size-fits-all suits – they might kinda fit, but they're not tailored to your specific needs. You need a custom-made suit of armor for your cloud kingdom, not something off the rack. Blind Spots in Multi-Cloud Environments: If you're juggling multiple cloud platforms, these tools can leave you with blind spots, making it harder to keep an eye on everything. It's like trying to guard a castle with multiple entrances and only having one guard. Configuration Nightmares: Misconfigurations are like leaving the back door to your castle wide open. Native tools often lack the robust detection and prevention mechanisms you need to avoid these costly mistakes. You need a security system with motion sensors, alarms, and maybe even a moat with crocodiles to keep those intruders out. Integration Headaches: Trying to integrate these tools with other security solutions can be like fitting a square peg into a round hole. This can leave gaps in your security posture, making you vulnerable to attacks. You need a security system that works seamlessly with all your other defenses, not one that creates more problems than it solves. To overcome these limitations and implement best practices for securing your AWS environment, including VPC configuration and management, download our free white paper: AWS Best Practices: Strengthening Your Cloud Security Posture . AlgoSec: Your Cloud Security Superhero This is where AlgoSec swoops in to save the day! AlgoSec is like the ultimate security concierge for your cloud environment. It streamlines and automates security policy management across all your cloud platforms – whether it's a hybrid setup or a multi-cloud extravaganza. Here's how it helps you conquer the cloud security challenge: X-Ray Vision for Your Network: AlgoSec gives you complete visibility into your network, automatically discovering and mapping your applications and their connections. It's like having X-ray vision for your cloud fortress, allowing you to see every nook and cranny where those sneaky attackers might be hiding. Automated Policy Enforcement: Say goodbye to manual errors and inconsistencies. AlgoSec automates your security policy management, ensuring everything is locked down tight across all your environments. It's like having a tireless army of security guards enforcing your rules 24/7. Risk Prediction and Prevention: AlgoSec is like a security fortune teller, predicting and preventing risks before they can turn into disasters. It's like having a crystal ball that shows you where the next attack might come from, allowing you to prepare and fortify your defenses. Compliance Made Easy: Stay on the right side of those regulations with automated compliance checks and audit trails. It's like having a compliance officer who whispers in your ear and keeps you on the straight and narrow path. Integration Wizardry: AlgoSec plays nicely with other security tools and cloud platforms, ensuring a seamless and secure ecosystem. It's like having a universal translator that allows all your security systems to communicate and work together flawlessly. The Bottom Line VPCs are the foundation of a secure cloud environment, but you need more than just the basics to stay ahead of the bad guys. AlgoSec is your secret weapon, providing the comprehensive security management and automation you need to conquer the cloud with confidence. It's like having a superhero on your side, always ready to defend your cloud kingdom from those villainous attackers. AWS Security Expertise at Your Fingertips Dive deeper into AWS security best practices with our comprehensive white paper. Learn how to optimize your VPC configuration, enhance network security, and protect your cloud assets. Download AWS security best practices white paper now! If you’re looking to enhance your cloud network security, explore AlgoSec's platform.  Request a demo to see how AlgoSec can empower you to create a secure, compliant, and resilient cloud infrastructure. Dive deeper into cloud security: Read our previous blog post, Unveiling Cloud's Hidden Risks , to uncover the top challenges and learn how to gain control of your cloud environment. Don't miss out : We'll be publishing more valuable insights on critical cloud security topics, including Security as Code implementation, Azure best practices, Kubernetes security, and cloud encryption. These articles will equip you with the knowledge and tools to strengthen your cloud defenses. Subscribe to our blog to stay informed and join us on the journey to a safer and more resilient cloud future. Have a specific cloud security challenge? Contact us today for a free consultation. Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call

Linux containers aren’t new. In fact, this technology was invented 20 years ago. In 2013, Docker entered the scene and revolutionized Linux containers by offering an easy-to-use command line interface (CLI), an engine, and a registry server. Combined, these technologies have concealed all the complexity of building and running containers, by offering one common industry standard. As a result, Docker’s popularity has sky-rocketed, rivalling Virtual Machines, and transforming the industry. In... Cloud Security Operation “Red Kangaroo”: Industry’s First Dynamic Analysis of 4M Public Docker Container Images Rony Moshkovich 2 min read Rony Moshkovich Short bio about author here Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Vitae donec tincidunt elementum quam laoreet duis sit enim. Duis mattis velit sit leo diam. Tags Share this article 12/1/20 Published Linux containers aren’t new. In fact, this technology was invented 20 years ago. In 2013, Docker entered the scene and revolutionized Linux containers by offering an easy-to-use command line interface (CLI), an engine, and a registry server. Combined, these technologies have concealed all the complexity of building and running containers, by offering one common industry standard . As a result, Docker’s popularity has sky-rocketed, rivalling Virtual Machines, and transforming the industry. In order to locate and share Docker container images, Docker is offering a service called Docker Hub . Its main feature, repositories , allows the development community to push (upload) and pull (download) container images. With Docker Hub, anyone in the world can download and execute any public image, as if it was a standalone application. Today, Docker Hub accounts over 4 million public Docker container images . With 8 billion pulls (downloads) in January 2020 and growing , its annualized image pulls should top 100 billion this year. For comparison , Google Play has 2.7M Android apps in its store, with a download rate of 84 billion downloads a year. How many container images currently hosted at Docker Hub are malicious or potentially harmful? What sort of damage can they inflict? What if a Docker container image downloaded and executed malware at runtime? Is there a reliable way to tell that? What if a compromised Docker container image was downloaded by an unsuspecting customer and used as a parent image to build and then deploy a new container image into production, practically publishing an application with a backdoor built into it? Is there any way to stop that from happening? At AlgoSec, we asked ourselves these questions multiple times. What we decided to do has never been done before. The Challenge At AlgoSec, we have built a dynamic analysis sandbox that uses the same principle as a conventional sandbox that 'detonates' malware in a safe environment. The only difference is that instead of 'detonating' an executable file, such as a Windows PE file or a Linux ELF binary, the AlgoSec container analyzer first pulls (downloads) an image from any container registry, and then 'detonates' it in its own virtual environment, outside the organization/customer infrastructure. Using our solution, we then dynamically analyzed all 4 million container images hosted at Docker Hub. In order to handle such a massive volume of images, the analyzer was executed non-stop for a period of one month on 800 machines running in parallel. The result of our dynamic scan reveals that: 51 percent of all containers had “critical” vulnerabilities, while 13 percent were classified as “high” and four percent as “moderate” vulnerabilities. Six thousand containers were riddled with cryptominers, hacking tools/pen testing frameworks, and backdoor trojans. While many cryptominers and hacking tools may not be malicious per se, they present a potentially unwanted issue to an enterprise. More than 400 container images (with nearly 600,000 pulls) of weaponized Windows malware crossing over into the world of Linux. This crossover is directly due to the proliferation of cross-platform code (e.g. GoLang, .NET Core and PowerShell Core). Our analysis of malicious containers also shows that quite a few images contain a dynamic payload. That is, an image in its original form does not have a malicious binary. However, at runtime, it might be scripted to download a source of a coinminer, to then compile and execute it. A dynamic analysis sandbox, such as the AlgoSec container analyzer, is the only solution that provides a behavioral analysis of Docker containers. It is built to reveal malicious intentions of Docker containers by executing them in its own virtual environment, revealing a full scope of their behavior. The whitepaper with our findings is available here . Schedule a demo Related Articles Q1 at AlgoSec: What innovations and milestones defined our start to 2026? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read 2025 in review: What innovations and milestones defined AlgoSec’s transformative year in 2025? AlgoSec Reviews Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Navigating Compliance in the Cloud AlgoSec Cloud Mar 19, 2023 · 2 min read Speak to one of our experts Speak to one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Schedule a call