Microsoft Hyper-V Containers add a layer of security to containerization

Container technologies like Docker are taking the IT world by storm. Containers are an effective and efficient way to develop and deploy apps. For companies that value or require security, however, traditional container platforms are inadequate. Microsoft developed Hyper-V Containers to combine containerization with virtualization and provide an extra layer of security by making each containerized app its own virtual environment.

I wrote this blog post about Microsoft Hyper-V Containers:

Containers are all the rage these days. You’re just not cool if you’re not using Docker or some other container technology to build and deploy your IT infrastructure. Traditional containers, however, lack sufficient security for some industries and companies, so Microsoft developed Hyper-V Containers.

Container platforms like Docker and Rocket have significant momentum and have quickly become established as a de facto way of developing and deploying applications. Microsoft already entered into an arrangement to bring native Docker container support to Windows Server, but now it is going a step farther by creating Hyper-V Containers that combine the agility of containers with the security of virtualization.

Hyper-V Containers ensure that code running in one container object remains completely isolated. The Hyper-V Container object cannot impact other container objects or the host operating system, or vice versa, because it is a separate virtualized container. Mike Neil, general manager of Windows Server for Microsoft, explained in a blog post, “Leveraging our deep virtualization experience, Microsoft will now offer containers with a new level of isolation previously reserved only for fully dedicated physical or virtual machines, while maintaining an agile and efficient experience with full Docker cross-platform integration.”

IT admins will appreciate the fact that Hyper-V Containers can be created and deployed using the same development and management tools used for traditional Windows Server Containers and that they integrate with Docker for cross-platform deployment. Neil points out that applications developed as Windows Server Containers can easily be deployed as Hyper-V Containers without any modification—enabling organizations to take existing containerized apps and re-deploy them in a more secure manner.

It seems like security is always an afterthought to any new technology concept, and containers is no exception. It started out as a good idea that caught fire, but it wasn’t until it hit critical mass and achieved mainstream adoption that security became a factor. As larger companies, or organizations in highly-regulated industries look at jumping on the container bandwagon, though, security becomes a mandatory component.

You can read the full story on DevOps.com: Hyper-V Containers combine virtualization with containerization.