Qualys Container Security

Qualys Container Security manages securing containerized environments by providing comprehensive visibility, continuous protection, and automated vulnerability detection. The technical architecture relies on the deployment of Container Sensors, which can be installed on hosts, in Docker-in-Docker setups, or integrated with various orchestrators like Kubernetes. These sensors automatically scan the host for images and containers, collecting metadata such as ports, networks, services, and installed software, and pushing this inventory to the Qualys Cloud Platform account.

The approach emphasizes continuous monitoring across all phases of container deployment: build, ship, and runtime. This includes integrating with CI/CD tools to perform vulnerability scanning during the development pipeline, as well as scanning registries and runtime environments. The system identifies images with high-severity vulnerabilities and obsolete tags, allowing for prioritized remediation based on the impact on active and dormant containers.

Operationally, the free version of the tool provides limited functionality, such as metadata viewing but not vulnerability scanning, which requires a paid subscription. The full version offers extensive API access for listing and fetching container, image, and sensor details, enhancing automation and integration capabilities. However, there are limitations, such as the initial restriction to the first 10 general sensors installed on assets in the free version, which can be lifted with a paid subscription.

From a technical standpoint, the Qualys Container Security solution ensures real-time visibility with detailed metadata, but it may require careful management to avoid scalability issues, particularly in large, distributed container environments. The integration with various cloud and orchestration platforms ensures flexibility but also demands careful configuration to maximize its benefits.