What is container scanning?
Container scanning is the process of examining container images to identify potential vulnerabilities and to assess compliance with relevant standards. Container scanning examines image layers to identify known vulnerabilities, exposed secrets, and configuration issues to support secure deployment practices.
Sometimes containers’ vulnerabilities and misconfigurations are easy to overlook because their isolated nature can create a false sense of security. But though containers can bring risks that are difficult to spot, containerization is an important process. Containers allow developers to package and deploy applications seamlessly across various environments, maximizing efficiency.
Looking to make the most of containerization while minimizing risk? That's where container scanning tools come into play. Container scanning tools play a critical role in identifying vulnerabilities within images before deployment.
This article provides an overview of container scanning and the factors teams can consider when choosing a solution that fits their environment. It highlights commonly used tools and outlines how each supports secure software delivery. Because container ecosystems evolve quickly, organizations may periodically review their scanning approach to stay aligned with new technologies and emerging security requirements. The tools below are listed in no particular order.
Evaluating container scanning tools
In CI/CD workflows, container scanners automate image checks and can run continuously. Integration with build and deployment systems helps teams identify issues earlier than periodic manual reviews. Automation has huge benefits: It not only streamlines the development process but also injects a level of security assurance that manual reviews could never match.
Let’s jump right in. Here are Wiz's five benchmark criteria for container scanning you should consider when implementing a container scanning solution:
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Performance and efficiency | Effective tools balance scanning performance with accuracy and can handle high volumes of images. |
| 2. Integration with existing systems | A container scanner must be a team player, fitting into your CI/CD pipeline like a glove, including compatibility with container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes and Docker and alignment with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools. |
| 3. Accuracy in vulnerability detection | It goes without saying that accuracy is paramount. The best container scanning tools can distinguish between actual threats and noise. An optimal solution should have a low false-positive rate, ensuring developers don't waste time chasing ghosts instead of genuine security issues. |
| 4. User interface and ease of use | Usability is where the rubber meets the road. A tool may have a wide range of features, but it can’t be effective if it lacks user-friendliness. Industry-leading scanning tools have a clear and intuitive interface, allowing both security professionals and developers to navigate and utilize its features with minimal friction. |
| 5. Support and community involvement | Finally, the strength of a tool often lies in its support system and community involvement. A tool backed by a responsive support team and an active community is less likely to leave you in the lurch when you encounter an issue. These resources can be a goldmine for troubleshooting, best practices, and staying abreast of the latest security developments. |
By applying these criteria, we can gauge the merits of each container scanning tool on the market. This approach isn't merely about selecting a tool; it's about identifying the ideal tool that fits the specific requirements and workflow of your organization.
Container Security Best Practices [Cheat Sheet]
What's included in this 9 page cheat sheet? 1. Actionable best practices w/ code examples + diagrams 2. List of the top open-source tools for each best practice 3. Environment-specific best practices
Common container scanning tools
Let’s take a look at four tools on the market (in no particular order):
Clair: A vulnerability static analyzer for containers
Clair is an open-source tool that performs static vulnerability analysis of container images. It indexes image layers and compares package information against known vulnerability databases such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and the Ubuntu CVE Tracker. Clair integrates with container registries like Quay and can also be used within CI/CD pipelines through its API-based architecture.
Teams often choose Clair when they need a configurable, open-source scanner that can align with existing registry or build workflows. Its flexibility and community-driven development make it a dependable option for organizations seeking an adaptable image scanning capability.
Trivy: A simple and comprehensive scanner
Trivy is an open-source vulnerability scanner that identifies risks across container images, operating system packages, and application dependencies. It supports a broad range of environments—including Docker, Kubernetes, and file systems—and requires minimal configuration to begin scanning.
Developed by Aqua Security, Trivy provides regularly updated vulnerability data and supports additional capabilities such as configuration and compliance scanning. Its simplicity and wide coverage make it a common choice for development teams looking to integrate security checks directly into build and deployment workflows.
Grype: A vulnerability scanner for container images and filesystems
Grype is an open-source vulnerability scanner for container images and file systems maintained by Anchore. It detects vulnerabilities by analyzing package metadata and comparing it against multiple security feeds. Grype can be deployed as a standalone binary, through Docker, or integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
Its companion tool, Syft, generates Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) that list the components and dependencies within an image. Used together, Syft and Grype help teams maintain visibility into the open-source packages included in their containers and identify affected components efficiently.
Falco: An open-source, cloud native runtime security project
Falco is an open-source runtime security tool that monitors containerized environments for anomalous or suspicious behavior. Instead of scanning static images, it observes system calls and other activity at runtime to help detect unexpected changes, privilege escalations, or policy violations.
Falco is often used alongside image scanners to extend protection into runtime. It provides flexible alerting rules and integrates with various orchestration and monitoring platforms, offering teams continuous visibility into container activity once workloads are deployed.
Wiz's approach to container scanning
Each of the open-source tools discussed addresses specific aspects of container security, from image analysis to runtime monitoring. Together, they demonstrate how open-source innovation continues to strengthen modern DevOps workflows. The right mix of tools depends on your environment, development model, and security objectives.
Wiz’s believes that open-source and unified security platforms work best when used together. Open-source scanners provide depth and flexibility for specialized tasks, while a platform like Wiz connects those insights across the broader cloud and container ecosystem – linking vulnerabilities to runtime context, entitlements, and data exposure. This combination helps security and DevOps teams prioritize what matters most and maintain a consistent view of risk across development and production environments.
Wiz integrates with container scanning tools to enhance visibility and automate response across the entire lifecycle. Within the Wiz platform, teams can:
Correlate vulnerabilities from image scans with real-world risk across running workloads.
Secure configurations and infrastructure as code (IaC) to prevent misconfigurations before deployment.
Monitor compliance with frameworks such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR through continuous assessment.
Detect and respond to suspicious activity in runtime environments through unified visibility and alerting.
Strengthen least-privilege access and data protections across multicloud environments.
By combining the strengths of open-source tools with the unified visibility of Wiz, organizations can build a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to container and cloud security.
Schedule a demo to learn how Wiz approaches container and cloud security to complement open-source scanners and provide continuous visibility from build to runtime.
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