Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Last updated on October 27th, 2024 at 11:50 pm
Docker is a powerful tool for running and managing the application inside the container. Containers are lightweight and isolated units to package your application with all the dependencies.
Docker containers are stateless and will not store any data inside the container. Docker volume allows containers to persist data, data will be saved even if the container is stopped or restarted.
This is an important feature for the application that needs to persist data and keep it between containers. Docker encrypted volume is an important security feature to protect the application data.
Eg: Databases MYSQL or Kafka stores the sensitive data
Table of Contents
Why Encrypt Docker Volumes?
Persistent data storing benefits the application but if your container stores sensitive data in a volume, that data could be breached or someone can gain unauthorized access.
Without encryption, anyone who has access to the host machine or storage could access the volume and steal the data which can be a serious concern.
Encrypting the volume protects against these kinds of threats, even if someone gains access to the host machine or storage physically, the data inside the volume is unreadable and encrypted. No one without a proper decryption key can decrypt it or brute-force it.
Benefits of Docker Encrypted Volume
Here are the major benefits of using the Docker encrypted volume:
1. Enhanced Data Security 🛡️
Encryption protects the sensitive data at rest within the storage volume. If an attacker gains access to the host machine, they won’t be able to access the data without the decryption key.
2. Regulatory Compliance 📜
Sensitive applications such as the Banking or Healthcare industry need strict compliance such as PCI-DSS and HIPAA, which makes it mandatory to implement strong data security practices. Encrypting the Docker volumes can help to meet compliance requirements.
3. Improved Security 🔐
Docker encrypted volume reduces the attack surface and makes your Docker environment secure. Combining them with the Docker container, and Docker network security best practices can improve the overall security posture.
Docker Container Security Cheatsheet: Don’t Get Hacked🔐
10 Docker Network Best Practices: For Optimal Container Networking
FREE EBook – Docker Defence Unbeatable Security
Are you leveraging Docker’s potential, but worried about security vulnerabilities? Our ebook, “Docker Defence: Unbeatable Security“, is your key to mastering container security. Packed with actionable checklists and expert tips, you’ll discover:
Don’t wait! Download your free copy and unlock the full potential of Docker!
How to Encrypt Docker Volume
There are two main ways for Docker encrypted volume:
1. Using External Encryption Tools
You can use the external tools like dm-crypt, LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup), or veracrypt, to create an encrypted volume on the host. You need to install these tools before you can start using them. These tools are powerful but complex to manage the setup:
Let’s explore how to manage the Docker encrypt volume:
#1. Create the loopback device:
Let’s create the loopback device that acts as a virtual block device to store the encrypted data
cryptsetup --create encrypted_volume /dev/loop0#2. Format the loopback device:
Once created let’s format the device with the filesystem such as ext4
mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/encrypted_volume#3. Mount the encrypted volume:
Let’s mount the encrypted volume with the decryption key
mount /dev/mapper/encrypted_volume /secure_storage -o cryptkey=/path/to/keyfileAlways check the official documentation for the tools and change the commands based on your environment. Actual commands may vary.
2. Docker Encrypted Volume: Cloud Provider
Cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and GCP offer the manage Docker services and volume encryption features directly in their platforms.
Amazon Web Service (AWS)
AWS offers the AWS Elastic Block Store (EBS) volume that can be used with the Docker to store the data. You can select both options for the data at rest on the physical device and data-in-transit while in transfer.
You can manage the encryption key security by using AWS Key Management Service.
Microsoft Azure
Azure offers the Azure Disk Encryption for Linux (ADE) for encrypting the Linux and uses that Azure Disk Encryption to store and protect the Docker volume data.
Azure solution can be expanded to follow the industry standard encryption algorithm and integrate with Azure Key Valute for secure key management.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
You can use the Google Cloud KMS to manage the encryption keys for the Docker encrypted volume. This will allow you to implement the encryption for Docker volume using the tools we checked earlier like dm-crypt
Important Points
- Each cloud providers have their way of managing the encryption and volume.
- Always refer to the official documentation for detailed instructions and supported options.
- Ensure the proper key management practices such as strong key rotation and secure storage.
Conclusion
Docker encrypted volume is key to keeping your sensitive data safe and secure. By following the approaches outlined in the above blog you can use self-managed encryption or cloud provider ways to implement the best practices for key management and access control.
Check out more on the Docker Container Security Cheatsheet: Don’t Get Hacked🔐
FREE EBook – Docker Defence Unbeatable Security
Are you leveraging Docker’s potential, but worried about security vulnerabilities? Our ebook, “Docker Defence: Unbeatable Security“, is your key to mastering container security. Packed with actionable checklists and expert tips, you’ll discover:
Don’t wait! Download your free copy and unlock the full potential of Docker!
