Top 8 Docker Best Practices for Using Docker in Production

Top 8 Docker Best Practices for Using Docker in Production

Docker containers enable efficient and portable software deployment, but running Docker in production introduces security, reliability, and performance challenges. This post provides 8 essential best practices for safely leveraging Docker at scale in live environments.

1. Use official and verified Docker images:
This ensures you're using a well-maintained image with best practices already applied.
For example, use the official Node.js image instead of building your own from scratch.

2. Fixate the image version:
Avoid using the latest tag, as it can lead to unexpected behavior due to version changes.
Specify a specific version number for both the base image and any other images you use.

3. Choose leaner base images:
Opt for images based on Alpine Linux instead of full-blown distributions like Ubuntu.
This reduces image size and attack surface, improving security and performance.

4. Optimize caching for image layers:

Order your Dockerfile commands from least to most frequently changing.
This allows Docker to reuse cached layers and build images faster.

5. Use a .dockerignore file:

Exclude unnecessary files and folders from your image to reduce its size.
This includes things like build artifacts, temporary files, and development tools.

6. Use multi-stage builds:
Separate the build stage from the runtime stage to keep the final image lean.
This allows you to use build tools and dependencies without including them in the final image.

7. Run applications with a non-root user:
This improves security by reducing the attack surface and the potential for privilege escalation.
Create a dedicated user and group within the image for running the application.

8. Scan your images for vulnerabilities:
Use the docker scan command to identify and address security vulnerabilities in your images.
You can also configure Docker Hub to automatically scan images when they are pushed.