Kata Containers
Kata Containers is an open-source container runtime that provides enhanced security by creating lightweight virtual machines (VMs) that act as containers, offering strong isolation between workloads. It integrates with container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes to run standard container images while ensuring each container runs in its own dedicated kernel, reducing the attack surface compared to traditional container runtimes. This approach combines the performance and density benefits of containers with the security advantages of VMs.
Developers should use Kata Containers in multi-tenant environments, such as cloud-native applications or shared infrastructure, where strong isolation between containers is critical to prevent security breaches and meet compliance requirements. It is particularly valuable for running untrusted workloads, sensitive data processing, or in regulated industries like finance and healthcare, where traditional container runtimes might pose risks due to shared kernel vulnerabilities.