Matt Moore, Founder and CTO of Chainguard, shares his extensive experience from Microsoft and Google, focusing on container security innovations. He discusses the rising threat of software supply chain attacks and the importance of secure open source dependencies. Moore explains how reproducible builds and software bills of materials enhance security. The conversation highlights initiatives like Chain Guard images and the evolution of vulnerabilities management, emphasizing the necessity for robust practices to combat security risks in the tech sector.
The rising threat of software supply chain attacks highlights the urgent need for organizations to secure their open source dependencies.
Chainguard offers hardened container images and a secure Linux distribution, focusing on minimizing vulnerabilities through effective patch management.
Reproducible builds are essential for verifying software integrity, enabling organizations to audit their software supply chain independently of vendor claims.
Deep dives
The Rise of Supply Chain Security
Software supply chain attacks have become a significant concern, particularly for organizations relying on numerous open source dependencies. The increase in high-profile incidents, such as the SolarWinds attack, has heightened awareness of the vulnerabilities present in software ecosystems. As a result, companies have shifted their focus to securing their supply chains, realizing that they must address these security issues proactively. The introduction of executive orders and initiatives around software bill of materials reflects the growing recognition of the necessity for improved practices in supply chain security.
Insights from ChainGuard's Founders
Matt Moores, the founder and CTO of ChainGuard, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles at Microsoft and Google, where he gained deep knowledge in compiler optimizations and container technologies. His background laid the foundation for understanding the complexities of container security and how it relates to the broader software supply chain. Working closely with other experts in the field, he and his team have developed strategies to enhance software security by addressing the inherent risks associated with container usage. This experience was crucial in the formation of ChainGuard and its subsequent focus on container security solutions.
ChainGuard's Approach to Container Security
ChainGuard aims to provide hardened, minimal container images that inherently reduce vulnerabilities. Their primary product, ChainGuard images, ensures that users receive images with zero known vulnerabilities by implementing rigorous patch management and continuous updates. The company operates its own Linux distribution, Wolfie, specifically designed to offer broad compatibility while maintaining a secure coding environment. By prioritizing actionable insights from vulnerability scans, ChainGuard enhances the overall security posture for developers utilizing their images.
Understanding Reproducible Builds
Reproducible builds serve as a significant cornerstone in ensuring software integrity and trustworthiness. They allow developers to verify that a build process produces the same results consistently, essential for validating the authenticity of software. By utilizing reproducible builds, organizations can audit and verify the software supply chain without solely relying on the claims of a vendor. This process enhances accountability and underpins the principle of proveable provenance in software management.
Navigating the Developer Experience with ChainGuard
Integrating ChainGuard images into existing projects offers developers a path toward enhanced security with minimal friction. The company provides application images that act as direct substitutes for popular images commonly used in development, making the transition straightforward. For those looking to adopt more secure practices, ChainGuard's 'dev variants' allow developers to work with familiar tools while progressively moving towards a more secure environment. This adaptable approach facilitates compliance with security standards while improving the overall development experience.
Software supply chain attacks exploit interdependencies within software ecosystems. Security in the supply chain is a growing issue, and is particularly important for companies that rely on large numbers of open source dependencies.
Chainguard was founded in 2021 and offers tools and secure container images to improve the security of the software supply chain.
Matt Moore is the Founder and CTO of Chainguard. He started his career in compiler optimization at Microsoft and worked at Google before starting Chainguard. He joins the show with Gregor Vand to talk about container security.
Gregor Vand is a security-focused technologist, and is the founder and CTO of Mailpass. Previously, Gregor was a CTO across cybersecurity, cyber insurance and general software engineering companies. He has been based in Asia Pacific for almost a decade and can be found via his profile at vand.hk.