5 Reasons Why You Need To Choose The Right Container Registry

Containerization since its emergence into mainstream adoption has galvanized the landscape of software design and delivery, with fast and lightweight software packages that stand alone and abstract from the operating system any application can run with smooth operationality and fluency. Container Registry is the latest feature that catapults this concept further into the limelight and makes it worth a mention, read on further to find out more.

What is a Container Registry?

A container that can work invariably on any infrastructure is the finest of its kind, they are portable, easily shareable, and more resource-efficient analogized to virtual machines which in comparison are slower and more heavy-duty. Containers have become the most effective compute units of current cloud-native applications and have permitted developers to deploy their codes and build in a more immediate smoother delivery process. Moreover, you may read Container registry by JFrog as it will further familiarise you with the benefits of this feature.

Containerization is a methodology meant to couple software code and its Operating Systems requirements into a single package. A container registry streamlines the sharing and usage of images whilst making it more secure and safe for you internally and externally. It also saves a lot of time for developers as they do not have to overburden themselves with the slavish tasks of screening and testing each time before deployment.

Why Is It Integral To Choose The Right Fit For Your Environment?

There are a few main containerizing applications you may have heard of the first being Docker Hub, Quay, and Amazon ECR etcetera. With numerous choices, how would you choose which registry option is the most suitable fit for your requirements?

Here are some aspects to consider:

Does your organization or team require a locally installed program or would cloud hosted registry be more viable for your infrastructure? Amazon ECR is an example of a registry that is only functional, as a cloud-based service. Others can only run on local servers; but, there are some cases that support both types of deployment. Read more on why cloud-native environments are an essential step in your company’s digital transformation and future excellence.

Secondly, will you be utilizing it to accommodate and store any other utilities in addition to container images? Most container registries are created for only and only hosting container images. Whereas in Artifactory’s case it can host other types of files alongside container images. So you will need to first acquire your specifications to decide which of the options would you be more inclined to avail yourself of. In this case, Artifactorywould is a better choice if you’re looking to build a repository to contain extensive material apart from Docker images.

Lastly, where do security risks and vulnerabilities lie on your list of priorities? If its the most or one of the most important things for your company or application depending on the sensitivity of the data you deal with, you’ll be inquisitive towards registries that highly prioritize security, For example, FlawCheck. Docker Hub and Quay also now offer container image scanning by default. Docker Hub also has multi-factor authentication (MFA) apart from the subscription to the basic tier. You can read more on data breaches and how they can stunt your company’s growth and harm your client’s trust to ensure that you maintain the best practice standards in order to keep prospering.

Lastly how integrated do you want your registry to be with a particular container stack? As you will have to keep in mind that you’ll get the most efficiency out of a registry that is built onto the platform you are utilizing, therefore, increasing your optimality

Even if you are having trouble making up your mind about which registry is the best choice for you worry not as it’s often very easy to migrate from one to another in case your mind changes or your requirements do.

In conclusion, our CI/CD pipelines are highly corroborating cloud-native applications and in the modern day hence it is essential for us to utilize and decide on the correct choice for our software and company needs. Our choices will result in a direct impact on the efficiency and performance of our company as well as the developers and individuals involved in the process of delivering the software product. To ensure the best outcome it is necessary to weigh out all pros and cons and then make your decision. If you’ve just begun your journey with Docker take your time becoming more comfortable with using registries for fluency and greater command in this domain.