Container

Containers are isolated, lightweight runtime environments for software – independent of the underlying infrastructure.

For developers: reproducible environments.
For operators: efficient deployments.
For decision-makers: a key to scaling, portability, and automation.
And for us: the technological standard in modern operations.

What is a container?

A container includes:

• the application code
• all required dependencies
• configuration and runtime environment

It runs directly on the host kernel – without its own OS like a VM.
That makes containers resource-efficient, fast, and portable.

Typically, containers are created using tools like Docker or Podman – and managed in orchestration systems such as Kubernetes.

Benefits of containers

• Fast startup times (milliseconds to seconds)
• Minimal size – no OS overhead
• Reproducibility – ideal for Dev → PPO → PO
• Portability – runs locally and in the cloud
• Scalability – horizontal, automated
• Isolation – decoupled from other applications

Containers make applications mobile – from laptops to clusters.

Common use cases

• Microservices architectures
• CI/CD pipelines
• Development & testing environments
• Dynamic scaling of web applications
• Platform operations with Kubernetes

What containers are not

• not a full operating system
• not a replacement for deep system-level isolation (like VMs)
• not a fix for outdated or monolithic applications

Containers are an architectural principle, not a silver bullet.

How we work with containers at RiKuWe

• We build and operate containerized apps on Kubernetes.
• CI/CD pipelines create versioned container images on every commit.
• Security, monitoring, and rollbacks are built in.
• Containers are managed centrally via container registries.

For us, containers aren’t buzzwords – they’re our daily standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a container?

A container is a lightweight, isolated environment for running applications. It includes code, dependencies, and configuration – and runs independently from the underlying system.

How is it different from a virtual machine?

Containers share the host’s kernel, while VMs include their own OS. This makes containers faster and more efficient, but with less isolation.

When should I use containers?

Containers are ideal for microservices, dynamic applications, and automated deployments – especially when scalability, portability, and speed matter.

How secure are containers?

Containers offer basic isolation. For higher security needs, we recommend extra measures – such as network segmentation, read-only file systems, or specialized security tools.

How do I get started with containers?

Docker is a great starting point. In production setups, we rely on Kubernetes and CI/CD – with clear processes for builds, versioning, deployment, and monitoring.

Container platforms with RiKuWe

Scalable Kubernetes infrastructure
CI/CD and automated deployments