Chainguard vs. Docker Hardened Images

Build safely with AI for every use case using trusted open source artifacts across the development lifecycle, not just slimmed-down images.

FEATURES

Catalog Depth

• Chainguard: 3,000+ projects, 1,300+ FIPS variants, 30,000+ packages, 250+ Helm charts.
• Docker: 500+ projects, 100+ Helm Charts

SDLC Coverage

• Chainguard: Containers, VMs, Libraries for Python, Java, and JavaScript, and Actions and Agent Skills provide a complete, secure-by-default foundation.
• Docker: No additional open source artifacts.

Build Systems

• Chainguard: The AI-native Chainguard Factory rebuilds from source continuously, maintaining low-to-zero CVEs, latest versions, and full test coverage, backed by granular SBOMs and SLSA Level 3 provenance for complete transparency.
• Docker: Images are rebuilt reactively when upstream base images or application versions are updated, with no guaranteed patch cadence, provenance attestation, or SBOM.

Security SLA

• Chainguard: Contractual SLA of 7 days Critical, 14 days all other severities, with actual average patch times significantly faster: Critical <20 hours, High 2.05 days, Medium 2.5 days, Low 3.05 days. 1-day KEV SLA
• Docker: No SLA on free images; 7 days critical/high, 30 days for med/low CVEs in paid tier.

OS

• Chainguard: Purpose-built Linux OS. Total control from source to artifact.
• Docker: Reliant on legacy distros (Debian/Alpine), subject to their release cadence, often dismissing deferred but applicable CVEs.

Compliance

• Chainguard: 940+ FIPS image variants leveraging Chainguard FIPS Provider for OpenSSL 3.4, eliminating third-party reliance for patches or certificate updates.
• Docker: Reliant on third-party FIPS modules, slowing CVE remediation and certificate updates.

Migration

• Chainguard: Guardener agent intelligently rebuilds Dockerfiles layer by layer, testing as it builds, so platform teams standardize faster and developers never break stride.
• Docker: Limited support via general-purpose AI assistant.

Customization

• Chainguard: Image customization with Custom Assembly, powered by the Chainguard Factory and underpinned by 30k+ packages, with all custom images covered under Chainguard's CVE remediation SLA.
• Docker: Available on paid tiers. Alpine has roughly 19,000 hardened packages, Debian has 12,312. Docker claims its CVE guarantee covers packages added during customization, but its own docs route Debian customizations to standard upstream packages.

What sets Chainguard apart from DHI?

With hundreds of successful customers, Chainguard gives engineering teams a secure-by-default foundation with the deepest and fastest-growing catalog of trusted open source artifacts, built for the AI era.

Trusted OSS artifacts for every developer, AI agent, and workload

Choose from over 3,000 OSS projects and 350,000+ container images alongside a broad catalog of language libraries, VMs, CI/CD actions, and agent skills for comprehensive coverage across the software development lifecycle.

FIPS compliance without the third-party limitations

Chainguard’s CMVP-validated module means no dependency on a third party to update certificates or fix vulnerabilities.

Fully built from source code for the strongest security

Chainguard Containers are built from source on Chainguard OS, including toolchains and compilers, so we control what goes into each image and can patch without waiting on a distro release.

Results that speak for themselves

• 424,000+ Engineering Hours Saved
• 106,000+ CVEs Remediated
• 20 hours avG remediation time for critical CVEs
• 85% Reduction in Attack Surface
• 97.6% Avg. Reduction in CVEs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I customize Chainguard images with additional packages?

Yes. Custom Assembly lets you add packages and certificates to any image (30,000+ packages available). Custom-assembled images remain under Chainguard's CVE remediation SLA when using packages from entitled images.

Does Chainguard offer an SLA on CVE remediation?

Yes. The contractual SLA guarantees critical CVEs within 7 days and high/medium/low within 14 days. Here is Chainguard's average remediation time in practice, broken down by CVE severity:

• Critical CVEs: Average under 20 hours (63.5% within 24 hours, 97.6% within 2 days, 100% within 3 days)
• High CVEs: 2.05 days average
• Medium CVEs: 2.5 days average
• Low CVEs: 3.05 days average

How does Chainguard handle FIPS compliance compared to Docker Hardened Images?

Chainguard holds its own CMVP certificates for the Chainguard FIPS Provider for OpenSSL. The implementation is kernel-independent and containers run in FIPS mode without requiring a FIPS-enabled host OS. Docker's FIPS variants require the Enterprise tier and use a third-party CMVP (OpenSSL), which may require additional due diligence to verify rebrand compliance during audits.

What does Chainguard offer beyond container images?

Chainguard Libraries provides malware-resistant rebuilds of Python, Java, and JavaScript packages that are built from source with signed SBOMs and SLSA L2 provenance. Libraries plug directly into PyPI, npm, and Maven with zero workflow changes. Chainguard also offers first-party Helm Charts and VM images for secure container hosts.

What does "built from source" mean and why does it matter?

Chainguard compiles every package directly from source code on Chainguard OS rather than repackaging pre-compiled binaries. This eliminates the risk of supply chain attacks injected into distributed binaries and gives Chainguard full control over patching timelines independent of upstream distro release cycles.

How often are Chainguard images rebuilt and patched?

Every image is rebuilt nightly. When a new vulnerability is disclosed, the automated build system rebuilds affected packages from source and triggers cascade rebuilds of all dependent images. Because Chainguard controls its own OS and build pipeline, it can patch vulnerabilities independently of any upstream distro.

How does Chainguard handle supply chain security differently than Docker Hardened Images?

Both vendors provide SBOMs, Sigstore signatures, and SLSA Build Level 3 provenance attestations. Chainguard builds every package from source on its own OS (Wolfi/Chainguard OS). Docker Hardened Images builds some packages from source while incorporating others from prebuilt archives, resulting in inconsistent build definitions.