"Notary v2 and OCI Image Signing Standards"
In "Notary v2 and OCI Image Signing Standards," readers are guided through the evolving landscape of container image security, starting from foundational principles such as threat modeling, cryptographic integrity, and the pivotal role played by the Open Container Initiative (OCI) in standardizing best practices for secure software supply chains. The book carefully traces the history and drivers behind image signing, contextualizing the regulatory and compliance demands that shape this critical aspect of cloud-native security.
The core of the book meticulously dissects the architecture and protocol design of Notary v2, offering deep insights into its motivations, trust models, signature representation, and extensibility features. It further explores the intricacies of the OCI Image Signing Specification, including signature payload structures, multi-platform considerations, and robust policy enforcement mechanisms. Extensive attention is given to key management, delegation strategies, and integration with enterprise-grade security solutions such as hardware security modules and cloud KMS, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of trust and secure operations throughout the image lifecycle.
Strategically oriented toward practical adoption, the book addresses workflows for signature distribution, validation in both cloud and air-gapped environments, integration into DevOps pipelines, and advanced attack mitigation strategies. Real-world case studies and best practices serve to demystify operational challenges, migration from earlier standards, and ecosystem tooling. Finally, the narrative expands to emerging frontiers—such as attestations, SBOM integration, decentralized models, and the evolving interplay between standards bodies and open source communities—positioning readers at the cutting edge of artifact security and governance.