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ActiveState Reveals Critical Gaps in Container Security

ActiveState, a key player in the realm of open-source language solutions and secure software supply chain management, has recently issued the 2026 State of Vulnerability Management and Remediation Report. This year's edition, titled the Container Security Edition, presents a stark analysis of the current state of container security within enterprises across North America. This comprehensive study engaged 250 leading DevSecOps professionals, illuminating alarming discrepancies between strategic goals and the harsh realities faced by organizations today.

The Containerization Paradox

As the world increasingly embraces containerization, companies are facing a critical paradox. According to the report, every organization surveyed views containerization as an essential element of their operational strategy. Yet, shockingly, 82% acknowledged that they likely experienced at least one security breach related to containers in the past year. This situation raises crucial questions about how organizations are managing their security protocols and compliance measures, especially given that 78% of those surveyed struggled to pass compliance audits due to vulnerabilities found in their container images.

Stephen Baker, CEO of ActiveState, highlighted the urgency of these findings, stating, "The findings in our 2026 report serve as a stark wake-up call for enterprises relying on open source software and containers to drive their innovation." Baker emphasized the increasing gap between the aspirations of securing the software supply chain and the reality of ongoing development practices. With nearly all organizations asserting the importance of containers yet failing audits and suffering breaches, there is an undeniable need for a paradigm shift in how software supply chains are managed.

Trust vs. Practice: Root Causes of Security Failures

Delving deeper into the findings, the report exposes a critical 'trust versus practice' gap. While a substantial 77% of DevSecOps leaders expressed a preference for curated catalogs over public registries, 90% admitted to using lightly modified public images lacking proper hardening measures. This practice increases exposure to security risks, as outdated and unmonitored base images stand out as significant avenues for supply chain breaches and compliance failures.

Furthermore, the report underscores that reliance on manual curation and traditional 'golden images' is falling short in scaling security practices effectively. As the threats to container security evolve, so too must the strategies employed by organizations.

Moving Toward Automated Solutions

To tackle these challenges, Baker advocates for a shift towards automated, policy-enforced runtimes. Such an evolution in security practices could alleviate some of the burdens placed on developers while enhancing the overall security posture. The report outlines key recommendations for enterprise leaders to bridge the compliance gap and strengthen their defenses against evolving threats.

In addition to addressing compliance issues, the report explores the impact of artificial intelligence on remediation processes. By leveraging automated tools and advanced technologies, organizations can enhance their security measures, ensuring that they remain one step ahead in safeguarding their software supply chains.

Download the Full Report

For a comprehensive understanding of the container security landscape, DevSecOps leaders, security professionals, and engineering managers are encouraged to download the full 2026 State of Vulnerability Management and Remediation Report. The complete data set, along with insights on container security trends, the role of AI in remediation, and strategies for addressing compliance challenges, is available on the ActiveState website.

About ActiveState

ActiveState is committed to empowering DevSecOps teams to bolster their security while promoting productivity and innovation. The company offers a curated catalog boasting over 40 million secure open-source components and container images available for various consumption methods, including artifact repositories, CI/CD systems, and directly from ActiveState. Through continuous monitoring and updating of these open-source components, ActiveState aims to help organizations maintain a vulnerability-free environment. Businesses leveraging ActiveState have reported a remarkable 60% to 99% reduction in Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), consequently improving their security posture and saving up to 30% of developer time by eliminating common engineering challenges associated with using open-source software in commercial applications. To learn more, visit www.activestate.com.