Like, 'up in seconds' fast, and directly accessible right inside of the host operating system. However, spinning up a Docker image is ridiculously fast. It's true, a VM is certainly more secure than a Docker container (for now, at least). If security isn't a concern and I don't need GUI access, then a VM is my last choice. It can be a tedious experience depending on the task you are trying to perform. Even sharing files isn't necessarily streamlined by design to uphold a higher security profile. VM's are notoriously slow to spin up, and switching back and forth between the VM and your local system is cumbersome.

then Kali Linux running inside of a Docker container is the perfect choice. However, if you're only working with tools in the command-line, and security is less of a concern. then a VM running Kali Linux is your best choice. If you need access to the GUI, and the additional security a VM provides.

However, there are instances where you may not have to work with a VM, and Docker is the perfect alternative solution.įirst, you'll need to decide what it is you'll be using Kali for:ĭo you need access to the GUI, or will you be working with tools directly in the command-line?ĭo you need the environment Kali is running on to be 'more' secure, or do you just need quick access to the tools available in Kali?ĭepending on your answers to these questions you can determine which environment will be a better fit for specific needs on a case by case basis. In the past, I would spin up a dedicated virtual machine to work with Kali Linux using VMware or VirtualBox. In this blog post, I'm going to show you how create 'containerized' Kali Linux in Docker that can be up and running in seconds to give you 'extremely quick and easy access to Kali's toolset without the overhead of an isolated virtual machine'.

I'm Brett Fullam, a creative technologist turned networking and cybersecurity specialist passionate about security automation. Tutorial, Kali, Linux, Headless, Docker, Containerization - 9 min read Create a Containerized Kali Linux in Docker

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