InfoQ Homepage Articles Securing Cell-Based Architecture in Modern Applications
Cell-based architecture is becoming increasingly popular in the fast-evolving world of software development. The concept is inspired by the design principles of a ship's bulkheads, where separate watertight compartments allow for isolated failures. By applying this concept to software, we create an architecture that divides applications into discrete, manageable components known as cells. Each cell operates independently, communicating with others through well-defined interfaces and protocols. Cell-based technologies are popular because they provide us with an architecture that is modular, flexible, and scalable. They help engineers rapidly scale while improving development efficiency and enhancing maintainability. However, despite these impressive feats, cell-based technology introduces significant security challenges.
Each cell must operate in a sandboxed environment to prevent unauthorized access to the underlying system or other cells. Containers like Docker or virtual machines (VMs) are often used to enforce isolation. By leveraging sandboxing, even if a cell is compromised, the attacker cannot easily escalate privileges or access other parts of the system.