Azure Container Registry

Azure Container Registry (ACR) is a managed, private Docker registry service that you can use to build, store, and manage container images and related artifacts. ACR extends Azure's capabilities for container orchestration by providing a single registry for all of your container deployments.

Azure Container Registry Architecture

Diagram illustrating Azure Container Registry architecture.

Key Features

  • Private Docker Registry: Store and manage your Docker container images securely within Azure.
  • Geo-replication: Distribute registries across multiple Azure regions for high availability and performance.
  • Vulnerability Scanning: Integrate with Azure Security Center and third-party tools to scan images for known vulnerabilities.
  • ACR Tasks: Automate container image builds and pushes in Azure, triggered by code commits or base image updates.
  • Helm Chart Repository: Store and manage Helm charts for your Kubernetes deployments.
  • Content Trust: Sign container images to ensure their integrity and authenticity using Docker Content Trust.

Getting Started with ACR

To get started with Azure Container Registry, you first need to create a registry instance. You can do this using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or Azure PowerShell.

Using Azure CLI

Install the Azure CLI and then run the following command:


az acr create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myRegistry --sku Basic --admin-enabled true

Replace myResourceGroup and myRegistry with your desired resource group and registry names.

Logging into your Registry

Once your registry is created, you can log in using the docker login command:


az acr login --name myRegistry

You will be prompted for credentials if using the admin user, or you can use service principal credentials.

Common Use Cases

  • CI/CD Pipelines: Integrate ACR with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins to build and deploy containerized applications.
  • Kubernetes Deployments: Use ACR as the central repository for images deployed to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).
  • Microservices Architecture: Manage images for a diverse set of microservices.
  • Hybrid Cloud Deployments: Securely manage container images for on-premises and cloud deployments.

Further Learning

Explore the following resources to deepen your understanding of Azure Container Registry:

Create your first ACR