VMs, microVMs, containers: choose your isolation.

The virtual machine

A VM has its own kernel and virtualised hardware. It supports varied operating systems and applications requiring a full environment. Guest systems need maintenance, and resource use must be sized appropriately.

The microVM

A microVM retains a hardware virtualisation boundary with a reduced device model. Depending on implementation, it can reduce footprint and startup time. It requires suitable tooling for images, networking, storage and observability, and is not a universal replacement for a conventional VM.

The container

Containers isolate processes while sharing the host kernel. They simplify application distribution and improve density, but require careful permissions, image management and resource limits. System containers and application containers serve different purposes.

• Assess trust boundaries between workloads.
• Check kernel requirements and device needs.
• Include updates, persistent storage and backup strategy.

Combine rather than oppose

Containers can run inside VMs to combine application packaging with environment separation. Evaluate the entire lifecycle: deployment, diagnosis, patching, recovery and team skills. Run a representative trial before broad adoption.