Artifact Registry for Docker Images

In the evolving world of cloud-native applications and DevOps pipelines, managing container images efficiently and securely is crucial. Google Cloud Artifact Registry provides a modern, integrated, and secure solution for storing, managing, and accessing Docker container images and other build artifacts across Google Cloud.

What is Artifact Registry?

Artifact Registry is a unified, fully managed repository service from Google Cloud that supports multiple artifact formats including Docker, Maven, npm, and more. It is the successor to the now-deprecated Container Registry, offering improved security features, regional repositories, and fine-grained identity and access control using IAM.

For teams working with containers, Artifact Registry simplifies storage and distribution of Docker images, integrates tightly with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Cloud Build, and supports hybrid and multi-cloud workflows through the Docker CLI and open standards.

Creating a Docker Repository in Artifact Registry

To store Docker images, you'll first need to create a Docker-format repository:

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console.
2. Navigate to Artifact Registry → Repositories and click Create Repository.
3. Choose:
   • Format: Docker
   • Mode: Standard
   • Location: Choose a specific region or multi-region (e.g., us-central1)
   • Name: e.g., my-docker-repo
4. Click Create. GCP provisions the repository and generates the endpoint for pushing/pulling images.

Pushing Docker Images to Artifact Registry

Once the repository is ready, you can push Docker images using the following steps:

1. Authenticate Docker with GCP:
   gcloud auth configure-docker <region>-docker.pkg.dev
2. Build and tag your image:
   docker build -t my-app .
docker tag my-app <region>-docker.pkg.dev/<project-id>/my-docker-repo/my-app
3. Push the image:
   docker push <region>-docker.pkg.dev/<project-id>/my-docker-repo/my-app

The image is now stored in your Artifact Registry and available for use in deployments or by other services.

Pulling Images from Artifact Registry

Any GCP service, or authenticated developer machine, can pull the image using the standard Docker command:

docker pull <region>-docker.pkg.dev/<project-id>/my-docker-repo/my-app

If you're using GKE, you can reference this image directly in your Kubernetes Deployment YAMLs — no extra setup is needed if the cluster is in the same project and region.

Securing Access with IAM

Security is a first-class citizen in Artifact Registry. Access control is managed through Cloud IAM, which lets you grant or restrict permissions at both the project and repository level.

You can assign predefined roles such as:

• roles/artifactregistry.reader — Read-only access (pull images)
• roles/artifactregistry.writer — Push and pull access
• roles/artifactregistry.admin — Full administrative access

For example, to grant pull-only access to a CI/CD service account:

gcloud artifacts repositories add-iam-policy-binding my-docker-repo \
  --location=us-central1 \
  --member="serviceAccount:ci-pipeline@my-project.iam.gserviceaccount.com" \
  --role="roles/artifactregistry.reader"
  

Best Practices

• Use regional repositories to reduce latency and improve availability in specific zones.
• Use IAM service accounts for automated deployments and tightly control permissions.
• Leverage gcloud artifacts docker tags list and describe commands to inspect image metadata.
• Periodically clean up unused image versions to control storage costs.

Conclusion

Google Cloud Artifact Registry is an essential tool for modern DevOps teams seeking secure, scalable, and manageable Docker image storage. With robust IAM integration, native GCP service compatibility, and future-proof design, it's a powerful replacement for legacy registries and an enabler of streamlined CI/CD pipelines in the cloud.