Apparatus and methods for enhanced kernel security in a cloud environment is provided. The apparatus may include a system architecture including a firewall intercepting all incoming data packets routed to the kernel. The firewall may accept or reject a packet based on a rules-based determination comprising extracting a packet header from the packet, identifying a rule stored in a rules database associated with the packet header, the rule defining an allowable executable command for being included in the packet. The system architecture may include a validator configured to extract a signature from the packet, the signature comprising cryptography hash values, and query a signature vault to identify a stored signature identical to the extracted signature. The system architecture may further include an approver for routing the packet to the kernel and the kernel for running one or more containers in the cloud environment.