---
title: Set up App and API Protection for Ruby in Docker
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > App and API Protection > Enabling App and API
  Protection > Enabling AAP for Ruby > Set up App and API Protection for Ruby in
  Docker
---

# Set up App and API Protection for Ruby in Docker

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site.md). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

{% alert level="info" %}
You can enable App and API Protection for Ruby services with the following setup options:

1. If your Ruby service doesn't have APM tracing set up, you can easily enable App and API Protection with Datadog's [Automatic Installation](https://docs.datadoghq.com/tracing/trace_collection/automatic_instrumentation/single-step-apm/linux.md)
1. Otherwise, keep reading the following manual setup instructions

{% /alert %}

## Overview{% #overview %}

App and API Protection works by leveraging the [Datadog Ruby library](https://github.com/DataDog/dd-trace-rb/) to monitor and secure your Ruby service. The library integrates seamlessly with your existing application without requiring code changes.

For detailed compatibility information, including supported Ruby versions, frameworks, and deployment environments, see [Ruby Compatibility Requirements](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/application_security/setup/ruby/compatibility.md).

This guide explains how to set up App and API Protection (AAP) for Ruby applications. The setup involves:

1. Installing the Datadog Agent
1. Enabling App and API Protection monitoring
1. Run Your Application
1. Verifying the setup

## Prerequisites{% #prerequisites %}

- Docker installed on your host
- Ruby application containerized with Docker
- Your Datadog API key
- Datadog Ruby tracing library (see [version requirements](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/application_security/setup/ruby/compatibility.md))

## 1. Installing the Datadog Agent

Install the Datadog Agent by following the [setup instructions for Docker](https://docs.datadoghq.com/agent.md?tab=cloud_and_container).

## 2. Enabling App and API Protection monitoring

Install and configure the `datadog` gem in your Ruby application.

{% collapsible-section %}
#### APM Tracing Enabled

{% tab title="Configuration file" %}
Add the `datadog` gem to your Gemfile:

```ruby
gem 'datadog', '~> 2.0'
```

Configure Datadog library by adding an initializer:

```ruby
Datadog.configure do |c|
  c.service = 'your_service_name'
  c.env = Rails.env

  c.tracing.enabled = true

  # Tracing instrumentation for Rails has to be explicitly enabled
  c.tracing.instrument :rails

  c.appsec.enabled = true
  c.appsec.api_security.enabled = true

  # Rails instrumentation is required for App and API Protection
  c.appsec.instrument :rails
end
```

{% /tab %}

{% tab title="Auto-instrumentation and environment variables" %}
Add the `datadog` gem to your Gemfile and require auto-instrumentation:

```ruby
gem 'datadog', '~> 2.0', require: 'datadog/auto_instrument'
```

Set environment variables for your application. Add these to your Dockerfile:

```dockerfile
# Set environment variables
ENV DD_APPSEC_ENABLED=true
ENV DD_API_SECURITY_ENABLED=true
ENV DD_SERVICE=<YOUR_SERVICE_NAME>
ENV DD_AGENT_HOST=<YOUR_AGENT_HOST>
ENV DD_ENV=<YOUR_ENVIRONMENT>
```

{% /tab %}

{% /collapsible-section %}

{% collapsible-section %}
#### APM Tracing Disabled

To disable APM tracing while keeping App and API Protection enabled, you must set the APM tracing configuration to false.

{% tab title="Configuration file" %}
Add the `datadog` gem to your Gemfile:

```ruby
gem 'datadog', '~> 2.0'
```

Configure Datadog library by adding an initializer:

```ruby
Datadog.configure do |c|
  c.service = 'your_service_name'
  c.env = Rails.env

  c.agent.host = 'your_agent_host'

  # Disable APM Tracing
  c.tracing.enabled = false

  # Tracing instrumentation for Rails has to be explicitly enabled
  c.tracing.instrument :rails

  c.appsec.enabled = true
  c.appsec.api_security.enabled = true

  # Rails instrumentation is required for App and API Protection
  c.appsec.instrument :rails
end
```

{% /tab %}

{% tab title="Auto-instrumentation and environment variables" %}
Add the `datadog` gem to your Gemfile and require auto-instrumentation:

```ruby
gem 'datadog', '~> 2.0', require: 'datadog/auto_instrument'
```

Set environment variables for your application. Add these to your Dockerfile:

```dockerfile
ENV DD_APPSEC_ENABLED=true
ENV DD_API_SECURITY_ENABLED=true
ENV DD_APM_TRACING_ENABLED=false
ENV DD_SERVICE=<YOUR_SERVICE_NAME>
ENV DD_AGENT_HOST=<YOUR_AGENT_HOST>
ENV DD_ENV=<YOUR_ENVIRONMENT>
```

{% /tab %}

{% /collapsible-section %}

## 3. Run your application

Build your image and then run your container.

When running your container, make sure to connect it to the same Docker network as the Datadog Agent and set the correct agent host in your application.

## 4. Verify setup

To verify that App and API Protection is working correctly:

1. Send some traffic to your application.
1. Check the [App and API Protection Service Inventory](https://app.datadoghq.com/security/appsec/inventory/services) in Datadog.
1. Find your service and check that App and API protection is enabled in the **Coverage** column.

## Troubleshooting{% #troubleshooting %}

If you encounter issues while setting up App and API Protection for your Ruby application, see the [Ruby App and API Protection troubleshooting guide](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/application_security/setup/ruby/troubleshooting.md).

## Further Reading{% #further-reading %}

- [How App and API Protection Works](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/application_security/how-it-works.md)
- [OOTB App and API Protection Rules](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/default_rules.md?category=cat-application-security)
- [Troubleshooting App and API Protection](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/application_security/troubleshooting.md)