diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 721ae7c..89417e2 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,19 +1,29 @@
 # LTS version of Node.js
 FROM node:20.9.0-alpine
 
+# Create a new user and group for running the application
+RUN addgroup -S appgroup && adduser -S appuser -G appgroup
+
 RUN mkdir -p /app
 
 WORKDIR /app
 
 COPY package*.json ./
 
-RUN npm install
+# Change ownership of the app directory
+RUN chown -R appuser:appgroup /app
+
+# Install npm dependencies as the non-root user
+USER appuser
+
+# Clear npm cache and install dependencies
+RUN npm cache clean --force && npm install
 
-COPY . .
+# Copy the rest of the application code
+COPY --chown=appuser:appgroup . .
 
 RUN npm run build 
 
 EXPOSE 3000
 
-# Start the app on port 4455 as recommended by ory
 CMD ["npm", "start", "--", "-p", "3000"]