diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/layers_cache.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/layers_cache.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..15db565c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/layers_cache.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2025 Edgeless Systems GmbH
+//
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+
+use crate::registry::ImageLayer;
+
+use fs2::FileExt;
+use log::{debug, warn};
+use std::fs::OpenOptions;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ImageLayersCache {
+    inner: Arc<Mutex<Vec<ImageLayer>>>,
+    filename: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl ImageLayersCache {
+    pub fn new(layers_cache_file_path: &Option<String>) -> Self {
+        let layers = match ImageLayersCache::try_new(layers_cache_file_path) {
+            Ok(layers) => layers,
+            Err(e) => {
+                warn!("Could not read image layers cache: {e}");
+                Vec::new()
+            }
+        };
+        Self {
+            inner: Arc::new(Mutex::new(layers)),
+            filename: layers_cache_file_path.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn try_new(layers_cache_file_path: &Option<String>) -> std::io::Result<Vec<ImageLayer>> {
+        match &layers_cache_file_path {
+            Some(filename) => {
+                let file = OpenOptions::new()
+                    .read(true)
+                    .write(true)
+                    .create(true)
+                    .truncate(false)
+                    .open(filename)?;
+                // Using try_lock_shared allows this genpolicy instance to make progress even if another concurrent instance holds a lock.
+                // In this case, the cache will simply not be used for this instance.
+                FileExt::try_lock_shared(&file)?;
+
+                let initial_state: Vec<ImageLayer> = match serde_json::from_reader(&file) {
+                    Ok(data) => data,
+                    Err(e) if e.is_eof() => Vec::new(), // empty file
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        FileExt::unlock(&file)?;
+                        return Err(e.into());
+                    }
+                };
+                FileExt::unlock(&file)?;
+                Ok(initial_state)
+            }
+            None => Ok(Vec::new()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_layer(&self, diff_id: &str) -> Option<ImageLayer> {
+        let layers = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        layers
+            .iter()
+            .find(|layer| layer.diff_id == diff_id)
+            .cloned()
+    }
+
+    pub fn insert_layer(&self, layer: &ImageLayer) {
+        let mut layers = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        layers.push(layer.clone());
+    }
+
+    pub fn persist(&self) {
+        if let Err(e) = self.try_persist() {
+            warn!("Could not persist image layers cache: {e}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn try_persist(&self) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+        let Some(ref filename) = self.filename else {
+            return Ok(());
+        };
+        debug!("Persisting image layers cache...");
+        let layers = self.inner.lock().unwrap();
+        let file = OpenOptions::new()
+            .write(true)
+            .truncate(true)
+            .create(true)
+            .open(filename)?;
+        FileExt::try_lock_exclusive(&file)?;
+        serde_json::to_writer_pretty(&file, &*layers)?;
+        FileExt::unlock(&file)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/lib.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/lib.rs
index e6bb2100b..4543e4acf 100644
--- a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/lib.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub mod cronjob;
 pub mod daemon_set;
 pub mod deployment;
 pub mod job;
+pub mod layers_cache;
 pub mod list;
 pub mod mount_and_storage;
 pub mod no_policy;
diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/main.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/main.rs
index db1706049..a7edc16ae 100644
--- a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/main.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ mod cronjob;
 mod daemon_set;
 mod deployment;
 mod job;
+mod layers_cache;
 mod list;
 mod mount_and_storage;
 mod no_policy;
@@ -52,5 +53,6 @@ async fn main() {
 
     debug!("Exporting policy to yaml file...");
     policy.export_policy();
+    config.layers_cache.persist();
     info!("Success!");
 }
diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry.rs
index 56eb01701..14cc66682 100644
--- a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry.rs
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry.rs
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
 #![allow(non_snake_case)]
 
 use crate::containerd;
+use crate::layers_cache::ImageLayersCache;
 use crate::policy;
 use crate::utils::Config;
 use crate::verity;
 
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Result};
 use docker_credential::{CredentialRetrievalError, DockerCredential};
-use fs2::FileExt;
 use log::{debug, info, warn, LevelFilter};
 use oci_client::{
     client::{linux_amd64_resolver, ClientConfig, ClientProtocol},
@@ -23,10 +23,7 @@ use oci_client::{
 };
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sha2::{digest::typenum::Unsigned, digest::OutputSizeUser, Sha256};
-use std::{
-    collections::BTreeMap, fs::OpenOptions, io, io::BufWriter, io::Read, io::Seek, io::Write,
-    path::Path,
-};
+use std::{collections::BTreeMap, io, io::Read, io::Seek, io::Write, path::Path};
 use tokio::io::AsyncWriteExt;
 
 /// Container image properties obtained from an OCI repository.
@@ -165,7 +162,7 @@ impl Container {
                 debug!("config_layer: {:?}", &config_layer);
 
                 let image_layers = get_image_layers(
-                    config.layers_cache_file_path.clone(),
+                    &config.layers_cache,
                     &mut client,
                     &reference,
                     &manifest,
@@ -439,7 +436,7 @@ impl Container {
 }
 
 async fn get_image_layers(
-    layers_cache_file_path: Option<String>,
+    layers_cache: &ImageLayersCache,
     client: &mut Client,
     reference: &Reference,
     manifest: &manifest::OciImageManifest,
@@ -455,20 +452,16 @@ async fn get_image_layers(
             || layer.media_type.eq(manifest::IMAGE_LAYER_GZIP_MEDIA_TYPE)
         {
             if layer_index < config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids.len() {
-                let (verity_hash, passwd, group) = get_verity_and_users(
-                    layers_cache_file_path.clone(),
+                let mut imageLayer = get_verity_and_users(
+                    layers_cache,
                     client,
                     reference,
                     &layer.digest,
                     &config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids[layer_index].clone(),
                 )
                 .await?;
-                layers.push(ImageLayer {
-                    diff_id: config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids[layer_index].clone(),
-                    verity_hash: verity_hash.to_owned(),
-                    passwd: passwd.to_owned(),
-                    group: group.to_owned(),
-                });
+                imageLayer.diff_id = config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids[layer_index].clone();
+                layers.push(imageLayer);
             } else {
                 return Err(anyhow!("Too many Docker gzip layers"));
             }
@@ -481,12 +474,18 @@ async fn get_image_layers(
 }
 
 async fn get_verity_and_users(
-    layers_cache_file_path: Option<String>,
+    layers_cache: &ImageLayersCache,
     client: &mut Client,
     reference: &Reference,
     layer_digest: &str,
     diff_id: &str,
-) -> Result<(String, String, String)> {
+) -> Result<ImageLayer> {
+    if let Some(layer) = layers_cache.get_layer(diff_id) {
+        info!("Using cache file");
+        info!("dm-verity root hash: {}", layer.verity_hash);
+        return Ok(layer);
+    }
+
     let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir_in(".")?;
     let base_dir = temp_dir.path();
     // Use file names supported by both Linux and Windows.
@@ -497,140 +496,38 @@ async fn get_verity_and_users(
     let mut compressed_path = decompressed_path.clone();
     compressed_path.set_extension("gz");
 
-    let mut verity_hash = "".to_string();
-    let mut passwd = "".to_string();
-    let mut group = "".to_string();
-    let mut error_message = "".to_string();
-    let mut error = false;
+    if let Err(e) = create_decompressed_layer_file(
+        client,
+        reference,
+        layer_digest,
+        &decompressed_path,
+        &compressed_path,
+    )
+    .await
+    {
+        temp_dir.close()?;
+        bail!(format!(
+            "Failed to create verity hash for {layer_digest}, error {e}"
+        ));
+    };
 
-    // get value from store and return if it exists
-    if let Some(path) = layers_cache_file_path.as_ref() {
-        (verity_hash, passwd, group) = read_verity_and_users_from_store(path, diff_id)?;
-        info!("Using cache file");
-        info!("dm-verity root hash: {verity_hash}");
-    }
-
-    // create the layer files
-    if verity_hash.is_empty() {
-        if let Err(e) = create_decompressed_layer_file(
-            client,
-            reference,
-            layer_digest,
-            &decompressed_path,
-            &compressed_path,
-        )
-        .await
-        {
-            error_message = format!("Failed to create verity hash for {layer_digest}, error {e}");
-            error = true
-        };
-
-        if !error {
-            match get_verity_hash_and_users(&decompressed_path) {
-                Err(e) => {
-                    error_message = format!("Failed to get verity hash {e}");
-                    error = true;
-                }
-                Ok(res) => {
-                    (verity_hash, passwd, group) = res;
-                    if let Some(path) = layers_cache_file_path.as_ref() {
-                        add_verity_and_users_to_store(
-                            path,
-                            diff_id,
-                            &verity_hash,
-                            &passwd,
-                            &group,
-                        )?;
-                    }
-                    info!("dm-verity root hash: {verity_hash}");
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    temp_dir.close()?;
-    if error {
-        // remove the cache file if we're using it
-        if let Some(path) = layers_cache_file_path.as_ref() {
-            std::fs::remove_file(path)?;
-        }
-        bail!(error_message);
-    }
-    Ok((verity_hash, passwd, group))
-}
-
-// the store is a json file that matches layer hashes to verity hashes
-pub fn add_verity_and_users_to_store(
-    cache_file: &str,
-    diff_id: &str,
-    verity_hash: &str,
-    passwd: &str,
-    group: &str,
-) -> Result<()> {
-    // open the json file in read mode, create it if it doesn't exist
-    let read_file = OpenOptions::new()
-        .read(true)
-        .write(true)
-        .create(true)
-        .truncate(false)
-        .open(cache_file)?;
-
-    // Return empty vector if the file is malformed
-    let mut data: Vec<ImageLayer> = serde_json::from_reader(read_file).unwrap_or_default();
-
-    // Add new data to the deserialized JSON
-    data.push(ImageLayer {
-        diff_id: diff_id.to_string(),
-        verity_hash: verity_hash.to_string(),
-        passwd: passwd.to_string(),
-        group: group.to_string(),
-    });
-
-    // Serialize in pretty format
-    let serialized = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&data)?;
-
-    // Open the JSON file to write
-    let file = OpenOptions::new().write(true).open(cache_file)?;
-
-    // try to lock the file, if it fails, get the error
-    let result = file.try_lock_exclusive();
-    if result.is_err() {
-        warn!("Waiting to lock file: {cache_file}");
-        file.lock_exclusive()?;
-    }
-    // Write the serialized JSON to the file
-    let mut writer = BufWriter::new(&file);
-    writeln!(writer, "{}", serialized)?;
-    writer.flush()?;
-    fs2::FileExt::unlock(&file)?;
-    Ok(())
-}
-
-// helper function to read the verity hash from the store
-// returns empty string if not found or file does not exist
-pub fn read_verity_and_users_from_store(
-    cache_file: &str,
-    diff_id: &str,
-) -> Result<(String, String, String)> {
-    match OpenOptions::new().read(true).open(cache_file) {
-        Ok(file) => match serde_json::from_reader(file) {
-            Result::<Vec<ImageLayer>, _>::Ok(layers) => {
-                for layer in layers {
-                    if layer.diff_id == diff_id {
-                        return Ok((layer.verity_hash, layer.passwd, layer.group));
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            Err(e) => {
-                warn!("read_verity_and_users_from_store: failed to read cached image layers: {e}");
-            }
-        },
+    match get_verity_hash_and_users(&decompressed_path) {
         Err(e) => {
-            info!("read_verity_and_users_from_store: failed to open cache file: {e}");
+            temp_dir.close()?;
+            bail!(format!("Failed to get verity hash {e}"));
+        }
+        Ok((verity_hash, passwd, group)) => {
+            info!("dm-verity root hash: {verity_hash}");
+            let layer = ImageLayer {
+                diff_id: diff_id.to_string(),
+                verity_hash,
+                passwd,
+                group,
+            };
+            layers_cache.insert_layer(&layer);
+            Ok(layer)
         }
     }
-
-    Ok((String::new(), String::new(), String::new()))
 }
 
 async fn create_decompressed_layer_file(
diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry_containerd.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry_containerd.rs
index 40aa4a593..a695e0fa5 100644
--- a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry_containerd.rs
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/registry_containerd.rs
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 
 // Allow Docker image config field names.
 #![allow(non_snake_case)]
+use crate::layers_cache::ImageLayersCache;
 use crate::registry::{
-    add_verity_and_users_to_store, get_verity_hash_and_users, read_verity_and_users_from_store,
-    Container, DockerConfigLayer, ImageLayer, WHITEOUT_MARKER,
+    get_verity_hash_and_users, Container, DockerConfigLayer, ImageLayer, WHITEOUT_MARKER,
 };
 use crate::utils::Config;
 
@@ -60,13 +60,8 @@ impl Container {
         let config_layer = get_config_layer(image_ref_str, k8_cri_image_client)
             .await
             .unwrap();
-        let image_layers = get_image_layers(
-            config.layers_cache_file_path.clone(),
-            &manifest,
-            &config_layer,
-            &ctrd_client,
-        )
-        .await?;
+        let image_layers =
+            get_image_layers(&config.layers_cache, &manifest, &config_layer, &ctrd_client).await?;
 
         // Find the last layer with an /etc/* file, respecting whiteouts.
         let mut passwd = String::new();
@@ -275,7 +270,7 @@ pub fn build_auth(reference: &Reference) -> Option<AuthConfig> {
 }
 
 pub async fn get_image_layers(
-    layers_cache_file_path: Option<String>,
+    layers_cache: &ImageLayersCache,
     manifest: &serde_json::Value,
     config_layer: &DockerConfigLayer,
     client: &containerd_client::Client,
@@ -291,19 +286,14 @@ pub async fn get_image_layers(
             || layer_media_type.eq("application/vnd.oci.image.layer.v1.tar+gzip")
         {
             if layer_index < config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids.len() {
-                let (verity_hash, passwd, group) = get_verity_and_users(
-                    layers_cache_file_path.clone(),
+                let mut imageLayer = get_verity_and_users(
+                    layers_cache,
                     layer["digest"].as_str().unwrap(),
                     client,
                     &config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids[layer_index].clone(),
                 )
                 .await?;
-                let imageLayer = ImageLayer {
-                    diff_id: config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids[layer_index].clone(),
-                    verity_hash,
-                    passwd,
-                    group,
-                };
+                imageLayer.diff_id = config_layer.rootfs.diff_ids[layer_index].clone();
                 layersVec.push(imageLayer);
             } else {
                 return Err(anyhow!("Too many Docker gzip layers"));
@@ -316,11 +306,17 @@ pub async fn get_image_layers(
 }
 
 async fn get_verity_and_users(
-    layers_cache_file_path: Option<String>,
+    layers_cache: &ImageLayersCache,
     layer_digest: &str,
     client: &containerd_client::Client,
     diff_id: &str,
-) -> Result<(String, String, String)> {
+) -> Result<ImageLayer> {
+    if let Some(layer) = layers_cache.get_layer(diff_id) {
+        info!("Using cache file");
+        info!("dm-verity root hash: {}", layer.verity_hash);
+        return Ok(layer);
+    }
+
     let temp_dir = tempfile::tempdir_in(".")?;
     let base_dir = temp_dir.path();
     // Use file names supported by both Linux and Windows.
@@ -331,63 +327,34 @@ async fn get_verity_and_users(
     let mut compressed_path = decompressed_path.clone();
     compressed_path.set_extension("gz");
 
-    let mut verity_hash = "".to_string();
-    let mut passwd = "".to_string();
-    let mut group = "".to_string();
-    let mut error_message = "".to_string();
-    let mut error = false;
-
-    if let Some(path) = layers_cache_file_path.as_ref() {
-        (verity_hash, passwd, group) = read_verity_and_users_from_store(path, diff_id)?;
-        info!("Using cache file");
-        info!("dm-verity root hash: {verity_hash}");
+    // go find verity hash if not found in cache
+    if let Err(e) =
+        create_decompressed_layer_file(client, layer_digest, &decompressed_path, &compressed_path)
+            .await
+    {
+        temp_dir.close()?;
+        bail!(format!(
+            "Failed to create verity hash for {layer_digest}, error {e}"
+        ));
     }
 
-    if verity_hash.is_empty() {
-        // go find verity hash if not found in cache
-        if let Err(e) = create_decompressed_layer_file(
-            client,
-            layer_digest,
-            &decompressed_path,
-            &compressed_path,
-        )
-        .await
-        {
-            error = true;
-            error_message = format!("Failed to create verity hash for {layer_digest}, error {e}");
+    match get_verity_hash_and_users(&decompressed_path) {
+        Err(e) => {
+            temp_dir.close()?;
+            bail!(format!("Failed to get verity hash {e}"));
         }
-
-        if !error {
-            match get_verity_hash_and_users(&decompressed_path) {
-                Err(e) => {
-                    error_message = format!("Failed to get verity hash {e}");
-                    error = true;
-                }
-                Ok(res) => {
-                    (verity_hash, passwd, group) = res;
-                    if let Some(path) = layers_cache_file_path.as_ref() {
-                        add_verity_and_users_to_store(
-                            path,
-                            diff_id,
-                            &verity_hash,
-                            &passwd,
-                            &group,
-                        )?;
-                    }
-                    info!("dm-verity root hash: {verity_hash}");
-                }
-            }
+        Ok((verity_hash, passwd, group)) => {
+            info!("dm-verity root hash: {verity_hash}");
+            let layer = ImageLayer {
+                diff_id: diff_id.to_string(),
+                verity_hash,
+                passwd,
+                group,
+            };
+            layers_cache.insert_layer(&layer);
+            Ok(layer)
         }
     }
-    temp_dir.close()?;
-    if error {
-        // remove the cache file if we're using it
-        if let Some(path) = layers_cache_file_path.as_ref() {
-            std::fs::remove_file(path)?;
-        }
-        bail!(error_message);
-    }
-    Ok((verity_hash, passwd, group))
 }
 
 async fn create_decompressed_layer_file(
diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/utils.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/utils.rs
index 26f619825..e268244d6 100644
--- a/src/tools/genpolicy/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/src/utils.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 //
 
+use crate::layers_cache;
 use crate::settings;
 use clap::Parser;
 
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub raw_out: bool,
     pub base64_out: bool,
     pub containerd_socket_path: Option<String>,
-    pub layers_cache_file_path: Option<String>,
+    pub layers_cache: layers_cache::ImageLayersCache,
     pub version: bool,
 }
 
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ impl Config {
             raw_out: args.raw_out,
             base64_out: args.base64_out,
             containerd_socket_path: args.containerd_socket_path,
-            layers_cache_file_path,
+            layers_cache: layers_cache::ImageLayersCache::new(&layers_cache_file_path),
             version: args.version,
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/tools/genpolicy/tests/policy/main.rs b/src/tools/genpolicy/tests/policy/main.rs
index b3163ebb7..0f61c9f30 100644
--- a/src/tools/genpolicy/tests/policy/main.rs
+++ b/src/tools/genpolicy/tests/policy/main.rs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ mod tests {
             config_files: None,
             containerd_socket_path: None, // Some(String::from("/var/run/containerd/containerd.sock")),
             insecure_registries: Vec::new(),
-            layers_cache_file_path: None,
+            layers_cache: genpolicy::layers_cache::ImageLayersCache::new(&None),
             raw_out: false,
             rego_rules_path: workdir.join("rules.rego").to_str().unwrap().to_string(),
             runtime_class_names: Vec::new(),