In some embodiments, techniques for controlling inter-process communications in a single kernel instance operating system partitioned into a global zone and one or more non-global zones. In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include establishing a non-global zone for isolating processes from processes in other non-global zones in a global operating system environment controlled by a single kernel instance. The method can include, responsive to a first request, creating a communications object having a unique identifier corresponding to the non-global zone of a process making the first request. The method may include, responsive to a second request, initiating a communications using the communications object for a process making the second request, if the process making the second request is determined to be associated with the non-global zone having a unique identifier matching the unique identifier of the communications object.