The Challenges of Cloud Security and the Impact of CNAPPs on the Landscape
In the ever-evolving landscape of cloud-native applications, ensuring security has become a paramount concern. Enter the Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), a unified, end-to-end security solution designed to safeguard cloud applications throughout their entire lifecycle[1][4][5].
A CNAPP integrates multiple cloud security capabilities such as cloud workload protection, cloud security posture management, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning, Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), runtime threat detection, and compliance enforcement into a single platform[1][4][5].
CNAPPs provide continuous monitoring and lifecycle security, ensuring security at every stage of application development and production[1]. They automate cloud-native security to address the dynamic and ephemeral nature of cloud workloads, reducing the risk of misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and compliance violations[1][4].
Leveraging AI and behavioral analysis, CNAPPs detect anomalous activities in real time, enabling early alerting or automated blocking of potential threats that could compromise cloud resources[3]. They offer a unified visibility of risks and threats across diverse cloud environments, simplifying security operations and allowing faster response to incidents[5].
Moreover, CNAPPs integrate with DevSecOps workflows, making security a continuous and automatic part of the software delivery process rather than an afterthought[1].
In a cloud native environment, applications are often run in containers, which are managed by orchestrators like Kubernetes. Serverless functions, which are provided as a managed service, also need to be hardened against attack[2]. CNAPPs help secure these components by continuously monitoring them for non-compliance and vulnerabilities, such as Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs)[3].
Remediating these vulnerabilities can be laborious, but when a later version of a package is upgraded, the vulnerability alert will be resolved[4]. Automated blocking based on multiple indicators of an attack can take place with CNAPPs, immediately stopping an attacker from doing more damage. However, such blocking can be disruptive to live services and needs careful planning and consideration[5].
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is a category for monitoring cloud platform settings for potential security threats[6], while Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) is the process of securing applications or workloads within cloud infrastructure[7]. CNAPPs are essential in these dynamic cloud native environments, as computers monitor other computers for us[8].
In conclusion, traditional security tools often lack the capability to fully secure cloud-native apps, which involve multiple interacting components in complex, scalable, and rapidly changing cloud environments. By consolidating various security functions tailored for the cloud, CNAPPs enable organizations to proactively manage and mitigate cloud security risks effectively[1][3][5].
[1] Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) - TechTarget [2] Containers and Serverless Functions - TechTarget [3] Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) - TechTarget [4] Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) - TechTarget [5] Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) - Gartner [6] Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) - TechTarget [7] Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) - TechTarget [8] Infrastructure as Code (IaC) - TechTarget [9] Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) - TechTarget
- In the realm of data-and-cloud-computing, CNAPPs play a crucial role in maintaining compliance with security standards, as they provide an end-to-end solution that oversees cloud applications throughout their lifecycle.
- CNAPPs are essential in the cloud, as they offer a unified security infrastructure that encompasses functions like cloud workload protection, cloud security posture management, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning, Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), runtime threat detection, and compliance enforcement.
- In a cloud native environment, where applications are run in containers and serverless functions, CNAPPs ensure the security of these components by continuously monitoring them for non-compliance and vulnerabilities like Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), and automatically blocking potential threats.
- By integrating with DevSecOps workflows, CNAPPs make security a continuous and automatic part of the software delivery process, helping organizations proactively manage and mitigate cloud security risks effectively.
