What is Cloud Native Application Protection Platform: Everything You Need to Know

When cloud computing expanded, tools like firewalls and VPNs came into the market to secure cloud systems. However, as applications became more complex, these old tools failed to keep up. This created gaps in visibility which made it hard to handle all cloud security risks.

That's why, as threats grew, new cloud security technologies were developed, one of which was the Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP). It's an all-in-one platform that combines many security tools to make it easier for organizations to secure their cloud environments.

In this article, we'll see what makes CNAPP different from other security tools and help you decide whether it's a good choice for your business.

Defining cloud native application protection platform

CNAPP is a thorough security solution that secures applications and systems running on the cloud. It brings together diversified tools and functions, including CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management), CIEM (Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management), CWPP (Cloud Workload Protection Platform), and IAM (Identity and Access Management) to provide more security.

According to Gartner:

"By 2029, 60% of businesses that fail to implement a complete CNAPP framework in their cloud environment will have limited visibility into their cloud security processes. As a result, they will fall short of accomplishing their zero-trust ambitions."

Since CNAPP gives a clearer view of everything happening in the cloud, it's easier to protect cloud infrastructure and manage application workloads effectively. Through this, security teams can also identify risks and fix them in a short span. Simply put, instead of juggling separate tools, CNAPP puts everything into one system for you.

Benefits of CNAPP

Now that you know what's CNAPP, let's see why companies are highly prioritizing it for modern cloud security:

• Eliminate security gaps: CNAPP gives full visibility into cloud systems without installing additional software. It automatically detects and protects new cloud workloads.
• Use APIs for quick setup: It can protect your entire cloud environment in minutes by using the cloud provider's APIs to scan for resources. This means that no complicated setup is needed.
• Provide clear visual context: It shows risks in a simple graph structure that anyone can understand. This makes it faster to see how different resources are connected and where potential security issues might be.
• Detect risks early: With CNAPP, you can catch security risks early during the development phase by amalgamation with CI/CD pipelines. This prevents issues from reaching production and allows security teams to handle fewer problems later.
• Prioritize risk handling: It lists all risks and prioritizes them based on which ones are most dangerous. This way, your security teams will know which risks to handle first.

Key features of CNAPP

While the benefits prove CNAPP's value to organizations, you should also know its core features to understand how these advantages are achieved in practice.

Cloud security posture management (CSPM)

CSPM keeps your cloud resources safe by checking their setup. It looks for any mistakes or security gaps and fixes them automatically. This way, it makes sure everything follows the right security rules and prevents risks before they become problems.

Cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM)

CIEM ensures that only the right people access the necessary cloud resources. It checks permissions and stops unauthorized users from accessing all the information to maintain strict privacy.

Cloud workload protection platform (CWPP)

CWPP protects all jobs and programs running in the cloud, like virtual machines or containers. It scans these workloads for malware, weaknesses, and other security problems. This assures security measures are in place from the development stage to its use.

Identity and access management (IAM)

IAM controls who can access what in your cloud system. It gives access only to the related person and to the specific part - so your personal information can be saved because of the limited access.

How CNAPP works: Agent-based vs. agentless approaches

CNAPP uses two methods - agent-based and agentless - to combine several security tools to protect your cloud environment.

In the agent-based method, a small software (called an agent) runs directly on cloud machines alongside workloads. This gives information about what's happening in the system and detects security issues immediately because the agent works on the same machine as your workload. It can also access most system data and give you detailed information.

On the other hand, agentless approaches don't need an agent to be installed on your machines. Instead, they gather information through the cloud provider's APIs and take snapshots of the cloud environment to perform vulnerability scanning or unusual behavior. Although they don't give real-time insights like agents, they help identify known security risks without affecting the workloads.

CNAPP works best when both approaches are used together - that's why 3 out of 4 organizations use it to keep their multi-cloud setup safe. The agent-based method gives detailed, real-time data, while the agentless method makes it easy to scan for common issues without any extra setup. This way, CNAPPs keep the cloud environment secure throughout development and operation.

How to choose the right CNAPP solution

You now know what CNAPP is and how it works - so it's time to see what you should look for when adopting this solution. We know choosing the right option for your cloud can be a bit daunting at first, so here are some things to consider.

Consider compatibility and integration

Check if CNAPP can integrate well with your existing cloud platform, whether it's AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or a mix of these. The ideal solution should fit into your current workflows and tools, such as CI/CD systems, ticketing platforms, and monitoring solutions. Make sure it allows you to manage cloud security without disrupting established processes.

Assess scalability and performance

A reliable CNAPP will offer high availability and minimize disruptions. So, look for the one that can handle the growth of your cloud applications and data. It should scale quickly with your needs and maintain high performance even when workloads increase.

Check for compliance support

A good CNAPP should simplify compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS regulations. It should offer built-in compliance features that adhere to these standards without adding extra complexity.

Assess ease of use and cost

CNAPP should be user-friendly and have a simple interface with powerful analytics that make it easy to spot and address security risks. Also, consider the cost of the CNAPP - it usually includes subscription fees and additional expenses for services or training, so all of that should come under your budget.

Sum up

Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) combines multiple security tools to give better visibility and reduce security gaps within your cloud applications. However, there are a few points that you should consider when choosing a CNAPP. It should work well with your current cloud setup, grow with your needs, and meet compliance rules. Simply put, the right CNAPP can protect your cloud operations more effectively and help you stay prepared for future security challenges.

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