cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP)
What is CNAPP?
CNAPP stands for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform. It is a unified security solution that protects cloud-native applications across their entire lifecycle - from development through to production. CNAPP integrates multiple cloud security capabilities into a single platform, offering visibility, risk prioritization, and remediation across infrastructure, workloads, and applications.
What does a CNAPP do?
Modern organizations rely on cloud-native technologies like containers, microservices, and serverless computing. These environments are dynamic, complex, and require a new approach to security.
CNAPPs provide end-to-end coverage for these modern environments by combining previously siloed capabilities into a unified platform. This holistic approach helps organizations:
- Discover and inventory cloud assets
- Detect misconfigurations and vulnerabilities
- Prioritize risks based on context
- Shift security left during development
- Ensure runtime protection for workloads
What does CNAPP include?
A CNAPP brings together several key components:
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): Detects misconfigurations in cloud environments (like AWS, Azure, or GCP).
- Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP): Secures running workloads such as virtual machines, containers, and serverless functions.
- CIEM (Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management): Helps manage and audit access rights to cloud resources.
- Kubernetes Security: Protects container orchestration environments.
- DevSecOps integration: Embeds security into CI/CD pipelines and developer workflows.
