Why CNAPP is the Future of Cloud Protection

As more organizations move to the cloud, there is a growing need for cloud security solutions that can keep up with the constantly evolving threat landscape. Traditional security solutions, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, were not designed for the dynamic and distributed nature of cloud environments. That’s where cloud-native security comes in.

Cloud-native security is a term used to describe security solutions that are purpose-built for cloud environments. These solutions are designed to be highly scalable, agile, and dynamic, and are specifically tailored to the unique challenges of protecting cloud-based applications and infrastructure. Specifically, we’ll explore cloud-native application protection platforms, an industry analyst term that describes platforms that combine cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP) + cloud security posture management (CSPM) capabilities.

Here you can see an overview of Deepfence’s cloud-native platform and the different capabilities it provides across its open-source and enterprise editions.

And in this picture, you can see, the breadth of telemetry cloud-native security solutions such as Deepfence are able to consume as a requirement of adapting to the unique circumstances of cloud security.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why cloud-native security is the future of cloud protection, and why organizations that are serious about cloud security should consider adopting cloud-native security solutions.

The Cloud Changed Everything; You Need Different Solutions

The Cloud is Different

One of the key reasons why cloud-native security is the future of cloud protection is that the cloud is fundamentally different from traditional IT environments. In traditional IT environments, resources are typically located within a data center, with a relatively fixed network perimeter that can be secured using traditional security solutions such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.

In contrast, cloud environments are highly dynamic and distributed, with resources often shared across multiple tenants. This makes it much harder to secure the environment using traditional security solutions. For example, cloud environments may use containerization, serverless architectures, or microservices, which can introduce new security challenges that are not present in traditional IT environments.

Cloud-native security solutions, on the other hand, are purpose-built to meet the unique challenges of securing cloud-based applications and infrastructure. These solutions are designed to be highly scalable and agile, and can adapt to the dynamic nature of cloud environments. They are also designed to provide the necessary protection to ensure that cloud-based applications and infrastructure are secure.

Here you can see an example of Deepfence’s ThreatGraph technology, present in both the open-source and enterprise editions of its product. As you can see, not only does it highlight attack paths to multiple modalities of different attack vectors (vulnerabilities, exposed secrets, malware, misconfigurations, etc.) but can do so across the varied types of infrastructure in the cloud including PaaS services of the CSPs themselves, to virtual machines and containers running on those machines, to Kubernetes and serverless architectures.

For example, cloud-native security solutions can use machine learning algorithms to identify and respond to threats in real-time, making them much more effective at protecting cloud-based applications and infrastructure.

The Threat Landscape is Evolving

Another reason why cloud-native security is the future of cloud protection is that the threat landscape is constantly evolving, and attackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics. Traditional security solutions are often unable to keep up with the pace of these changes, leaving organizations vulnerable to attack.

For example, attackers are increasingly targeting cloud environments, where they can exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive data and resources. They may use techniques such as credential stuffing, where they use stolen usernames and passwords to gain access to cloud-based applications and infrastructure.

Cloud-native security solutions, however, are designed to be highly adaptable and can quickly respond to new threats as they emerge. These solutions are able to use machine learning and other advanced technologies to detect and respond to threats in real-time, making them much more effective at protecting cloud-based applications and infrastructure. Here is an example of the types of attacks the Deepfence platform is able to detect utilizing these newer technologies such as eBPF.

And here is an example of how the next generation of security analysis and detection is able to paint a picture for security teams of the entire sequence of how a threat actor has moved within the environment and where they are in the attack chain.

Compliance Requirements are Increasing

With the increasing use of cloud environments for sensitive workloads, compliance requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. Organizations that fail to meet these requirements can face serious consequences, including fines and legal action.

Cloud-native security solutions are designed to meet these compliance requirements, and many solutions are certified to comply with various regulatory standards, such as HIPAA and PCI-DSS. This makes it much easier for organizations to meet their compliance requirements and maintain the necessary level of security for their cloud-based applications and infrastructure.

For example, a cloud-native security solution may include built-in compliance features, such as audit logs, which can help organizations to demonstrate compliance with various regulatory requirements.

Here is an example of Deepfence’s CSPM reports that help organizations demonstrate continuous compliance against a variety of standards to which companies are held accountable today.

Consolidation of Security Tools

One of the biggest challenges facing organizations that use traditional security solutions is the complexity of managing multiple security tools from different vendors. This can be a time-consuming and expensive process, and can also make it more difficult to identify and respond to security threats.

Cloud-native security solutions, on the other hand, are designed to consolidate security tools and provide a unified view of the security posture of the environment. This makes it much easier for organizations to manage their security and respond to threats, and can also help to reduce costs by eliminating the need for multiple security tools and licenses.

For example, a cloud-native security solution may include a unified dashboard that provides a single view of the security posture of the environment. This can help security teams to identify and respond to threats more quickly and efficiently, without the need to switch between multiple tools and interfaces. Not only does Deepfence provide a unified view of an organization’s security posture but it is able to consolidate many tools utilized in the cloud space. These tools include CWPP, CNAPP, vulnerability scanning, container security, CSPM, FIM, AV, etc.

Scalability and Flexibility

Finally, one of the biggest advantages of cloud-native security solutions is their scalability and flexibility. Cloud environments are designed to be highly scalable, and cloud-native security solutions are no exception. These solutions can easily scale up or down as needed, depending on the changing needs of the organization. This makes it much easier for organizations to ensure that their security solutions are always in line with their business needs.

In addition, cloud-native security solutions are designed to be highly flexible and can be customized to meet the specific needs of the organization. For example, an organization may have unique security requirements that are not met by a traditional security solution. With a cloud-native security solution, the organization can customize the solution to meet its specific needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cloud-native security is the future of cloud protection. Cloud-native security solutions are purpose-built to meet the unique challenges of securing cloud-based applications and infrastructure and are highly scalable, agile, and dynamic. These solutions can adapt to the changing threat landscape and compliance requirements and can help organizations consolidate their security tools and reduce costs.

By adopting cloud-native security solutions, organizations can ensure that their cloud-based applications and infrastructure are secure, while also taking advantage of the scalability and flexibility of cloud environments. With the constantly evolving threat landscape and the increasing use of cloud environments for sensitive workloads, cloud-native security is becoming an essential component of any cloud security strategy.

At Deepfence, we are committed to providing the best cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) to protect your cloud-based applications and infrastructure. Our CNAPP solution is designed to provide real-time detection and protection from cloud security threats using cutting-edge packet filtering technology based on eBPF + XDP, and can help to reduce alert fatigue and consolidate security tools and licenses.

If you’re interested in learning more about our CNAPP solution and how it can benefit your organization, contact us to schedule a demo. Don’t wait for a breach – protect your cloud apps with Deepfence’s cloud-native application protection platform today.