What is CNAPP?

A Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) is a type of security software that is designed to protect cloud-based applications from cyber attacks.

CNAPPs are specifically designed for cloud-based applications, which are different from traditional on-premise applications. Cloud applications are built using cloud-native architectures, such as microservices, containers, and serverless functions, which require different security solutions compared to traditional applications.

CNAPPs provide several security features, such as vulnerability scanning, threat detection, intrusion prevention, and identity and access management. They also provide visibility into the cloud infrastructure, helping to identify potential security threats and provide real-time alerts to help prevent attacks.

In simple terms, a CNAPP is a tool that helps to secure cloud-based applications by providing various security features and monitoring capabilities to prevent attacks and protect sensitive data.

The Importance of CNAPP in Cybersecurity

A Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) is essential in cybersecurity for several reasons:

  • Cloud-native applications are more complex: Cloud-native applications are typically built using microservices, containers, and serverless functions, which are more complex than traditional monolithic applications. As a result, they require a different approach to security, which a CNAPP can provide.
  • Cloud-native applications are more vulnerable: Cloud-native applications are more vulnerable to cyber attacks than traditional applications because they use a distributed architecture, which creates more potential entry points for attackers.
  • Cyber threats are increasing: The number and complexity of cyber threats are increasing, and attackers are becoming more sophisticated. A CNAPP can help protect cloud-based applications from these threats by providing advanced security features and real-time monitoring.
  • Compliance requirements: Many organizations are required to comply with industry regulations and standards, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR, which require robust security measures to protect sensitive data. A CNAPP can help organizations meet these compliance requirements by providing a comprehensive security solution.

In summary, a CNAPP is essential in cybersecurity because it provides a specialized set of security features that are designed to protect complex cloud-native applications from cyber threats and meet compliance requirements.

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CNAPP vs. CSPM

Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) and Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) are two different types of cloud security solutions, with different focuses and capabilities.

CNAPPs are specifically designed to protect cloud-native applications, which are built using modern cloud technologies such as microservices, containers, and serverless functions. CNAPPs provide advanced security features such as vulnerability scanning, threat detection, intrusion prevention, and identity and access management, which are specifically designed for cloud-native applications.

CSPM, on the other hand, focuses on ensuring that an organization’s cloud infrastructure is configured securely and is compliant with relevant security standards and policies. CSPM solutions provide features such as continuous monitoring of cloud infrastructure, automated risk assessment, and compliance reporting. CSPM is designed to help organizations prevent security breaches caused by misconfigurations, unauthorized access, or other vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure.

In simple terms, CNAPPs are designed to protect cloud-native applications, while CSPM solutions are designed to ensure that the cloud infrastructure is configured securely and compliant with relevant security standards. While both solutions are important in cloud security, they have different focuses and capabilities.

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CNAPP Use Cases

  • Finance Vertical: A financial services company uses a CNAPP to protect its cloud-native applications and data from cyber threats. The CNAPP provides advanced security features such as threat detection, vulnerability scanning, intrusion prevention, and identity and access management. The company is able to ensure the security of its sensitive financial data, meet regulatory compliance requirements, and reduce the risk of cyber attacks.
  • Healthcare Vertical: A healthcare organization uses a CNAPP to protect its cloud-native applications and data from cyber threats. The CNAPP provides advanced security features such as threat detection, vulnerability scanning, intrusion prevention, and identity and access management. The healthcare organization is able to ensure the security of its sensitive patient data, meet HIPAA compliance requirements, and reduce the risk of cyber attacks. Additionally, the CNAPP allows the organization to monitor and analyze access to electronic health records to prevent unauthorized access and protect patient privacy.

In both of these use cases, the CNAPP is essential for protecting sensitive data and meeting regulatory compliance requirements in different verticals. By using a CNAPP, organizations can ensure the security of their cloud-native applications and data, reduce the risk of cyber attacks, and improve overall security posture.

Related Terms

The following terms are all related to cloud security and are often used in conjunction with CNAPPs to provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to cloud security.

  • Cloud-Native Security: Refers to the security solutions and practices that are designed specifically for cloud-native applications and infrastructure.
  • Container Security: Refers to the security of containerized applications, which are a key component of cloud-native architectures.
  • Microservices Security: Refers to the security of microservices-based applications, which are a key building block of cloud-native applications.
  • Serverless Security: Refers to the security of serverless applications, which are a type of cloud-native application that relies on third-party services to manage infrastructure and scaling.
  • Cloud Security: Refers to the overall security of cloud computing environments, including cloud-native applications, infrastructure, and services.
  • DevSecOps: Refers to the integration of security into the software development process, with a focus on automation and collaboration between development, security, and operations teams.

CNAPP Benefits

Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform can help companies overcome data security challenges by providing advanced security features, real-time monitoring, compliance support, scalability, and automation. By using a CNAPP, organizations can improve their overall security posture, reduce the risk of data breaches, and protect sensitive data from cyber threats.

  • Advanced Security Features: CNAPPs provide advanced security features such as vulnerability scanning, threat detection, intrusion prevention, and identity and access management. These features are specifically designed for cloud-native applications and can help detect and prevent cyber threats to sensitive data.
  • Real-Time Monitoring: CNAPPs provide real-time monitoring of cloud-native applications and data, which allows organizations to detect and respond to security incidents as they happen. This can help minimize the damage caused by a cyber attack and reduce the risk of data loss.
  • Compliance Requirements: Many industries have strict compliance requirements for data security, such as HIPAA in healthcare and PCI DSS in finance. CNAPPs can help organizations meet these requirements by providing a comprehensive security solution that meets regulatory standards.
  • Scalability: CNAPPs are designed to be highly scalable, which makes them ideal for protecting cloud-native applications that may be rapidly changing in size and complexity. As an organization’s cloud infrastructure and applications grow, a CNAPP can be easily scaled to provide additional security features.
  • Automation: CNAPPs use automation to simplify security management and reduce the risk of human error. Automated security policies and processes can be used to enforce security standards and ensure that all cloud-native applications are properly secured.
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BigID’s Approach to CNAPP

Cloud native protection starts with deep data discovery. BigID’s data centric approach combines advanced AI and machine learning classification to give you a comprehensive view of all your enterprise data—whether structured or unstructured, no matter where it resides. Gain valuable insight into the exact nature of the data you are storing so you can better protect your most valuable assets across the multi cloud.

Reduce your attack surface with BigID’s intuitive data security posture management (DSPM) and proactively monitor and mitigate risk with the sensitivity hotspot reporting. Accurately identify, classify and correlate all your cloud data with BigID’s automated tagging and labeling. Get more value out of your data and manage access controls for over privileged users—all while improving your risk posture.

Get a 1:1 demo to see how BigID can safeguard your data and kickstart your CNAPP initiatives today.