Addressing the gaps in modern cloud protection: Using CNAPP to unify cloud security

As cloud-native architectures continue to evolve, so have the complexities of securing them. Traditional security approaches, often built around static infrastructure and perimeter defenses, struggle to keep pace with the speed and scale of modern cloud deployments. Enter cloud-native application protection platforms (CNAPPs), a term coined by Gartner® to describe an integrated security approach that combines multiple capabilities into a single, cohesive solution: “Cloud-native application protection platforms (CNAPPs) are a unified and tightly integrated set of security and compliance capabilities, designed to protect cloud-native infrastructure and applications.”¹

The evolution of CNAPP

Originally, CNAPPs emerged from the convergence of two primary security functions: cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP) and cloud security posture management (CSPM). CWPP focused on securing workloads at runtime, detecting vulnerabilities, and providing behavioral anomaly detection. CSPM, on the other hand, aimed to identify misconfigurations and enforce security policies across cloud environments. Over time, however, CNAPPs have been expanded beyond simply converging these two functions, incorporating such elements as:

• Identity Security – Cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM) to prevent excessive permissions and privilege misuse
• Application Security – Software composition analysis (SCA) and static application security testing (SAST) to detect vulnerabilities in open-source and proprietary code
• API Security – Protection against API threats, which have become a key attack vector in cloud environments
• Attack Surface Management – Continuous monitoring of cloud resources to identify and mitigate potential risks

These capabilities work together to provide a holistic approach to securing cloud-native applications from development to production.

Addressing cloud-specific challenges

Many enterprises struggle to adapt their traditional security tools for their cloud environments, and most traditional solutions lack the agility and scalability required for today’s dynamic cloud workloads. Unlike on-premises environments, the cloud operates using transient resources—instances are spun up and torn down rapidly—rendering static security measures ineffective.

Even more challenging, cloud security responsibilities are often distributed across teams. This shared responsibility model means that while cloud providers are tasked with securing the infrastructure, organizations must ensure the security of their own workloads and data. This demands a unified approach that can seamlessly integrate with DevOps pipelines, embedding security into the development process rather than being treated as an afterthought.

The role of CNAPP in security operations

For SecOps teams, visibility remains a top concern. To address this challenge, CNAPPs offer centralized security insights across cloud and on-prem environments. More importantly, they go well beyond mere visibility by providing automated remediation. Advanced CNAPP solutions leverage behavioral analytics, anomaly detection, and threat intelligence to identify malicious activity and enable rapid response.

Additionally, integration with security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms allows for automated remediation workflows, ensuring that security teams can quickly contain and mitigate threats before they escalate. In the broader security ecosystem, CNAPPs can also connect with cloud access security brokers (CASBs), next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), and security information and event management (SIEM) systems to provide a unified security posture.

Enabling DevSecOps and shifting security left

A core tenet of modern cloud security is the shift-left approach—embedding security early in the software development life cycle (SDLC). CNAPPs facilitate this shift by integrating directly into developer toolchains, scanning code repositories for vulnerabilities, and ensuring that Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) templates adhere to security best practices.

By providing real-time feedback within integrated development environments (IDEs) and version control systems, CNAPPs enable developers to identify and remediate security issues before they reach production. This enhances security and reduces the time and cost associated with fixing vulnerabilities later in the development cycle.

Unifying on-prem and cloud security strategies

For enterprises operating hybrid environments, not all CNAPPs are equally equipped to support hybrid cloud environments. Comprehensive CNAPPs that are customer-centric understand that applications can live on-premises and in the cloud, depending on the needs and strategies of customers. These advanced CNAPPs can also play a crucial role in bridging the gap between on-prem security operations and cloud security. Their ability to correlate threat intelligence across environments enables security teams to apply consistent policies and respond to incidents holistically, even across complex, distributed environments.

The ultimate goal of CNAPPs is to ensure that organizations don’t have to treat their cloud security as an isolated function. Instead, they enable security to operate as a continuous and integrated process that aligns with modern cloud architectures, DevSecOps methodologies, and enterprise security strategies.

The future of cloud security is built on CNAPPs

As organizations continue to expand their cloud footprint, the need for comprehensive, unified security solutions has never been greater. CNAPPs represent the next evolution in cloud security, providing the necessary visibility, automation, and integration to address modern security challenges. By consolidating multiple security functions into a single platform, CNAPPs empower organizations to proactively manage risks, streamline security operations, and align security with the speed and scale of cloud-native development.

CNAPPs should also be part of a broader cloud security platform such that organizations are able to both see and protect everything across hybrid and multi-cloud. In particular, CNAPPs should work seamlessly with cloud networking, web application and API security, and security operations solutions to deliver effective real-time security.

As enterprises navigate the complexities of securing their multi-cloud and hybrid environments, adopting a CNAPP approach can be a key enabler in achieving a resilient and adaptable security posture.

Discover how Lacework FortiCNAPP can transform your cloud security strategy.

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