The Evolution of Cloud Security: Moving Beyond CNAPP

security measures. Traditional security tools often fall short when applied to cloud-native environments, which is why many organizations are turning to Cloud Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP) to protect their cloud workloads.?

However, while CNAPP provides essential security capabilities, it’s no longer enough by itself. The next level of cloud security combines CNAPP with additional tools and approaches to fully protect and optimize cloud environments.

What is CNAPP?

At its core, a CloudNative Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) offers a unified security approach for cloud-native applications, including:

• Workload protection: Safeguarding virtual machines, containers, and serverless functions from vulnerabilities and attacks.
• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): Continuously monitoring the cloud environment for misconfigurations and compliance issues.
• Visibility and control: Providing real-time insights into what’s happening across cloud infrastructures.

CNAPP’s integrated nature makes it easier for organizations to secure their cloud applications and infrastructure by providing a single pane of glass for monitoring and defense.

The Growing Complexity of Cloud Security

However, while CNAPP addresses many critical aspects of cloud security, modern cloud environments present an increasingly complex set of challenges. Data is more distributed, API usage is growing, and infrastructure configurations are changing constantly. This complexity has driven the need for additional security measures that CNAPP alone cannot solve.?

Here are some key areas where organizations need more than just CNAPP:

1. Data Security Posture Management (DSPM): With data scattered across various storage services in the cloud, protecting it requires visibility into where sensitive data resides, who has access to it, and how it is being used. DSPM ensures data is managed securely and compliantly.

2. Identity and Access Management (IAM): As the number of users and services grows in cloud environments, managing access becomes increasingly complex. Tools that provide granular IAM capabilities help enforce least privilege access and prevent unauthorized actions.

3. API Security: APIs are often a weak point in cloud infrastructures. A solution that monitors API behavior, configuration, and security posture can prevent potential data breaches or other security risks.

4. Cost Reporting and Optimization: While cloud platforms offer flexibility, they can also lead to unexpected costs. A system that monitors cloud usage, identifies inefficiencies and suggests optimizations is essential for maintaining cost-effectiveness.

5. Network Analysis and Change Tracking: Continuous monitoring of network configurations and changes ensures that no unauthorized or risky modifications compromise the cloud infrastructure.

Moving Toward Comprehensive Cloud Security

The cloud security landscape is evolving quickly, and relying solely on a CNAPP solution isn’t sufficient anymore. As organizations scale their cloud infrastructure, they need a more comprehensive approach to managing not just security, but also cost, governance, and operational efficiency.

By incorporating features such as DSPM, IAM, API security, and cost management into their cloud security strategy, organizations can achieve a more holistic and proactive defense mechanism. It’s not just about protecting workloads—it's about securing the entire cloud ecosystem.

CloudWize: A Cloud Security Platform That Goes Beyond CNAPP

For organizations looking to elevate their cloud security to the next level, CloudWize offers a complete platform that combines all the critical capabilities of CNAPP with a range of additional features like DSPM, IAM, API security, cost optimization, and network change tracking. This makes CloudWize more than just a security tool—it’s a Cloud Security Center of Excellence that provides comprehensive visibility, security, and efficiency for modern cloud environments.

By adopting CloudWize, businesses can ensure their cloud environments are not only protected but also optimized for both security and performance.

Want to see CloudWize in action? Request a demo here.