10 Best Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms

As enterprises increase their usage of various cloud environments, the task of securing applications becomes more complex and demands a different approach. Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPPs) address this by providing protection and policy control for applications across multiple environments.

This includes the protection of workloads and compliances controls, and automating policy controls. Companies such as Palo Alto Networks (prisma™) and Microsoft have offerings based on the CNAPP model. Smaller companies like Wiz and Orca also have offerings in this space. Using CNAPPs helps enterprises minimize risks and improve the security of their application environments.

What Does a CNAPP Protect?

A Cloud‑Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) securely spans the full application lifecycle in the cloud. It secures different workloads such as VM’s, Containers and Server-less Functions, and addresses misconfigurations and IAM controls.

It further provides protection during the runtime and takes care of Post-Exploitation activities by automatically remediating and resolving vulnerabilities.

CNAPP helps in achieving regulatory compliance and reduces the attack surface. It provides unified and end-to-end visibility across the public cloud environments.

How We Evaluated These Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms

Platform Coverage

Each CNAPP was analyzed to determine if it provided a complete suite of security offerings (e.g. CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, DSPM, and runtime protect) to secure workloads across the entire lifecycle and not in an fragmented manner.

Cloud Limits

To evaluate the CNAPPs, we examined the limits beyond which the CNAPPs would be unable to protect workloads.

Application Security

The CNAPPs were assessed based on protection offered at each phase of the SDLC (Secure DevOps) and also based on the integration with continuous delivery and incremental incremental automation tools (DevOps pipelines)

Workload and Runtime Protection

Differentiating factors among CNAPPs include protection of workloads across various computing models (VMs and Containers), protection at the serverless layer, integration of eBPF based sidecar proxies for Workload Protection Systems (WPS), and protection against unauthorized state changes (i.e. protection against policy drift) of CNW.

Identity & Permission Security

We assessed capabilities involving CIEM, least-privilege, and IAM. We placed a greater weight on the presence of features to identify and remediate excessive permissions.

Risk Prioritization

We evaluated the factors (e.g. attack path, business impact, ease of exploitation) used to determine risk. CNAPPs that interpreted risks and ended up alerting on <10% of the total potential issues were placed higher.

Automation & Compliance

We appraised automated tools to achieve anCd assess compliance and policy frameworks. The presence of real-time remediation and integration with SIEM/SOAR solutions enhanced the score.

Key Points

Platform	Core Strengths	Key Considerations
Wiz	Security graph, attack-path clarity, agentless deployment in minutes	Premium pricing, runtime sensor still maturing
Palo Alto Prisma Cloud	Broadest CNAPP modules (CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, IaC, API)	Complexity due to acquisitions
Orca Security	Patented SideScanning, unified risk prioritization	Runtime capabilities newer
CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security	Threat intelligence, XDR integration	Requires agents for full value
Microsoft Defender for Cloud	Native Azure integration, cost-effective	Best for Microsoft-centric enterprises
Lacework	Polygraph behavioral analytics, anomaly detection	Integration with Fortinet ongoing
Aqua Security	Container-native runtime, Kubernetes security	Competes with Sysdig in runtime
Sysdig	Falco-based runtime detection, deep eBPF	Runtime-focused, less breadth
Trend Micro Cloud One	Broad workload protection, compliance	Competes on breadth, not innovation
Check Point CloudGuard	Unified posture + workload protection	Slightly weaker runtime depth

1. Wiz

Wiz was acquired by Google in 2026 for $32 billion. Over 50% of Fortune 100 companies are customers. Wiz’s approach is agentless first, creating a Security Graph, unifying development, cloud, and runtime.

Wiz offers protection at different stages, including cloud and workload protection, as well as IaC and identity management protection. Wiz provides security services for multiple cloud platforms.

Wiz covers the entire application lifecycle with tools for coding, cloud, and runtime protection. Wiz offers workload protection with optional eBPF.

The platform automates discovery for misconfigurations and IAM. The platform prioritizes remediation by providing insights into vulnerabilities and attacking paths. The platform protects against lateral movement at the workspace.

Key Features:

• Attack path analysis with security graph
• Agentless scanning
• Support for all major cloud platforms
• Live attack surface protection
• Contextual scoring

Pros:

• rapid deployment
• provides an analysis of potential risks
• used by many Fortune 100 companies
• Google acquired the company for $32 billion

Cons:

• high end-price point
• still developing runtime protection System
• limited CIEM
• relies heavily on graph technology

2. Palo Alto Prisma Cloud

The Prisma Cloud platform by Palo Alto is a result of the acquisitions of Twistlock and Bridgecrew. Prisma Cloud covers a broad surface area and focuses on protecting assets throughout the lifecycle.

The platform offers CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, and IaC security. The platform offers security for multiple public clouds. The platform incorporates Checkov for IaC security. Prisma Cloud offers protection for workloads, including VMs and serverless.

The platform covers security and compliance for 100 plus frameworks. The platform prioritizes findings and creates attack paths. Automation is used to implement and remediate security policies.

Key Features:

• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
• Cloud Workload Security (CWSP)
• Cloud Infrastructure Entitlements Management (CIEM)
• Other modules including IaC, APIs, and more
• Workload protection

Pros:

• most comprehensive Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) suite
• large enterprise customer base
• strong compliance modules
• advanced DevOps and CI/CD tools

Cons:

• complexity following recent acquisitions
• expensive for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs)
• less innovative runtime protection System
• still developing CNAPP suite

3. Orca Security

The platform uses patent-protected SideScanning technology to offer security for multiple public clouds without agents. Coverage encompasses CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, DSPM, API Security, and AIS Protection. Lifecycle Security encompasses Buildtime and Runtime protection.

Runtime protection of Workloads (VMs, Containers, Serverless) includes Posture Assessment and Benchmarking against 200+ security frameworks. Protection extends to identities (IAM role protection).

Noise in vulnerability reports is claimed to be reduced by 90% with the help of AI. Optional Runtime protection is offered via the Orca Sensor. Risk is prioritized based on the presence of attack paths. Remediation Workflows and Compliance Reporting are automated.

Key Features

• Risk Prioritization
• Agentless Technology
• Reachability Analysis
• Other features automating Posture Management
• Quick deployment

Pros:

• no physical agents
• prioritizes risks
• rapid implementation
• offers visibility into workloads

Cons:

• still developing innovation in the field of runtime protection systems
• limited CIEM
• small customer base
• highly competitive market presence against Wiz

4. CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security

Falcon Cloud Security offers a CNAPP solution in combination with Falcon XDR and Threat Intelligence. CSPM: Detection of configuration issues with respect to attack context. Identity Security Services: Automation of least-privilege IAM Policy generation.

VM management: Priority-based remediation. Runtime Protection: Falco-based protection. Threat Modeling: Prioritize risks based on attacker’s Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures. Remediation of CDR automated workflows.

Key Features

• Threat intelligence
• Agentless deployment
• Protection suited for enterprise environments
• Advanced detection for attacks with signature and anomaly based engines

Pros:

• Integrated with Falcon XDR
• Name recognition
• Signature based runtime protection
• Large enterprise customer base

Cons:

• Expensive
• No innovation on agentless protection
• High operational overhead

5. Microsoft Defender for Cloud

The integrated offering of Defender for Cloud and Copilot for Security, is Microsoft’s CNAPP offering. It provides continuous posture management and security of workloads in Azure, AWS, and GCP. It offers security for the DevOps and CI/CD pipeline. It provides workload protection for VMs, serverless, AI and ML workloads.

It offers security and compliance benchmarking and CSPM against NIST and CIS. Vulnerability management for workloads and images. Threat modeling with attack path analysis. Integrates with Sentinel. Automation of remediation. Provides runtime and malware protection.

Main Features

• Integrates directly with Azure
• Multi-cloud CSPM suites
• Workload protection for containers, serverless, and VM’s
• In-built automated compliance suites
• Integration with Sentinel

Pros

• Pricing for Azure customers
• Integrates with the complete Microsoft Stack
• Automated compliance suites

Cons

• Limited to Microsoft ecosystem
• More lateral thinking and innovation with startups
• Outside of Azure limited features
• Runtime protection weaker than Wiz/Orca

6. Lacework (FortiCNAPP)

After the Fortinet acquisition in 2024, Lacework became FortiCNAPP. Polygraph, the behavioral analytics engine, continues to power the solution. Lacework analyzes behavior across various services and workloads to identify anomalies, including with identities.

The solution covers the major clouds (aws, azure, gcp, oci) as well as kubernetes. Lifecycle security includes scanning of infrastructure-as-code templates. Protection of workloads is agent-based or through API integration.

The solution performs CSPM against controls outlined in the CIS and HIPAA. Additionally, the solution performs analysis of identities to determine if there are excessive permissions. Risk is assessed through the use of behavioral analytics and integration with Falco. Automation is available to integrate with Fortinet Security Fabric.

Key Features:

• Behavioral analytics with Polygraph
• Anomaly Detection
• Compliance
• Integration with DevSecOps tools
• Fortinet’s backing

Pros:

• Polygraph
• Anomaly detection
• Compatible with containers
• Fortinet

Cons:

• Integration post acquisition
• Narrower scope than Prisma
• Less mature Runtime detection
• Less mature than Sysdig

7. Aqua Security

Aqua Security is a FedRAMP High authorized container-centric CNAPP that incorporates Trivy (an open-source scanner) into its offerings. The focus of Aqua Security’s CNAPP offering is deep protection for container workloads in Kubernetes.

It is deployed across major public clouds and hybrid environments. During the CI/CD pipeline, it offers several controls for container image scanning. Its runtime protection extends to containers, serverless, and virtual machines. Aqua Security provides a CSPM capability to assess workloads against the SOC 2 and PCI controls.

With Kubernetes, it allows CSPM to address RBAC. Vulnerability management is performed using Trivy along with other Aqua Security proprietary feeds. Runtime protections are based on eBPF technology and prevention of control drift. Risk is prioritized based on whether controls are reached. To address workload protection policies, workloads can be quarantined.

Key Features:

• Container runtime protection
• Kubernetes security specialization
• Agent-based scanning
• CI/CD integration
• Compliance for container security

Pros

• Best in class for security in Kubernetes
• Advanced container/Kubernetes runtime protection
• DevSecOps integration
• Vulnerability Scanning

Cons

• Competitor with Sysdig
• Agent based technology
• Narrow focus on containers
• Smaller customer base

8. Sysdig Secure

Sysdig Secure is also a runtime-first CNAPP designed to protect containers and provides protection to workloads of IBM and Goldman Sachs. It prioritizes runtime vulnerabilities and supports the above mentioned public clouds and container orchestration platforms.

It covers the entire application development lifecycle (especially with respect to security and compliance) by providing remediation suggestions for security and compliance issues. For securing workloads, it supports virtual machines (VMs), containers and serverless functions.

It provides CSPM, IAM security, and threat and vulnerability management for workloads and containers, and offers various forms of runtime security for containers.

It employs various AI/ML technologies and dashboards to proactively identify potential threats. It integrates with the Infinity platform and/or other third-party services to recommend remediation for threats and enforce compliance.

Key Features:

• Falco-based runtime detection
• Extensive eBPF visualization
• Kubernetes security Domain
• Run-time visibility of workloads
• Compliance and policy monitoring

Pros:

• Advanced runtime detection
• Deep KubernetesSwarm
• Good Anomaly detection

Cons:

• Scope limited to runtimes
• Less functionality compared to Prisma
• No CIEM/DSPM
• Not widely adopted by enterprises

9. Trend Micro Cloud One

IDC includes Trend Micro Cloud One in the IDC MarketScape 2025. Trend Micro Cloud One provides broad coverage of security and compliance for workloads, supports a wide range of public clouds, and offers various preventive security controls.

It supports IaC and provides CSPM. It has extensive runtime security functionality, including serverless functions security, and identity security integration.

It provides security for containers, including control plane security. It employs AI/ML based technologies for risk prioritization, prevention, and continuous compliance. It provides various reporting functionalities and integrates with partners for providing remediation.

Key Features:

• Protection of various types of workloads
• Automation of compliance
• Flexible agentless and agent-based architecture
• Vulnerability and threat assessment and management
• Threat modeling

Pros

• Established enterprise customer base
• Widely adopted frameworks for compliance
• Extensive workload coverage
• Reputable vendor

Cons

• Competitive only for breadth of features offered
• Advanced threat modeling and runtime protection not as strong

10. Check Point CloudGuard

CloudGuard, with over 30 years of next-generation firewall (NGFW) experience, expands into CNAPP with the Wiz acquisition in 2026. It offers prevention-centric CNAPP spanning across several public cloud environments. It provides a comprehensive security and compliance lifecycle for workloads, spanning IaC to runtime.

It supports various workload protection, including containers and serverless. CSPM integrates 52+ engines. Identity security includes IAM role analytics. It offers threat and vulnerability management across workloads and containers.

Runtime security offers control plane security. Risk prioritization employs an effective risk management engine. Automation integrates with third-party services to offer continuous compliance and preventive security.

Key Features:

• Integrated posture + protection of operational workload
• Hybrid of agentless + agent based technology
• Compliance Technology
• Discovery of security vulnerabilities
• Automation of remediation

Pros

• Established enterprise vendor
• Integrated posture management
• Integrated architecture
• Meets various compliance standards

Cons

• Less advanced technology compared to startups
• More traditional approach
• Increased administrative burdens
• Deficit of integration with DevSecOps tools

How to Choose the Right CNAPP Platform?

CSPM, CWPP, CIEM Coverage

Evaluate if the CNAPP offers these capabilities. A holistic approach to security enables uniform compliance and protection for workloads across various cloud environments.

Cloud Availability

Assess the CNAPP’s capability to support different cloud environments (e.g. public clouds: AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.) and hybrid clouds.

Application Security

The CNAPP should provide protection during the application development lifecycle. For DevOps and CI/CD tools integration, the CNAPP should identify/remediate vulnerabilities and provide protection during application/workload transit.

Workload Protection

The CNAPP should provide protection for VMs, containers, and serverless architectures.

Identity and Access Management

The CNAPP should provide CIEM to address unmanaged access/elevated access and provide context for access.

Threat Modeling

The solution should rate and rank threats/vulnerabilities based on business impact and/or likelihood of exploitation.

Integrations and Features

The solution should provide integration with other solutions, and offer automation for policy, compliance, and remediation.

Conclusion

Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPPs) are essential for businesses to protect their digital assets across multiple clouds. Wiz (now owned by Google for $32B) and Prisma Cloud lead the market for breadth.

For visibility and runtime protection, Sysdig is an agent-based approach, while Orca Security is agentless. Defender for Cloud is the best option for budget-conscious customers with a primary workload on Azure. Aqua and Lacework are container platform-centric with behavioral analysis.

Trend Micro and Check Point provide robust policy and compliance protection. The main features of CNAPPs are to find the most risky areas, lock them down and automatically fix issues. This gives a company the ability to protect their digital assets and provide assurances to their customers.

FAQ