In today’s continuously changing cybersecurity landscape, protecting digital assets from new threats is essential for enterprises. For that, there are various cybersecurity strategies in place. The Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP) and the Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) are well-liked cybersecurity strategies. They have a similar goal of protecting cloud-based workloads and apps but are very different in capability and focus.
We’ll examine the key distinctions between CNAPP vs CWPP in this post, highlighting their distinctive qualities and assisting enterprises in making defensible choices.
What are CNAPP and CWPP?
CNAPP stands for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform and is an advanced security solution that provides unified protection and is designed to identify, assess, and prioritize cloud security risks.
On the other hand, CWPP stands for Cloud Workload Protection Platform and is designed for protecting all kinds of workloads across containers, virtual machines, on-premises, and serverless environments.
CNAPP vs CWPP: Unveiling the Key Differences
#1. CNAPP vs CWPP: Area of focus
Their focal areas are primarily where CNAPP vs CWPP diverge. When it comes to securing applications created using cloud-native architectures, CNAPP places a strong emphasis on protecting cloud-native apps. CWPP, on the other hand, focuses on securing cloud workloads, such as virtual machines, containers, and serverless functions, regardless of whether they are cloud-native.
#2. CNAPP vs CWPP: Deployment Approach
Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solution CNAPP offers application-level security while integrating seamlessly into cloud settings. As a security agent or agentless solution, CWPP, on the other hand, is often implemented within cloud workloads, monitoring and safeguarding individual instances.
#3. CNAPP vs CWPP: Application Centric vs Workload Centric
In CNAPP, security policies are directly connected to the applications, using an application-centric methodology. From application creation through deployment, security is its main concern. By contrast, CWPP has a workload-centric strategy, emphasizing safeguarding virtual instances and the resources they are connected to.
#4. CNAPP vs CWPP: Architecture Compatibility
CNAPP was developed specifically for cloud-native designs that use Kubernetes, microservices, and containers. It provides improved security for these contemporary application settings and works in perfect harmony with the underlying infrastructure. In contrast, CWPP is made to function with both conventional and cloud-native deployment architectures.
#5. CNAPP vs CWPP: Scope Of Security Controls
For cloud-native applications, CNAPP offers thorough security controls, including runtime defense, vulnerability monitoring, safe coding procedures, and container security. It has runtime anomaly detection, application firewalling, and container image scanning capabilities. While CWPP protects cloud resources at the infrastructure level, it focuses on workload-specific controls, including intrusion detection, integrity monitoring, and access control.
#6. CNAPP vs CWPP: Automation and Orchestration Capabilities
CNAPP makes heavy use of automation and orchestration to offer seamless interaction with cloud-native processes and DevOps approaches. Secure applications can now be scaled automatically, repaired automatically, and deployed continuously. The main focus of CWPP is manual security configuration and management, notwithstanding the possibility that it may offer some amount of automation.
#7. CNAPP vs CWPP: Compliance and Governance
CNAPP frequently comes with built-in governance and compliance tools tailored to cloud-native infrastructures. By offering auditing, logging, and monitoring tools designed for cloud-native settings, it aids enterprises in adhering to industry norms and laws like HIPAA or GDPR. Even though CWPP has security controls, it might not have as many compliance-focused features.
#8. CNAPP vs CWPP: Dynamic Workload Protection
CNAPP’s application-centric approach guarantees that security solutions are flexible and adaptable because cloud-native apps are constantly evolving. It makes it possible to protect certain microservices, enabling the granular application of security controls. CWPP, which is workload-centric and focused on securing the virtual instances themselves, might not provide the same level of adaptability for dynamic cloud-native systems.
#9. CNAPP vs CWPP: Integration with Cloud Provider Service
The native services offered by cloud providers can be integrated smoothly with CNAPP. The use of these services improves the security posture of cloud-native apps. CNAPP can fully utilize the advantages cloud provider offers using native tools like AWS Security Groups or Azure Security Center. The level of native integration offered by CWPP may not be as high as that of CNAPP, even though it may integrate with cloud provider services to some extent.
#10. CNAPP vs CWPP: Performance & Scalability
CNAPP was created with cloud-native architectures in mind and is optimized for scaling and performance in these settings. It is capable of handling the dynamic nature of orchestration platforms, containers, and microservices, ensuring that security measures do not impair application performance. The scalability and performance requirements of cloud-native apps may provide difficulties for CWPP, even though it can grow to protect a variety of cloud workloads.
Key differences between CNAPP and CWPP
| Areas of Differentiation | CNAPP | CWPP |
|---|---|---|
| Performance and scalability | Low-friction and scalable solutions, multi-cloud deployments, and cloud-based application and workload security | Low-friction and scalable solutions, multi-cloud deployments, and cloud-based application and workload security |
| Security orchestration and automation | Cloud Security Posture Management, Kubernetes Security Orchestration, and Incident Response Automation | Secures workloads for VMs, Serverless functions, microservices, APIs, and containerized applications |
| Visibility | Unified visibility for DevOps and SecOps teams | Single pane of glass for visibility and workload protection for both on-premises and cloud environments |
| Integration with cloud services | Identity and entity management, zero-trust network access (ZTNA), and principle of least privilege | Integrates with multi-cloud management tools, network components, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps workflows |
| IaC security | Minimizes attack surfaces, provisions IaC scripts, and detects infrastructure risks | Scans code repositories, container images, and IaC templates |
| Identity analysis | Identity-based micro-segmentation, host-based intrusion prevention, and shared responsibility | Protects sensitive data in transit and at rest and uses encryption keys |
| Data encryption | Protects sensitive data in-transit and at rest and uses encryption keys | Hardening, network firewalling, change management, log management, and configuration and vulnerability management |
| Compliance and policy enforcement | Automated compliance monitoring, customized governance policies, and cloud account audits | Enforces security policies within CI/CD pipelines, and manages secrets |
CNAPP Buyer’s Guide
Learn everything you need to know about finding the right Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform for your organization.
Read GuideKey Takeaway
While CNAPP vs CWPP both aim to secure cloud-based apps and workloads, there are significant distinctions between the two that must be taken into account when deciding which solution would best meet a given organization’s particular needs.
Organizations with significant investments in cloud-native infrastructures may find CNAPP a tempting option due to its emphasis on cloud-native apps, application-centric strategy, and integration with cloud-provider services.
On the other hand, CWPP is a desirable alternative for businesses with a variety of cloud settings due to its adaptability across various architectures, workload-centric strategy, and wider scope of security controls. Organizations can choose wisely between CNAPP vs CWPP for their cybersecurity requirements by being aware of these 10 key distinctions.
CNAPP vs CWPP FAQs
CWPP (Cloud Workload Protection Platform) focuses on securing workloads—like VMs, containers, and servers—by monitoring runtime behaviors, patching vulnerabilities, and blocking attacks. CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform) is broader;
it combines CWPP capabilities with Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), vulnerability management, and compliance checks across the entire cloud environment, covering workloads, networks, and cloud configurations.
No, CNAPP isn’t really a replacement but more of an expansion. It builds on what CWPP offers by adding cloud posture and compliance features. Think of CNAPP as a platform that includes CWPP but also monitors misconfigurations and risks outside workloads, giving you a wider view of your cloud security beyond just runtime protection.
Yes, CNAPP usually includes CWPP features as part of its set. It combines workload protection with cloud posture management, vulnerability scanning, and identity monitoring. So, with CNAPP you get everything CWPP provides plus additional tools to cover your cloud environment end to end.
They do. CWPP focuses on runtime, detecting and blocking malicious activity on hosts and containers. CNAPP also provides runtime protection as part of its workload security features, plus adds cloud posture and compliance oversight. If runtime defense is a priority, both platforms cover it.
If your main concern is Kubernetes and containers, CWPP offers specialized runtime security and vulnerability detection tailored for those environments. CNAPP covers Kubernetes too but with a broader scope including cloud configurations and risk assessments.
If you want both workload protection and cloud posture in one place, CNAPP may be better, but CWPP often has a sharper focus on container runtime details.
Look at your security goals: if you need just workload runtime protection, CWPP may fit your needs and budget. If your environment is complex and you want to combine workload security, compliance, and cloud posture monitoring, CNAPP makes sense.
Also consider integration with existing tools, scalability, and how deeply you want to monitor cloud configurations besides hosts and containers.