TL;DR - Integrating data security capabilities within Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPPs) is essential for identifying and mitigating data risks at scale. CNAPPs, with integrated data security, provide comprehensive visibility, contextual insights, and unified protection across the cloud environment, ensuring that sensitive data is secure from development to production.

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The cloud revolution has transformed how organizations manage and secure data. With decentralized data usage by development and DevOps teams, the risk of unintentional data exposure has increased. Organizations need robust solutions that help discover, classify, and protect sensitive data across complex cloud environments.

The Cloud Operating Model

Cloud development has decentralized data management, leading to shadow data and potential exposure risks. Traditional on-prem data management is no longer sufficient. Enterprises now require tools that can identify and protect data in dynamic, distributed cloud environments.

Integrating Data Security in CNAPP

To address these challenges, integrating data security capabilities within CNAPPs offers significant advantages. This integration allows for:

1. Comprehensive Risk Correlation: By correlating data risks with other cloud risks such as vulnerabilities and lateral movement, CNAPPs provide a holistic view of potential attack paths.
2. Unified Protection: A single platform for cloud security and data protection ensures consistent security policies and controls as data moves across the cloud.
3. Enhanced Compliance: CNAPPs can assess compliance frameworks at both database and storage levels, ensuring regulatory requirements like HIPAA are met.

Use Cases for Integrated Data Security

Financial Services: Enterprises can correlate PCI or PII data risks with other cloud risks, identifying complex attack paths that threaten sensitive data.

Healthcare: Ensuring the security of electronic health records is critical for HIPAA compliance. Integrated data security within CNAPPs helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to patient data.

The End of Siloed Data Security Tools

Siloed data security tools are becoming obsolete. Enterprises are moving towards security consolidation, integrating data security within CNAPPs to secure cloud-native applications and their data from development to production. Gartner predicts that by 2026, over 26% of organizations will deploy Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) technologies due to the need for identifying and securing unknown data repositories.

Conclusion

Integrating data security capabilities within CNAPPs is crucial for modern cloud security strategies. This approach provides comprehensive, unified protection, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

FAQs

Q: What is a CNAPP?

A: A Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) is a comprehensive security solution that protects cloud-native applications throughout their lifecycle, from development to production.

Q: Why integrate data security with CNAPP?

A: Integrating data security with CNAPP ensures that data risks are identified and mitigated alongside other cloud risks, providing a holistic security approach and preventing data breaches.

Q: How does CNAPP help with compliance?

A: CNAPPs assess compliance frameworks at both database and storage levels, ensuring that organizations meet regulatory requirements such as HIPAA and PCI DSS.

Q: What is shadow data?

A: Shadow data refers to unmanaged or unknown data within an organization, often resulting from decentralized data management practices in the cloud.