Cloud-Native Security

Cloud-native security represents a fundamental shift from traditional security models that were designed for static, perimeter-based environments. As organizations adopt cloud-native architectures characterized by microservices, containers, immutable infrastructure, and declarative APIs, security controls must evolve to match the dynamic, ephemeral, and distributed nature of these environments.

A cloud-native security strategy integrates security at every layer of the stack. At the infrastructure layer, it leverages cloud provider security services and IaC security scanning. At the platform layer, it incorporates container image scanning, Kubernetes admission controls, and service mesh policies. At the application layer, it includes API security, runtime application self-protection (RASP), and secrets management.

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) provides guidance through its cloud-native security whitepaper, which outlines security considerations across the develop, distribute, deploy, and runtime phases. Key principles include defense in depth, zero trust networking, immutable infrastructure, and continuous security validation. Cloud-native security also emphasizes automation and DevSecOps practices, embedding security checks into CI/CD pipelines so that vulnerabilities are detected and resolved early. Organizations transitioning to cloud-native architectures must rethink their security tooling and processes to avoid carrying over legacy approaches that cannot keep pace with cloud-native velocity and scale.