Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP) is a security technology focused on protecting running workloads in cloud environments - including virtual machines, containers, serverless functions, and Kubernetes clusters. Unlike CSPM which focuses on infrastructure configuration, CWPP provides runtime protection through vulnerability scanning, malware detection, behavioral monitoring, and workload segmentation.
As organizations deploy more diverse workloads across cloud providers, the attack surface extends beyond infrastructure settings into the workloads themselves. CWPP addresses this by monitoring what's actually running in your environment and detecting threats that configuration scanning alone cannot catch.
What Does CWPP Protect?
CWPP platforms are designed to secure every type of compute workload in modern cloud environments:
- Virtual Machines - Traditional VMs running on AWS EC2, Azure Virtual Machines, or GCP Compute Engine. CWPP monitors these for vulnerabilities, unauthorized processes, file integrity changes, and suspicious network connections.
- Containers - Docker containers and containerized microservices. CWPP scans container images for known vulnerabilities and embedded secrets, then monitors running containers for anomalous behavior, privilege escalation attempts, and container escape exploits.
- Serverless Functions - AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions. Although ephemeral, serverless functions can still contain vulnerabilities in dependencies, overly permissive execution roles, and data exposure risks. CWPP provides pre-deployment scanning and runtime monitoring for serverless workloads.
- Kubernetes Clusters - CWPP extends into Kubernetes by monitoring pod security, enforcing admission control policies, detecting lateral movement between pods, and identifying misconfigured RBAC settings that could allow privilege escalation within the cluster.
Key CWPP Capabilities
A mature CWPP platform provides multiple layers of protection across the workload lifecycle:
- Vulnerability Scanning - Continuously scans workloads, OS packages, and application dependencies for known CVEs. Prioritizes vulnerabilities based on exploitability, exposure, and business criticality rather than just CVSS score.
- Runtime Threat Protection - Monitors running workloads for malicious behavior including cryptomining, reverse shells, unauthorized process execution, and known attack patterns. Uses behavioral baselines to detect anomalies that signature-based detection would miss.
- File Integrity Monitoring - Tracks changes to critical system files, configuration files, and application binaries. Alerts on unauthorized modifications that could indicate compromise or tampering.
- Network Segmentation - Enforces micro-segmentation policies between workloads. Controls which workloads can communicate with each other and flags unexpected network connections that could indicate lateral movement.
- Compliance and Hardening - Assesses workloads against CIS benchmarks and industry standards. Identifies deviations from hardened baselines and provides remediation guidance for bringing workloads into compliance.
CWPP vs CSPM
CWPP and CSPM are complementary technologies that protect different layers of the cloud stack. Understanding the distinction is critical for building a complete cloud security strategy.
| Dimension | CWPP | CSPM |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Workload runtime security | Infrastructure configuration |
| What It Protects | VMs, containers, serverless, K8s | Cloud services, IAM, networking, storage |
| Approach | Runtime monitoring and threat detection | Configuration assessment and compliance |
| Agent Requirement | Typically requires agent on workloads | Agentless - uses cloud APIs |
| When to Use | You run custom workloads and need runtime visibility | You need to ensure cloud infrastructure is configured securely |
CSPM tells you whether your cloud infrastructure is configured correctly. CWPP tells you whether your workloads are running safely. Most organizations need both - CSPM to prevent misconfigurations from creating exposure, and CWPP to detect threats that exploit the workloads themselves.
Where CWPP Fits in the Stack
CWPP does not replace CSPM, and CSPM does not replace CWPP. They operate at different layers and address different threat vectors. A public S3 bucket is a CSPM finding. A container running a cryptominer is a CWPP finding. Both are critical, and both need coverage.
In the broader cloud security architecture, CWPP and CSPM are the two foundational pillars of a CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform). CNAPP combines both with additional capabilities like CIEM, IaC scanning, and container security into a unified platform.
For organizations building their cloud security program, the typical progression starts with CSPM - because misconfigurations are the most common and preventable source of cloud breaches. CWPP is then layered on top for organizations running custom workloads that require runtime monitoring and threat detection beyond what configuration scanning provides.
