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[Cyberpedia](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia?ts=markdown) 2. [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-security?ts=markdown) 3. [Cloud Native](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native?ts=markdown) 4. [What Is Cloud Native?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native?ts=markdown) Table of Contents * What Is Cloud Native? * [Cloud Native Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#explained?ts=markdown) * [History of Cloud Native](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#history?ts=markdown) * [What Are Cloud-Native Applications?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#applications?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Architecture?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#architecture?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Application Development?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#development?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Cloud-Native Application Development](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#benefits?ts=markdown) * [What Is a Cloud-Native Stack?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#stack?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security Challenges](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#challenges?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Threat Modeling?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling?ts=markdown) * [Threat Modeling Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling#threat?ts=markdown) * [Threat Modeling Frameworks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling#frameworks?ts=markdown) * [Threat Modeling: Four Question Framework](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling#modeling?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Threat Modeling in Modern Enterprise Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling#benefits?ts=markdown) * [Threat Modeling Tools](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling#tools?ts=markdown) * [Threat Modeling FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Are Microservices?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices?ts=markdown) * [Microservices Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#explained?ts=markdown) * [From Service-Oriented Architecture to Microservices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#service?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Microservices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#benefits?ts=markdown) * [When to Use Microservices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#when?ts=markdown) * [Building and Deploying Microservices-Based Apps](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#deploying?ts=markdown) * [Microservices Best Practices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#best?ts=markdown) * [Adopting Microservices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#adopting?ts=markdown) * [Securing Microservices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#securing?ts=markdown) * [Microservices FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-are-microservices#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Security?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#explained?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Native Goes Beyond Fixed Perimeters](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#perimeters?ts=markdown) * [Diagnostic Difficulties](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#diagnostic?ts=markdown) * [Accelerating DevOps Velocity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#velocity?ts=markdown) * [Key Elements of Cloud-Native Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#key?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Native-Security Strategies](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#strategies?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is CNAPP?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform?ts=markdown) * [CNAPP Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#cnapp?ts=markdown) * [Key Components of a CNAPP](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#key?ts=markdown) * [CNAPP Architecture and Functionality](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#architecture?ts=markdown) * [CNAPP Implementation Strategies](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#implementation?ts=markdown) * [CNAPP Benefits](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#benefits?ts=markdown) * [The AI-Enhanced CNAPP](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#enhanced?ts=markdown) * [What's Next for CNAPP?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#next?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-application-protection-platform#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is CSPM? | Cloud Security Posture Management Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security Posture Management Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#cloud?ts=markdown) * [Why Is CSPM Important?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#why?ts=markdown) * [How Does CSPM Work?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#how?ts=markdown) * [The Evolution of CSPM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#the?ts=markdown) * [What Are Researchers Saying About CSPM?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#what?ts=markdown) * [What Are the Benefits of CSPM?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#benefits?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-security-posture-management#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud Network Security?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Network Security Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security#network-security?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Network Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security#cns?ts=markdown) * [Kubernetes Network Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security#kns?ts=markdown) * [Kubernetes Control Plane Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security#control-plane-security?ts=markdown) * [Network Security Best Practices for Containers and Kubernetes](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security#best-practice?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Network Security FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-network-security#faq?ts=markdown) * [CSP-Built Security Vs. Cloud-Agnostic Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security: The Technology Decision](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security#cloud?ts=markdown) * [Feature Set and Capabilities](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security#feature?ts=markdown) * [The Multicloud Challenge](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security#challenge?ts=markdown) * [Real-World Applications](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security#realworld?ts=markdown) * [Prisma Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security#prisma-cloud?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-native-security-vs-3rd-party-security#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Microsegmentation?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation?ts=markdown) * [Microsegmentation Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#micro?ts=markdown) * [Beyond Perimeter Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#beyond?ts=markdown) * [Network Segmentation Challenges](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#network?ts=markdown) * [How Microsegmentation Works](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#how?ts=markdown) * [Types of Microsegmentation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#types?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Microsegmentation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#benefits?ts=markdown) * [Microsegmentation Use Cases](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#usecases?ts=markdown) * [Microsegmentation FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-microsegmentation#faqs?ts=markdown) * [Core Tenets of a Cloud Native Security Platform (CNSP)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/core-tenets-of-a-cloud-native-security-platform?ts=markdown) * [What Is a Cloud Native Security Platform?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform?ts=markdown) * [What Does 'Cloud Native' Mean?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform#what?ts=markdown) * [The Beginnings of Cloud Native Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform#beginning?ts=markdown) * [Enter Cloud Native Security Platforms](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform#enter?ts=markdown) * [CNSPs and the Future](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform#cnsp?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Native Security Platform FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform#faqs?ts=markdown) * [CSPM Tools: How to Evaluate and Select the Best Option](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cspm-tools?ts=markdown) * [The Need for Cloud Security Posture Management Solutions](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cspm-tools#need?ts=markdown) * [Components of CSPM Tools](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cspm-tools#components?ts=markdown) * [How to Select the Right CSPM Solution](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cspm-tools#how?ts=markdown) * [Common Challenges in Implementing CSPM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cspm-tools#common?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cspm-tools#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What is Platform as a Service (PaaS)?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/platform-as-a-service-paas?ts=markdown) * [Benefits and Security Implications](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/platform-as-a-service-paas#benefits?ts=markdown) * [Platform as a Service FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/platform-as-a-service-paas#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Serverless Security?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-serverless-security?ts=markdown) # What Is Cloud Native? 3 min. read [Download The CNAPP Buyer's Guide](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/cnapp-buyers-guide.html) Table of Contents * * [Cloud Native Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#explained?ts=markdown) * [History of Cloud Native](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#history?ts=markdown) * [What Are Cloud-Native Applications?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#applications?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Architecture?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#architecture?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Application Development?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#development?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Cloud-Native Application Development](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#benefits?ts=markdown) * [What Is a Cloud-Native Stack?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#stack?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security Challenges](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#challenges?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#faqs?ts=markdown) 1. Cloud Native Explained * * [Cloud Native Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#explained?ts=markdown) * [History of Cloud Native](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#history?ts=markdown) * [What Are Cloud-Native Applications?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#applications?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Architecture?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#architecture?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud-Native Application Development?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#development?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Cloud-Native Application Development](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#benefits?ts=markdown) * [What Is a Cloud-Native Stack?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#stack?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native Security Challenges](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#challenges?ts=markdown) * [Cloud-Native FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native#faqs?ts=markdown) Cloud native is an application development approach that uses technologies such as microservices, containers, container orchestrators and immutable infrastructure to build, deploy, run and manage responsive, scalable and fault-tolerant software applications in a cloud computing environment. ## Cloud Native Explained Cloud native describes the design and operation of software applications built to operate in the cloud. Cloud native accelerates digital transformation because it maximizes the flexibility, scalability and resilience of cloud-based services to efficiently deliver applications that are easy to manage and maintain. ### Monolithic vs. Cloud-Native Applications: An Example Imagine a bank needs to create a new application. Before cloud computing, the bank would hire developers to build the app, purchase the physical infrastructure needed to run the application on-premises, and maintain that infrastructure throughout the application's lifetime. To access the app, users would connect to the bank's servers, and because those servers hosted each individual service provided by the app --- looking up account numbers, transferring funds, etc. --- updating and maintaining any one service would require shutting down the entire system. When developers began hosting apps in the cloud, they "lifted and shifted" their apps from on-premises environments while preserving their apps' overall architecture, as well as their limitations. Instead of buying and managing servers to host their apps, they rented compute resources from a cloud service provider (CSP). But new services, such as platform as a service, containers as a service and [serverless infrastructure](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-serverless-security?ts=markdown), have opened new opportunities to build, deploy and manage applications at break-neck speed --- relatively speaking. ## History of Cloud Native The practice of building applications on-premises began to shift in the early 2000s with the advent of virtualization and emergence of [infrastructure as a service (IaaS)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-infrastructure-as-a-service?ts=markdown) providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), which enabled developers to provision and manage virtual machines in the cloud. This paved the way for the development of [platform as a service (PaaS)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/platform-as-a-service-paas?ts=markdown) offerings, such as Google App Engine and Heroku, which provided a higher-level abstraction layer for building and deploying cloud-based applications. But early platforms lacked flexibility, and developers were locked in, having to use proprietary APIs and tools. In response, a new approach focusing on building applications designed for the cloud and using open-source technologies emerged. An early example of this approach was the Twelve-Factor App methodology, which consists of a set of principles for building cloud-native applications engineered for portability, scalability and resiliency. These principles include using declarative formats for configuration, relying on stateless processes, and treating backing services as attached resources. Around the same time, the Docker containerization technology emerged as a key building block for cloud-native applications. Docker enabled developers to package their applications and dependencies into lightweight containers that could easily be deployed across different cloud environments, solving the problem of application portability. In 2014, Google released Kubernetes, an open-source container orchestration platform. Kubernetes --- providing a powerful set of tools for automating the deployment, scaling and management of containerized applications --- became the standard for managing containerized applications in the cloud. In the years since, the cloud-native approach for building applications has been embraced by organizations across all industries, from startups to large enterprises, and has led to the development of an ecosystem of open-source technologies, tools and platforms. *Video: Cloud native is moving fast and increasing in complexity. Discover trends related to tech, DevOps and cloud-native ecosystems.* ## What Are Cloud-Native Applications? On a basic level, cloud-native applications are software programs where the functionality is broken down into microservices --- small, loosely coupled services that operate independently of each other. Because of this modular structure, cloud-native applications are easier to build and change than traditional monolithic applications. Developers can deploy new features and updates to an application without disrupting the system. By comparison, monolithic applications are built as a single codebase, with all components tightly coupled and running on a single server or machine. This means that changes or updates to the application require the entire application to be recompiled and redeployed. Other technologies and methodologies characteristic of cloud-native applications include: * Container-based infrastructure, typically Linux containers with Kubernetes-based orchestration * Architecture built around loosely coupled microservices * Agile DevOps-style development * [Use of continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native?ts=markdown) * Use of open-source code and libraries * Serverless functions and [PaaS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/platform-as-a-service-paas?ts=markdown) ## What Is Cloud-Native Architecture? Cloud-native architecture is a design methodology that supports fast, nimble application development techniques to build cloud-native applications as sets of smaller, composable pieces, which are easy to maintain, change, scale and migrate. Components of cloud-native architecture follow. ![Microservices architecture is the basis for the benefits associated with the modern, container-based application](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/images/cyberpedia/Cyberpedia-Microservices_diagram.jpg "Microservices architecture is the basis for the benefits associated with the modern, container-based application") *Figure 1: Microservices architecture is the basis for the benefits associated with the modern, container-based application.* ### Immutable Infrastructure Immutable infrastructure is a paradigm in which servers and virtual machines (VMs) are replaced rather than changed when something needs to be updated, fixed, or modified. If a change needs to take place, new components that incorporate those changes are built from a common image and the old ones are taken out of production. This approach creates a predictable process for cloud-native deployment. ### Microservices Architecture The rise of cloud native has been driven by microservices architecture, a software design pattern emphasizing the use of independently deployable services, each with a specific business function, that work together in the cloud-native application. Microservices allow developers to build complex applications by composing smaller, more manageable components, which can be scaled and updated independently. ### API [APIs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-api-security?ts=markdown) are a communication tool used in cloud-native applications. They facilitate a standard, effective transfer of information between independent microservices, enabling them to share information so they can function as a cohesive whole. ### Service Mesh A service mesh is a layer in cloud-native architecture that manages communication among microservices. Services meshes also make it possible to add traffic management, security and additional functions to services without having to add new code. ### Containers Containers allow microservices to be packaged in self-contained environments with their dependencies --- code, resource files, system tools and system libraries --- so they perform consistently in any circumstance. This allows developers to easily reproduce or analyze and isolate a service. Because they hold everything an application needs to run, [containers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-container?ts=markdown) enable cloud-native applications to be deployed anywhere, either on-premises or in the cloud. With each microservice deployed in a container, groups of containers work together as a system, or "stack," to form the complete native app. A dynamic orchestration system automatically monitors each container, starting them up and shutting them down according to user need and resulting in greater scalability and efficiency. ## What Is Cloud-Native Application Development? Cloud-native application development is the process of building stable, scalable apps for operation in a private, public or hybrid cloud. Common cloud-native development practices include: ### Continuous Integration Continuous integration (CI) is a practice that involves automatically building, testing and integrating code changes into a central repository. This helps to ensure that code changes are thoroughly tested and integrated with the rest of the application codebase. In cloud-native development, CI is often used in conjunction with containerization, which allows developers to package their code, dependencies and configuration into a single self-contained unit. ### Continuous Delivery Continuous delivery (CD) is the process of [delivering applications created in the CI process](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-ci-cd-pipeline-and-ci-cd-security?ts=markdown) to a production-like environment where they're put through additional automated tests to eliminate unexpected performance problems. By allowing for more incremental updates to applications in production, CD helps reduce the cost, time and risk of delivering changes and enables developers to build, test and release high-quality software with greater speed and frequency. In cloud-native development, CD is often used in conjunction with automation and DevOps practices, which help to streamline the software development and deployment process. ### DevOps DevOps is an approach that combines software development and IT operations to increase the efficiency, speed, quality and security of software development and delivery. In cloud-native development, [DevOps](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-devops?ts=markdown) is often used to automate many aspects of the software development and deployment process. The focus on a rapid, iterative approach aligns with the cloud-native model and helps organizations to deliver applications and services at velocity. This enables enterprises to provide better service to their customers and compete more effectively in their industry. ### Serverless Serverless computing, used in conjunction with microservices, is a cloud-native development model that allows developers to write and deploy code without having to manage the underlying cloud infrastructure. Because resources are allocated dynamically based on demand, serverless computing can reduce costs and improve scalability. ## Benefits of Cloud-Native Application Development Cloud-native practices offer the best opportunities to drive digital transformation and business growth. Native application development is cost-efficient, enabling applications to be easily updated and maintained through continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD). It also helps organizations to break down silos across development, operations and security to deliver a consistent experience across the application development lifecycle. Other benefits of cloud-native application development include: ### Increased Speed Cloud-native applications are developed using an agile development process, with individual services developed and deployed independently, which allows for more rapid iteration and deployment of new features or updates. ### Improved Quality and Reliability With cloud-native application development, developers can focus on delivering value in the app because the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure. This also improves the consistency and reliability of the operating environment. ### Cost-Effective Operations Cloud-native applications are designed to be horizontally scalable, where resources can be added or removed dynamically based on demand. Conversely, monolithic applications are typically scaled vertically, meaning that additional resources are added to the server or machine to handle increased demand. This approach can be expensive and inefficient, as it often requires over-provisioning of resources to handle peak demand. ### Better Adaptability and Scalability Cloud-native application development makes it easy to keep up with the changing needs of customers and the business because it delivers applications made of loosely coupled microservices that are easy to update, change and scale in real time. ### Increased Resilience Cloud-native application development improves resilience because it uses microservices that can be isolated. If one component of a monolithic application fails, it can bring down the entire system. But fault-tolerant, cloud-native applications are designed to continue functioning even if individual services fail. ### Minimized Risk of Vendor Lock-In Because cloud-native application development uses containers to transfer microservices between the infrastructures of different vendors, organizations aren't tied to a particular vendor. They can use the services of multiple cloud providers and select options best suited for their business. ### Simplified Troubleshooting Cloud-native application development simplifies troubleshooting because its microservices architecture makes it easy to track issues to the source service and fix the problem without server downtime. ### Reduced Attack Surface Cloud-native applications are designed for security, with individual services typically isolated from each other. This reduces the attack surface from traditional monolithic applications constructed with tightly coupled components that make it easier for attackers to access sensitive data. ## What Is a Cloud-Native Stack? Cloud-native stack refers to the layers of tools and technologies developers use to build, manage and run cloud-native applications. Layers in the cloud-native stack include: ### Infrastructure Layer The infrastructure layer forms the foundation of the cloud-native stack. It's made up of the supporting components of cloud-native application development, including operating systems, storage, network and other computing resources. The infrastructure layer is managed by third-party cloud providers. ### Provisioning Layer The provisioning layer in the cloud-native stack is made up of the tools used to create and secure the infrastructure. This includes tools to scan and store container images and enable policy setting and enforcement. ### Runtime Layer The runtime layer encompasses everything a container needs to run in a cloud-native environment. This includes the code used to start a container and the tools that make persistent storage available to containers. ### Orchestration and Management Layer The orchestration and management layer is similar to an operating system, responsible for pulling together cloud components so that they can work together as a single, cohesive unit. Orchestration tools like Kubernetes, Docker and OpenShift enable developers to deploy, manage and scale containerized applications. ### Application Definition and Development Layer The application definition and development layer is made up of all the technologies developers use to build applications, including databases, messaging systems, container images and [CI/CD pipelines](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-ci-cd-pipeline-and-ci-cd-security?ts=markdown). ### Observability and Analysis Tools Observability and analysis tools observe all layers in the cloud-native stack to monitor and evaluate the health of cloud applications to make sure there's no disruption to the app's service quality. They are broken down into the categories of logging, monitoring and tracing and are used to monitor metrics like CPU usage, latency and memory. ## Cloud-Native Security Challenges Because cloud and cloud-native environments have different architectures that rely on different technologies, [cloud security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-security?ts=markdown) and cloud-native security differ. Cloud security requires a broad, holistic approach to security, since it covers a range of assets and applications. [Cloud-native security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security?ts=markdown), on the other hand, requires a specialized approach that accounts for the unique security concerns of cloud-native applications and infrastructure. Common cloud-native security challenges include: **Lack of Visibility:** The complexity of the cloud environment makes it difficult to gain complete visibility, creating blind spots where security risks can fester. **Diverse Threats:** Cloud threat actors find creative attack paths and workarounds to security solutions as fast as they're created. **Inability to Enforce Consistent Policies:** An organization's cloud-native infrastructure typically entails multiple cloud service providers and disparate security tools, making it difficult to centralize security policies and apply them consistently. **Misconfigurations:** A historical lack of security integrated into the application development process leaves room for misconfigurations and open-source code vulnerabilities that can result in data exposure and unauthorized [workload](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-workload?ts=markdown) access. **Slow Security Processes:** Maintaining the vigilant compliance and security required by high-velocity CI/CD pipelines slows the inherent flexibility, agility and speed of cloud computing. **Insecure Defaults:** Many cloud-native tools provided by CSPs offer flexible settings, including insecure default settings that can lead to security violations. **Software Supply Chain Vulnerabilities:** Unpatched vulnerabilities in open-source software increase the fragility of the software supply chain. With the right tooling, security teams can tame cloud-native security challenges. A [cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-cloud-native-security-platform?ts=markdown) will provide continuous visibility in a single dashboard, as well as consistent enforcement of security policies across the entire cloud environment. ## Cloud-Native FAQs ### What is the difference between cloud security and cloud-native security? Cloud security refers to the protection of cloud-based assets and data, regardless of where they were originally created or deployed. [Cloud-native security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native-security?ts=markdown) focuses on security for applications and infrastructure built specifically for the cloud environment. ### What is the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)? The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) is the open source, vendor-neutral hub of cloud-native computing. Operating under a mission to make cloud-native computing universal and sustainable, the CNCF advocates for cloud-native adoption and helps the open-source community develop emerging cloud-native technologies. ### How do cloud native and lift and shift differ? Both cloud native and lift and shift are methods of creating a service or application in the cloud. In the case of cloud native, the new app code is developed in conjunction with the CI/CD pipeline and the immutable infrastructure as code required to support it. Lift and shift is a relatively fast process, while cloud native requires more upfront development. In the end, the overall cost of the cloud-native approach is less than the cost of lift and shift. ### What is cloud enabled? A cloud-enabled application is a legacy application that was running on an on-premises data center and has been modified to run in the cloud. Because cloud-enabled applications are built with monolithic technologies, they don't have the flexibility and scalability of cloud-native applications. Related Content [Get to Know Cloud Native Application Protection Platforms CNAPP is an integrated set of security and compliance capabilities designed to help secure and protect cloud-native applications across development and production.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/prisma-cloud/get-to-know-cloud-native-application-protection-platforms/) [Addressing the Need for Integrated Cloud Native Security with CNAPP Many organizations have been reactive to cloud native security, often forced to deal with issues as one-off problems, rather than addressing cloud security more holistically.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/prisma-cloud/the-future-of-cloud-native-security-is-cloud-native-application-protection-platforms-2/) [Your CNAPP Buyer's Guide Know what you're looking for when shopping for a cloud security solution. Get strategic questions to ask CNAPP vendors across five critical domains.](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/cnapp-buyers-guide.html) [The State of Cloud-Native Security Report Over 3,000 cloud security and DevOps professionals identify their challenges, how they handle them and what they've learned in the process.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/state-of-cloud-native-security?ts=markdown) ![Share page on facebook](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/resources/facebook-circular-icon.svg) ![Share page on linkedin](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/resources/linkedin-circular-icon.svg) [![Share page by an email](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/resources/email-circular-icon.svg)](mailto:?subject=What%20Is%20Cloud%20Native%3F&body=Learn%20how%20to%20build%20and%20run%20scalable%20applications%20using%20cloud-native%20technologies%20like%20microservices%2C%20containers%2C%20service%20meshes%2C%20and%20immutable%20infrastructure.%20at%20https%3A//www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-cloud-native) Back to Top [Next](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/threat-modeling?ts=markdown) What Is Threat Modeling? {#footer} ## 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