Glossary term
CWPP
Also: Cloud Workload Protection Platform
Software category for protecting cloud workloads (VMs, containers, serverless) at runtime. Combines vulnerability scanning, config review, runtime monitoring, container and K8s security.
Functions: image scanning before deployment, runtime protection (eBPF-based), microsegmentation, compliance checks, K8s posture. CWPP differs from CSPM by workload depth (inside the VM, inside the container).
Market leaders: Wiz, Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, Sysdig Secure, Aqua Security. Platform vendors are increasingly bundling CWPP into CNAPP.
In practice
Trend 2026: CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, KSPM and DSPM are converging into CNAPP. Stand-alone CWPP tools are being displaced by consolidated platforms.
Related terms
CSPM
Software category for continuous review of cloud configurations against security benchmarks (CIS, NIST, BSI cloud requirements). Finds misconfigurations like open S3 buckets, missing encryption, insecure IAM policies.
CNAPP
Gartner platform category that combines CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, KSPM, DSPM and IaC scanning into one tool. Answer to tool fragmentation in cloud security stacks.
CASB
Security layer between users and SaaS providing visibility (shadow IT discovery), data protection (DLP), compliance, and threat protection across SaaS apps. Four functions per Gartner: visibility, compliance, data security, threat protection.
Compliance mapping
The explicit link between a decision (vendor, architecture, control) and the specific regulatory articles, controls or standards it satisfies. Without compliance mapping, a memo cannot be defended under audit against a named clause.
Confidential Computing
Hardware-based isolation that keeps data encrypted during processing (data-in-use). Complements encryption at rest and in transit. Technologies: Intel SGX, Intel TDX, AMD SEV-SNP, ARM CCA, Nvidia H100 Confidential Computing.
Critical ICT Third-Party Provider (CTPP)
ICT third-party provider designated critical by the European Commission under DORA Art. 31, falling under direct supervision of one of the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, ESMA). First CTPP designations expected in 2025/2026.
CVE
Global identifier for publicly known security vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Format CVE-YYYY-NNNN, run by MITRE on behalf of CISA. More than 200,000 CVEs as of 2025.
CVSS
Standardised scoring system for vulnerabilities with a 0-10 score. Current version CVSS v4.0 (2023). Measures Base, Temporal and Environmental Metrics. Often criticised for lack of exploitability signal.