Emerging threats in cloud-native application security: Trends to watch

Cloud-native technologies let organisations build and run scalable applications in modern IT environments. Cloud applications typically comprise various components that require robust security measures. Containers, service meshes, microservices, infrastructure, and APIs are elements of this approach to designing and building software. However, organisations should adopt comprehensive security solutions that provide complete visibility into security risks and that can deliver actionable insights to mitigate issues effectively.

HCL AppScan 360º, a powerful solution for application security, provides visibility of vulnerabilities and security risks, and offers integrated testing and remediation solutions. It addresses challenges in diverse environments, including cloud-native, on-premise, and hybrid applications, with AI-driven features for real-time risk management, compliance enforcement, and enhanced detection.

To address security challenges and implement best practice, a cloud-native application security platform built on a modern, unified architecture is ideal. HCL AppScan 360º is fast and accurate, offering agile application security testing integrated into every phase of the software lifecycle (SDLC), catching and fixing software issues early, so reducing the risk of security incidents.

This blog will talk about the latest practices for cloud-native applications and cloud security, and highlight some future trends to consider in 2025.

Understanding cloud native applications

Cloud-native applications are revolutionary in approach, using the potential of cloud computing to meet changing business needs. The role of the cloud service provider (CSP) is important in managing infrastructure security in the cloud layer, highlighting a shared responsibility model for cybersecurity. According to the research, Cloud Evolution 2024: Mandate to Modernize, 78% of organisations agree cloud-based apps are flexible, resilient, and scalable. HCL AppScan 360º focuses on cloud-native topologies and methods, including API acceleration, security integration, low-code agility, and integration with AI.

Microservices: Small, independent software components work together to form cloud-native applications, bringing stability, handling component failures and scaling gracefully.

Containerisation: Allows developers to package application code and dependencies into lightweight separate elements. Containers run consistently on any infrastructure, and being lightweight, are often more efficient users of resources.

Continuous Delivery: Automates the deployment of code changes in an environment for continuous testing and sign-off. A streamlined SDLC improves the speed and frequency of build, test, and release.

DevOps: Improves the collaboration between development and operations teams, helping implement auto-scaling and load-balancing to adjust resources and meet demand.

The evolving cloud native security threat landscape

Cloud-native development isn’t immune from security issues by default. It needs to be well-protected with cloud-native application security. Some emerging threats in cloud security that organisations should be aware of, are:

• Misconfiguration of cloud services and infrastructure continues to be a major issue. Cloud resources like storage buckets, databases, and server instances can expose an organisation’s sensitive data to unauthorised access.

• Cloud-native attacks increasingly target cloud-native technologies and services, like containers, serverless computing, and orchestration platforms, using them as a basis from which to launch attacks such as container escapes, serverless function injections, and Kubernetes cluster compromises.

• Zero-day exploits targeting cloud applications can bypass traditional security controls and lead to unauthorised access or data exfiltration.

Organisations need cloud-native application security solutions that can reduce the risk of the threats and adapt to address new threats. Technologies that prioritise scan accuracy with proven AI capabilities can deliver faster scan coverage and reduce false positives, so developers and security teams can pinpoint, prioritise and fix the most critical security vulnerabilities.

Future trends in cloud-native development for 2025

Apps can lose their effectiveness when monolithic and static. With cloud-native technologies, apps are more responsive to market adaptations and con integrate better with other systems. As we move into 2025, several trends will shape cloud-native development.

• A shift towards security in DevOps, automating cybersecurity and managing the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) toolchain throughout the app lifecycle. With security controls during DevOps processes, IT can shift from incident response to proactive strengthening of security posture.

• In 2025, expect to see a democratisation of application security as security tools become more accessible to development teams. We can expect a heightened focus on building secure, compliant applications.

• Companies will seek flexible application security solutions, suitable for self-managed, on-premise, and private cloud deployment solutions that are built on Kubernetes-based, cloud-native architecture.

• Organisations will demand comprehensive risk management capabilities in their cloud-native application security systems. Compliance with industry standards and benchmarks like PCI, DSS, HIPAA, OWASP top 10, etc., will become commonplace.

• Organisations are prioritising powerful reporting tools that deliver insights into security performance. In 2025, expect more actionable fix recommendations for each vulnerability detected, simplifying and reducing the time required for triage and remediation.

• The application of AI in security testing will enhance accuracy and efficiency. Organisations will secure their practices in CI/CD, aligning processes with DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) and outcome-based services, with better alignment enabled by GenAI features.

• The trend towards customised cloud-native app deployment options, whether on-premises, private cloud, or sovereign cloud, will allow organisations to create tailored, unique solutions. Customised views of testing results and security status, and remediation work’s progress will combine to work better for businesses.

• New platforms will enhance CI/CD processes, making security a seamless part of the continuous development cycle, offering dynamic application security testing and SAST (Static Analysis) capabilities.

Conclusion

Organisations should deploy a comprehensive cloud-native application security testing suite to use the inherent advantages of cloud computing environments. A testing suite should integrate easily with leading build environments, DevOps tools, and IDEs, thus embedding security throughout the software development cycle. The chosen testing suite should provide a frictionless cloud-native application security testing ability, and its APIs should allow customised automation and “out-of-the-box” plug-ins. 

Tags: applications, cloud, security, trends