The Evolution of Cloud Native Security: Why We Created The Cloud Native Assurance Maturity Model (CNAMM) Framework

Cloud Native architecture has fundamentally transformed how organizations build and deliver software. The shift from monolithic applications to distributed microservices, containerized workloads, and cloud infrastructure demands an equally transformative approach to security and governance. Yet many organizations struggle to adapt their security practices to this new paradigm.

The Growing Cloud Native Security Challenge

Security often becomes perceived as an innovation blocker when: 

• Slow manual security reviews delay product launches 

• Rigid security policies hamper engineering experimentation 

• Complex approval processes frustrate developer workflows 

• Security tools fragment the development experience 

• Controls aren't aligned with engineering practices 
  

This leads to critical organizational challenges: 

• Security teams struggle to justify investments without concrete metrics 

• Business leaders lack clear visibility into their security posture 

• Organizations can't effectively measure the ROI of their security spending

• Teams are overwhelmed by tool choices without clear prioritization frameworks 
  

The rise of software supply chain attacks has further highlighted the need for comprehensive security that extends beyond just applications and infrastructure to encompass the entire software delivery lifecycle. Organizations need a structured, evidence-based approach to securing their cloud native environments while enabling rather than blocking innovation.

Why Traditional Frameworks Fall Short

While established security practices like shift-left, policy enforcement, and centralized security teams seem like best practices, they frequently fail in real-world cloud native environments. Here's why:

Organizations struggle with:

• Balancing security controls with developer autonomy and velocity

• Scaling security practices across distributed teams and systems

• Measuring security effectiveness beyond compliance checkboxes

• Adapting governance for dynamic cloud environments

• Enabling rather than blocking engineering innovation
  

For example, traditional approaches to security reviews and approvals that worked for quarterly releases become bottlenecks in CICD pipelines. Similarly, centralized security teams can't scale to meet the needs of dozens of development teams deploying multiple times per day.

Introducing Cloud Native Assurance Maturity Model (CNAMM)

The Cloud Native Assurance Maturity Model (CNAMM) provides a structured, scalable framework for cloud native security that integrates business-aligned security practices. CNAMM ensures that security is a practice, not a barrier—enabling effective collaboration between engineers, security teams, and business stakeholders.

The CNAMM Framework spans eight critical business functions that together provide comprehensive coverage of cloud native security:

• Strategy and Risk Governance

• Supply Chain and Vendor Security

• Infrastructure and Platform Security

• Application and Data Protection

• Identity and Access Governance

• Runtime Security Operations

• Threat Detection and Response

• Resilience and Service Assurance
  

What Makes CNAMM Different?

Context-Aware Assessment

• Industry-specific scoring multipliers recognize that security needs vary by sector

• Organizational scale considerations ensure recommendations scale appropriately

• Cloud maturity level adjustments align security practices with technical capabilities

• Regulatory profile multipliers reflect increased security expectations (e.g., PCI compliance requirements raise the bar for data protection controls)
  

Evidence-Based Evaluation

• Concrete metrics for measuring improvement

• Clear ROI demonstration through quantifiable metrics

• Measurable risk reduction tracking

• Automated validation capabilities
  

Business-Aligned Security

• Security controls mapped directly to business objectives

• Clear maturity progression aligned with organizational goals

• Data-driven investment prioritization

• Measurable business value from security investments
  

Real Impact

Since launching CNAMM, we've seen organizations achieve remarkable results:

• A healthcare provider reduced security tool spending by 40% while improving their security posture.

• A financial services firm accelerated compliance validation 3x through automated evidence collection.

• A technology company saved $1.4M by optimizing their security investments based on CNAMM assessments.
  

The Path Forward

As DevSecFlow, our mission extends beyond just creating frameworks. We're building a community of practitioners committed to advancing cloud native security. CNAMM is our contribution to this mission—an open framework that helps organizations:

• Make confident security investment decisions

• Demonstrate clear business value from security spending

• Optimize their cloud native technology investments

• Drive continuous security improvement
  

We believe security should be an enabler of innovation, not a barrier. CNAMM helps organizations achieve this by providing the structure, metrics, and guidance needed to build and maintain secure cloud native environments effectively.

Join the Movement

CNAMM is more than just another security framework—it's a community-driven initiative to establish global standards for cloud native security assurance. We've open-sourced CNAMM because we believe that improving cloud native security requires collaboration across the industry.

Whether you're struggling with security investment decisions, looking to optimize your cloud native security controls, or working to demonstrate security ROI to your board, CNAMM provides the evidence-based approach you need.

Ready to transform your approach to cloud native security? [Download CNAMM Framework] | [Schedule a Consultation]

About the Author

Abdel Sy Fane is the CTO of DevSecFlow, and Executive Director of CyberSecurity NonProfit (CSNP). With over 15 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity across multiple industries—including healthcare, finance, and government sectors—Abdel is passionate about designing robust cybersecurity architectures and integrating automation for enhanced efficiency.

He has led major cybersecurity initiatives at top firms including Grail Biotech, Booz Allen Hamilton, Protiviti, and Allstate, focusing on cloud security, DevSecOps, and risk management. Abdel is committed to driving innovation in cybersecurity and helping organizations build secure, resilient, and compliant software development practices.