Serverless Security: The Best Tools For Keeping Your Architecture Safe
Tags: serverless, tools, architecture
Published: 2022-12-13 09:48:51

Serverless architecture or function as a service (FaaS), is a design pattern that allows developers to eliminate the need for server software and hardware management by hosting applications on a third-party service. 

Businesses that switch to serverless computing can realize significant benefits. However, you’ll need to use the right tools to secure the projects on serverless architecture. We have covered below some of the open-source tools to secure your serverless architecture. 
Let’s dive in! 🤿⬇️

## 1. OWASP ZAP

It is a dynamic application security testing tool (DAST) for finding web application vulnerabilities. **Simon Bennetts** founded [ZAP](https://owasp.org/www-project-zap/) in 2010, and since then, it has become an industry-standard application security scanner widely used by organizations worldwide. It is most popular amongst developers when it comes to checking the security of applications. 
 
ZAP is an automated testing tool that can be used to scan for security issues in your CI/CD pipeline. ZAP can be run through GitHub actions or packaged scans in Docker images; you can test your application for security vulnerabilities as soon as you have something that runs. This way, you can find and fix security issues before they cause problems in your deployed app. 

🔶 **Features:** 
- It provides active scanning, which helps find potential vulnerabilities
- ZAP handles a wide range of authentication 
- It provides APIs in  JSON, HTML, and XML formats

💰 **Pricing:** Free

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## 2. Prowler

[Prowler](https://prowler.pro/) is a powerful security tool that helps you perform AWS security best practices assessments, audits, incident response, continuous monitoring, hardening, and readiness. It was founded by Toni De La Fuente. With Prowler, you can rest assured that your AWS environment is secure and compliant with industry standards. 

It has features such as logging, monitoring, and networking, which helps an efficient workflow. Prowler follows CIS AWS Foundations Benchmarks, a guideline covering various aspects of data security. The benchmark has more than 190 checks related to GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO-27001, FFIEC, SOC2 and other compliance standards. In addition, there are various features, running specific checks or groups and getting an inventory of the AWS resources. 

🔶 **Features:**
- Identity & access management
- Monitoring 
- Networking 
- Security checks under HIPAA guidelines 
- Easy access to resources
 
💰 **Pricing:** Free

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## 3. OWASP Dependency Check

[Dependency-Check](https://owasp.org/www-project-dependency-check/) is a software analysis tool that detects publicly disclosed vulnerabilities in your project’s dependencies. It was created by OWASP, a globally recognized non-profit organization, aimed at improving web application security in 2013. 

By defining if there is a Common Platform Enumeration identifier for a given dependency, it will generate a report linking to any CVE entries associated with it. This helps keep track of your project’s dependencies and ensure they are all up-to-date and secure. 

🔶 **Features:**
- Detects vulnerabilities within the project
- Allows seamless integration with other tools and APIs
- Multiple reporting and export options are available 
- Easy to deploy and run

💰 **Pricing:** Free

---

## 4. CycloneDX

[OWASP CycloneDX](https://cyclonedx.org/) was designed in 2017 as a lightweight yet full-featured specification for the Bill of Materials, making it a modern standard for the software supply chain. It includes; 
- Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) 
- Hardware Bill of Materials (HBOM)
- Operations Bill of Materials (OBOM)
- Vulnerability Exploitability Exchange (VEX)

The CycloneDX project is dedicated to creating standards for XML, JSON, and Protocol Buffers. It also offers a wide variety of official and community-supported tools that can generate or interoperate with the standard. CycloneDX encourages and requires community participation in developing the standard and tools necessary for support. 

🔶 **Features:**
- It includes components, dependencies, compositions, and vulnerabilities
- It provides the ability to define the components & their dependencies
- CycloneDX has been defined in JSON schema and protocol buffers 
- cycloneDX makes it easy to describe complex relationships
- It is designed for SBOM, OBOM, and SaaSBOM use cases
 
💰 **Pricing:** Free

---

## 5. Jenkins

It is an open-source DevOps tool that automates continuous integration/ continuous delivery and deployment processes. Kohsuke Kawaguchi founded [Jenkins](https://www.jenkins.io/) in 2004. It can monitor repeated tasks that occur during the development of a project. 

For example, if your development team is working on a project, Jenkins can continuously test your project builds and show you any errors in the early stages. This can save your team a lot of time and effort in developing projects in the long run and help you avoid potential problems later on.

🔶 **Features:**
- Provides multiple plugins 
- Easy installation and configuration 
- Easy distribution of workloads to various machines for faster builds, tests, and deployments 
- It provides server-based security 
- Jenkins is a simple Continuous integration server for your project

💰 **Pricing:** Free

---

## 6. SUSE NeuVector

SUSE, an open-source solution, acquired NeuVector in 2021. NeuVector, founded in 2015, is a popular container security tool that detects vulnerabilities in the CI/CD pipeline and automates security. 

[SUSE NeuVector](https://www.suse.com/products/neuvector/) provides network inspection, visualization, and security for dynamic container environments. The solution integrates easily into any automated workflow, and built-in intelligence lets us scale quickly. 

In addition, it helps debug the network connection from misconfigured application updates- a huge help. 
The platform helps to simplify data protection and compliance enforcement and provides visibility and automated controls against known and unknown threats. This helps to improve security and compliance for containers from pipeline to production.

Mindbowser is a gold partner of Suse. [Enquire Now!](https://www.mindbowser.com/contact/)

🔶 **Features:**
- Provides scanning and admission control 
- Scans containers and platforms during runtime 
- Audits hosts and container security using tools like Kubernetes, Docker, etc. 
- It has security as a code model which restricts access to networks

💰 **Pricing:** Free

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## 7. KubeScan

[Octarine’s](https://www.octarinesec.com/) Kube Scan uses a risk-scoring system for Kubernetes called KCCSS, or the Kubernetes Common Configuration Scoring System. This system is similar to CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System), and it evaluates over 30 security settings like Kubernetes policies, capabilities, and privilege levels. By creating a risk baseline, KCCSS provides a total risk score that helps product managers make informed decisions about their Kubernetes deployments. 

KubeScan provides various features like a risk-assessment tool, Web UI with all details about risk scores, a container in the cluster, etc. The best part about using KubeScan is it rescans the container every 24 hours. 

🔶 **Features:**
- Automates the workload
- Finds any vulnerabilities in the projects 
- Helps in hosting and managing the packages 
- Using Copilot, you can write better code with the help of AI
- It enables you to collaborate outside of the code

💰 **Pricing:** Free

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## 8. SUSE Rancher

SUSE acquired Rancher Labs in 2022, providing seamless deployment of workloads. [SUSE Rancher](https://www.suse.com/products/suse-rancher/) is considered the perfect tool for building, deploying, or scaling containerized applications. With features like app packaging, CI/CD, logging, monitoring, and service mesh, it has every resource you need to get your project off the ground. Using Rancher, you can import any existing clusters, including custom and managed clusters such as EKS and GKE. If you prefer, you can also define and deploy your own desired clusters through RKE or K3s. 

Rancher provides an easy way to manage security across all of your clients. You can create users, even using external authentication methods like LDAP, and assign them permissions. You can also assign them to resources across any cluster managed by Rancher. 

🔶 **Features:** 

- Allows container orchestration and scheduling
- Supports distribution by Kubernetes 
- Provides simple multi-cluster operations 
- Automates process and user management 
- Provides reach sources of tools and services

💰 **Pricing:** Free

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## Conclusion

The best advantage of serverless over traditional architecture is that there are no servers to secure. This makes it easier to secure your architecture. With the right tools, you can easily secure your serverless architecture. These tools and features make it easy to focus on other aspects of your project. 

You can learn more about serverless architecture in healthcare from our discussion: ["Serverless Architecture For Healthcare: A Winning Combination To Scale Fast."](https://www.mindbowser.com/webinar/serverless-architecture-for-healthcare-a-winning-combination-to-scale-fast/)