Prowler
Prowler scans cloud environments, Kubernetes, SaaS services and infrastructure configurations to identify security weaknesses, assess compliance and guide remediation.
Why it caught my attention
Cloud security assessments often involve switching between provider consoles, scripts and compliance spreadsheets. Prowler brings these checks into a repeatable process, with an open-source option that teams can run themselves. That makes it interesting for organisations wanting practical security visibility without immediately adopting a managed platform.
What problem does this actually solve?
Prowler could be worth considering if you recognise any of these challenges.
Cloud configuration weaknesses go unnoticed
Misconfigured permissions, exposed resources and insecure settings can remain undetected. Prowler checks configurations against defined security controls.
Security checks are scattered
Different cloud platforms complicate consistent reviews. Prowler brings supported environments into a common assessment process.
Compliance evidence takes time
Preparing security assessments manually is repetitive. Prowler maps technical checks to recognised frameworks and produces reviewable results.
Too many findings to investigate
Large assessments produce numerous alerts. Severity information and prioritisation features help teams decide where to investigate first.
Is this a good fit for you?
A quick way to see if Prowler is relevant for your situation.
- You manage security across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud or other supported platforms.
- You need repeatable checks against recognised cloud security benchmarks.
- You want security assessments integrated into development or deployment workflows.
- You prefer an open-source tool with self-hosted deployment options.
- You need consolidated findings across cloud accounts and supported SaaS services.
- You only need endpoint protection or traditional network intrusion detection.
- You expect a security platform to replace human investigation and remediation decisions.
How does it work?
In practice, the workflow looks something like this:
Configure access to supported cloud accounts or services, typically using appropriate read-only credentials or roles for security assessment.
Start a scan using the CLI or supported interface. Prowler examines accessible resources against its available security checks.
Examine failed checks, affected resources, severity and compliance mappings to identify weaknesses requiring investigation or corrective action.
Follow remediation guidance, investigate relevant configuration settings and apply appropriate changes through your existing cloud management processes.
Rerun assessments or configure supported scheduled scans to check whether issues have been resolved and identify new weaknesses.
What else should I know?
A few important things to be aware of before you investigate further.
Open-source and commercial editions
The Apache-2.0 open-source tools are free; managed Cloud and Private Cloud editions add operational and collaboration capabilities.
Coverage varies between providers
Available checks and compliance mappings differ by platform. Verify coverage for the services and frameworks you actually use.
Access and deployment requirements
Scanning requires suitable credentials and permissions. Self-hosted installations also require infrastructure, configuration and ongoing maintenance.
Compliance checks have limits
Passing automated checks does not establish full regulatory compliance; organisational processes and controls may require separate assessment.
Think Prowler could fit your environment?
Visit the Prowler website to find out more, request a demo or speak to their team.
Something you'd like to know about Prowler?
Is there something I haven't covered in my research? Send me your question and I'll look into it and reply personally by email.