Forrester Wave CNAPP 2026 Deep Dive — Runtime-First Cloud Security and Open-Source CNAPP Stack Guide

Forrester Wave CNAPP 2026 Deep Dive — Runtime-First Cloud Security and Building an Open-Source CNAPP Stack In February 2026, Forrester published The Forrester Wave™: Cloud Native Application Protection Solutions, Q1 2026, evaluating 14 vendors across the CNAPP market. The defining message: runtime is no longer optional — it's the foundation. Static scanning and configuration checks alone cannot address the dynamic threats in cloud-native environments. Real-time runtime telemetry has become the central axis for security prioritization. This article provides a deep analysis of the Forrester Wave results and a practical guide to building a production-grade runtime-first CNAPP stack using only CNCF open-source projects — without commercial licenses. Forrester Wave CNAPP Q1 2026 — The Three Leaders Forrester designated Wiz, Sysdig, and Qualys as Leaders. Here's what differentiates each: Vendor Key Strength Runtime Strategy AI Integration Wiz Highest Current Offering score; perfect scores in