Agentless vs. Agent-Based: The Great Cloud Debate

For decades, securing a server meant one thing: installing an agent. Whether it was antivirus, DLP, or EDR, security required a piece of software running on the host OS. In the era of the Cloud, this model is breaking down.

Enter CNAPP (Cloud Native Application Protection Platform) and the rise of Agentless security, championed by innovators like Orca Security and Wiz.

The Problem with Agents in the Cloud

In a dynamic cloud environment like AWS or Azure, agents create friction:

• Deployment Gaps: Developers spin up instances in seconds. If the agent installation script fails or is forgotten, that asset is invisible to security.
• Performance Overhead: Agents consume CPU/RAM, which directly increases your cloud bill.
• OS Compatibility: Maintaining agents across different Linux distros, Windows versions, and containerized environments is an operational nightmare.

How "SideScanning" Changes the Game

Agentless solutions work differently. Instead of running inside the VM, they connect to the cloud provider's API and take a snapshot of the disk volume. They scan this snapshot "from the side" (SideScanning™) to find vulnerabilities, malware, and misconfigurations.

So, Are Agents Dead?

Not entirely. Agents (like CrowdStrike) are still superior for runtime protection—stopping an active attack in real-time (blocking a process, killing a connection).

The Winning Strategy: Hybrid.
At QMasters, we recommend a "Better Together" approach: Use Agentless (Orca/Wiz) for complete visibility, vulnerability management, and compliance posture. Use Agents (CrowdStrike/SentinelOne) on your critical workloads for active runtime defense.