Wasted permit to obtain some digital protection (8)
I believe the answer is:
gauntlet
'some digital protection' is the definition.
'gauntlet' can be an answer for 'protection' (I have seen 'handy protection' mean 'gauntlet' so perhaps 'protection' could also mean 'gauntlet'). I am unsure of the 'some digital' bit.
'wasted permit to' is the wordplay.
'wasted' becomes 'gaunt' (synonyms).
'permit to' becomes 'let' (I've seen this before).
'gaunt'+'let'='GAUNTLET'
'obtain' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gauntlet that I've seen before include "Knight's glove" , "outdated military punishment" , "Stout glove" , "What might represent a challenge" , "handy protection" .)