In many enterprises, adopting a software-as-a-service-first approach is increasingly common. By leveraging cloud computing, organisations needn’t bother with the intricacies of infrastructure management, freeing up resources for more strategic initiatives. By merely activating the SaaS application, you allow it to efficiently perform its intended function.
While there are indeed some drawbacks to consider.
The Drawback with SaaS
While Software as a Service (SaaS) offers numerous benefits, it also presents a multitude of new challenges that often fail to receive the attention and safeguards they deserve. At the pinnacle of the list of challenges lies safety. While SaaS presents certain undeniable benefits, it’s equally crucial to consider the inherent security risks associated with this model. While discussing SaaS security, we rarely focus on the safety of the underlying platform itself, but rather how we utilize it securely?
It’s not my problem, it’s yours!
In the context of typical SaaS platforms lies the “shared accountability model.” This framework stipulates that the SaaS provider is responsible for delivering a robust, resilient, and reliable platform—but does not accept liability for how customers utilize and customize it. It’s within the scope of these configuration adjustments that a potential safety concern arises.
SaaS platforms typically incorporate a range of customization options, including means to disseminate information, ways to solicit feedback from external clients, access controls governing user permissions, and feature toggles dictating the functionality available to customers. As each configuration tweak and every adjustment made can potentially disrupt the platform’s optimal safety setting or introduce unforeseen consequences? While some purposes, such as Microsoft 365, offer guidelines on security settings, this is not always the case for every application. As the number of SaaS applications grows, so does the complexity of managing them effectively. Can we truly say it’s as simple as handling a handful when scaling up to hundreds of tools?
By 2025, it’s predicted that organizations will utilize an average of 125 software-as-a-service applications. It’s not the SaaS applications you’re familiar with that might be the issue, but rather the ones you’ve never heard of. As a consequence of Software as a Service (SaaS) being increasingly accessible, it may well become too easy to avoid administrative responsibilities altogether. Companies often remain unaware of individual apps used, much like the one sales teams signed up for, which are frequently leveraged by marketing departments. It’s only natural that everyone wants to get their hands on a cutting-edge GenAI application. These aren’t the only ones; there are also additional apps that can be part of the SaaS platforms you subscribe to. Even those you might recognize about may comprise additional applications you’re unaware of. A successful enterprise will achieve more than 100 SaaS applications through strategic integration and optimization. What are your top priorities when navigating complex situations and finding innovative solutions to everyday challenges? To ensure you identify and configure these components in a way that adheres to sound security principles and safeguards your data, you should consistently verify their presence and settings. Therein lies the problem.
Introducing SSPM
SSPM could be the reply. The solution is engineered to seamlessly integrate with your existing managed SaaS applications, providing unparalleled transparency into their configuration status, identifying potential risks as they emerge, and offering intuitive pathways for swift mitigation. The system can continuously monitor their configurations to detect any newly emerged threats and configuration changes that may pose a risk. This may also reveal previously unknown managed SaaS applications that are already being utilized, allowing for an assessment of their security posture and individual risk profiles for both the application itself and its respective vendors. The solution streamlines management and ensures the secure operation of a Software as a Service (SaaS) infrastructure by consolidating administrative tasks and monitoring potential threats in real-time.
Significant overlaps exist with data leakage prevention (DLP) tools. While monitoring systems may appear to be effective deterrents, they often miss the mark by focusing on catching the perpetrator after they’ve already gained access, rather than prioritizing preventative measures such as securing entry points.
The cost of installing another safety device, SSPM, adds up quickly. Would a device designed to make our lives more convenient and efficient truly bring us joy? While we’ve reaped the benefits of leveraging software as a service, our reliance on this model has unexpectedly added a layer of complexity and spawned fresh concerns that require attention. We’ve accumulated an unprecedented number of additional apps over time, many of which are not managed through a centralized system, resulting in numerous configuration settings that require attention. Without adequate oversight of all, we do run significant safety risks.
Subsequent Steps
A SaaS-based solution for managing security postures, offering another option for organizations seeking to streamline their risk management processes, thereby enhancing overall cybersecurity. Typically straightforward to access, many assessment providers offer complimentary evaluations that can provide a glimpse into the scope of the issue at hand. While SaaS safety is often overlooked, gaining insight into your company’s current security posture can be a crucial step in mitigating risks.
Before a security incident occurs and your Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider shifts blame onto you, consider exploring the capabilities of a Security Service Management Platform (SSPM) solution to mitigate potential risks. Consider bolstering your understanding by consulting GigaOm’s comprehensive SSPM Key Standards and Radar reviews for authoritative insights. These reviews provide a comprehensive market overview, outlining key considerations for informed purchasing decisions and examining various suppliers’ adherence to established benchmarks.
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