3 Key Strategies for Fortifying SaaS Security: A Critical Imperative for Businesses

The Importance of Robust SaaS Security in Today’s Business Landscape

SaaS Applications: Transforming How We Work

In the fast-paced business world, software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications have revolutionized the way organizations operate. These applications offer unprecedented flexibility, collaboration, and efficiency, and have become the go-to solution for most businesses. From project management to customer relationship management and file storage, SaaS applications touch nearly every aspect of daily business operations.

However, with sensitive data and critical business processes housed in these platforms, the need for robust SaaS security has never been more pressing and clear. Ensuring the protection of these applications and the data within them is crucial for organizations of all sizes and industries.

The Complexity of SaaS Security

SaaS security is a multifaceted issue that covers many types of risks and requires tools provided by diverse vendors. SaaS security posture management (SSPM) is the field that focuses on securing SaaS environments. While modern SSPM solutions provide automation and in-product remediation, they might be overwhelming at first, especially for smaller organizations that don’t have large budgets or don’t know where to start or what to prioritize.

Breaking Down the Challenge: Identifying Basic Requirements

During her two-decade career in the Israeli military, Galit Lubetzky Sharon, a retired colonel from the elite 8200 Unit, learned the importance of breaking down large challenges into smaller pieces. She believes that tackling a large problem starts with identifying the basic requirements. In this article, she lays out three must-have SaaS security essentials that any organization can implement, regardless of budget or headcount.

Three Essential Steps for SaaS Security

Step 1: Discover Your SaaS Usage

In Sharon’s experience serving numerous SaaS-using companies, she found that most organizations have a serious SaaS shadow-IT problem. Employees often use SaaS applications without the knowledge or oversight of security and IT teams. Before securing the SaaS environment, organizations need to gain full visibility into every employee’s SaaS usage.

Step 2: Perform Risk Assessments on Each SaaS Application

Once organizations have a clear picture of their SaaS landscape, it’s crucial to evaluate the security risks associated with each application. Not all SaaS applications are created equal, and some may pose a higher risk to an organization’s data and operations. Critical considerations include the SaaS vendor’s security and privacy compliances, size and location, and marketplace presence. This type of analysis is vital not only for maintaining SaaS security but also for managing vendor risk.

Step 3: Ensure Users Have Only Necessary Permissions and Roles

One common cause of security breaches is excessive permissions granted to users or by users to certain applications. To mitigate this risk, organizations should follow best practices such as the least-privilege principle, which means granting users only the permissions they absolutely need to perform their tasks. Regular permission reviews and focusing on admin roles can also be effective in managing user permissions.

Why These Three Steps?

There are various ways to implement SaaS security practices, but Sharon believes that these three steps are essential for any organization, regardless of size or budget. These steps align with major compliance standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 and fall under basic vendor risk-assessment and user-management requirements. Implementing these steps allows organizations to prioritize security while embracing the advantages of SaaS applications.

Embracing SaaS Security Without Compromising Efficiency

By enforcing these three steps, organizations can make significant strides in protecting their digital workspace. It’s important to remember that security is an ongoing process, and continuous monitoring and adaptation are key to staying ahead of evolving threats in the SaaS landscape. Prioritizing security ensures that employees can fully embrace the advantages of SaaS while keeping the organization safe.

About the Author

Galit Lubetzky Sharon is a retired colonel from the elite 8200 Unit in the Israeli military. She has extensive experience in designing, developing, and deploying some of the Israeli Defense Forces’ most vital defensive and offensive cyber platforms. Sharon played a crucial role in developing the IDF’s first cyber capabilities and continued to enhance these capabilities throughout her career. She has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Israeli Defense Award, and is highly knowledgeable in the field of cybersecurity and SaaS security.

Keywords: Security-wordpress, SaaS security, business, strategies, fortifying, critical imperative