How do I secure my SaaS application?

If you are like the majority of other companies, you most likely use cloud environments or multi-cloud implementations. Even though cloud computing has become increasingly popular, it introduces security threats such as contract breaches, compliance problems, and APIs that are not secure or are misconfigured. Because most SaaS applications include large amounts of sensitive data, such as credit card information and other personally identifiable details, they are very appealing targets for cybercriminals, making it very important to secure your SaaS applications as best as possible.

While many companies are prepared to handle the security risks associated with PaaS and IaaS environments, SaaS applications operate differently, making it difficult to manage when it comes to security, which is all the more reason why it should be a priority.

In order to secure your SaaS environment, you should adhere to the following best practices:

• Authentication: It can be challenging to decide which SaaS resources users should be given access to. Some vendors will support integration with identity providers that the customer can manage and also support multi-factor authentication, while some don’t. Make sure your organization’s security team has a clear understanding of which services are being used as well as what the supported options are for each of the services so that you are prepared to choose the best enhanced authentication option that will meet your company’s needs.

• Data encryption: Most commonly, SaaS applications use TLS (Transport Layer Security) as a means of protecting data in transit. To make sure your SaaS environment is secure, make sure you have data encryption capabilities available to protect data that is at rest and also in transit. Sometimes it is already a default feature, and other times you may have to enable it when relevant.

• Do your research: When sourcing which SaaS provider you want to go with, make sure you fully understand all the details - from which security model is used to how the service works, and any additional security options that might be available to you.

• Be prepared for unexpected changes: SaaS usage patterns should be trackable, since patterns can change, especially if an application is deployed rapidly. Look for new, untracked SaaS usage and stay alert for when changes occur. One way to stay aware is to use different manual data collection methods combined with automation tools, which will help your organization maintain an updated inventory of the services employed as well as keep you informed as to who is using them.

• CASBs: If possible, it is a good idea to use a CASB solution in the case that the SaaS provider you go with does not offer an adequate level of security. Having a CASB is helpful when SaaS providers don’t give you the ability to add controls. To make sure your SaaS remains secure, evaluate all of your options to determine which will be able to address any shortcomings in the SaaS provider’s security model. When you explore your options, it is also important to pay attention to deployment modes so you will pick the right deployment configuration that is best for your organization’s architecture.

• Monitor your SaaS: It is best practice to monitor your SaaS use as well as to examine the data from tools like CASBs. Your organization should also keep track of the data and logs provided by the SaaS provider. This is crucial in ensuring that your SaaS application remains secure because they are very robust tools, so it is best to have systematic risk management measures in place, which will also help ensure users employ SaaS safely and that your organization’s SaaS usage remains protected.

• Use an SSPM: Having an SSPM is essential because without it, you cannot ensure that your SaaS application will be properly configured. If your SaaS application is not configured correctly, you may not be able to protect your application from becoming compromised. It is best to look for an SSPM solution that will continuously monitor your organization’s SaaS applications in order to identify gaps between stated security policies and actual security posture. This way you will be able to automatically find and fix security risks, and you also will be able to automatically prioritize risks and misconfigurations by severity.

• Implement SSO: To secure access to cloud apps, it is important to implement single sign-on. Attackers use login credentials as a target, which is becoming more attractive to them as organizations move SaaS applications online. That means passwords are no longer good enough to verify identity or prevent companies from experiencing attacks, data loss, or fraud. With SSO, you can leverage a central identity provider for user authentication. Using SSO also allows your organization to grant access to SaaS applications by using just one set of login credentials, which helps increase security by encouraging stronger passwords. In addition, an SSO helps boost productivity because it creates a simplified access process for employees as well as making IT teams’ jobs easier when they need to manage access privileges across an entire business.

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Another method of securing your SaaS application is to strengthen access controls by using MFA. MFA works by making users pass multiple authentication challenges so they can prove they really are who they say they are. This may be done through using a one-time code sent to the user’s mobile phone. MFA is becoming more necessary as employees increasingly begin to work from home and need to be granted regular access from outside of their corporate network.

• Identity governance: It is a good idea to install and integrate a good identity governance solution to help your business gain a unified view of your identity landscape. In addition, integrating an identity governance solution to secure your SaaS application will help you manage all identities based on company policies so you do not have to worry about meeting regulatory compliance and access policy requirements.

In summary, properly managing and securing SaaS applications is an essential part of establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. If you take the right steps to secure your SaaS application properly, not only will your organization be able to efficiently manage internal operations, but you will also be able to stay ahead of your competition.