The term security posture is actively associated with several IT operations and functions. Software as a service (SaaS) environment holds the business’s critical and confidential details. Security posture in the SaaS interface is necessary for secure and safe accessibility to the stored information. The security posture is the term used for the Cybernet security interface of an organization.
This SaaS security posture management is responsible for security threat detection and the ability to respond if any threat is detected.
What is SaaS Security Posture?
A SaaS security posture refers to an organization’s level of cybersecurity resilience, which involves evaluating its capacity to identify and respond to security threats. It encompasses various methods and tools to protect networks, devices, users, and data against threats like data loss, breaches, compromised/stolen credentials, spyware, malware, ransomware, and network performance attacks.
The higher an organization’s capability to minimize its risk profile, thwart threats, and comply with security regulations, the stronger its security posture.
What is SSPM (SaaS Security Posture Management)?
The SaaS security posture management is an automated tool to monitor the cloud-based application to protect against digital misconfiguration and threats. Any digital threat can lead to the loss of specific confidential information by data leakage, phishing, account hijacking, insecure API integration, etc.
Today’s Cloud Apps Security Team Management tools have use cases within DevOps Integrations, compliance management, risk assessment, incident response, incident visualization, etc. SSPM continuously monitors enterprise SaaS environments to identify weak loopholes between their stated security policy and security posture.
It provides a preventive shield to applications like Slack, Office 365, and Salesforce to prevent compliance management, configuration drifting, and risk-effective configurations. The current survey states that with the implementation of SSPM security, around 52% of threats are reported regularly to diagnose and manage SaaS security.
Below are some categorized details about the precautions the SSPM provides for the SaaS platforms-based application.
1. Managing The Security Interface
Security posture management provides the preventive techniques and tools to implement, optimize and update the SSPM security policies with constant consistency.
2. Constant Detection And Response Management
The SaaS ecosystem-based applications need an advanced system for cyberattack recovery, threat detection, and mitigation of specific incidents.
3. Advanced Security Controls
The SSPM monitors the company’s security controls and protective measures to prevent internal and external cyber-attacks.
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How Does SSPM Work?
SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) offers a continuous automated monitoring solution for cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, including Slack, Salesforce, and Microsoft 365. Its purpose is to mitigate risky configurations, avert configuration drift, and assist security and IT teams maintain compliance.
The monitoring tools for Software as a Service (SaaS) applications are designed to continually assess various aspects, including:
1. User Permissions
The SSPM technology evaluates user permissions for SaaS applications and can also detect inactive or unused accounts. This feature helps organizations eliminate unnecessary accounts, reducing potential risks.
2. Compliance
SSPM solutions can identify specific security threats that may cause data security or privacy violations.
3. Configuration
SSPM tools can identify security misconfigurations that may expose data and alert security teams to risks. Moreover, some SSPM solutions offer automated mitigation to address identified risks.
What are the Key Benefits of SSPM Solutions?
There are many advantages that organizations can accrue by investing in advanced SSPM solutions. Checkout the following key benefits of SaaS Security Posture Management:
1. Simplifies Compliance Management
The highly dynamic, distributed nature of SaaS applications has forced organizations to rethink how they approach compliance. SSPM Solutions continuously monitors compliance against internal frameworks and regulatory standards. If certain data handling practices or encryption standards aren’t adequate, SSPM will alert the administrators of the issue or can even automatically take corrective action.
2. Prevents Cloud Misconfigurations
Data breaches have skyrocketed in recent years and are often due to the misconfiguration of cloud services. While resources are often configured correctly on day one, they drift over time and fall out of compliance. Regardless of changes to the application, data they store, or users who access them, it’s paramount to continuously ensure secure configurations.
3. Detects Overly Permissive Settings
Effectively controlling who has access to take what actions on which SaaS applications is a cornerstone of a robust SaaS security posture. SSPM solutions automatically evaluate every user’s permissions and alert users with overly permissive roles, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access certain types of data, systems, devices, and assets.
What’s The Difference Between SSPM Vs. CSPM?
Discover the differences between Serverless Security Posture Management and Cloud Security Posture Management in terms of definition, scope, functionality, deployment, use cases, and examples. Learn which solution is right for your infrastructure security needs.
| Feature | SSPM | CSPM |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Serverless Security Posture Management | Cloud Security Posture Management |
| Scope | Focuses on serverless infrastructure security | Focuses on cloud infrastructure security |
| Functionality | Monitors and manages serverless resources for security risks | Monitors and manages cloud resources for security risks |
| Deployment | SSPM solutions are typically deployed within serverless environments | CSPM solutions are typically deployed within cloud environments |
| Use Cases | SSPM solutions are used for managing and securing serverless applications and functions | CSPM solutions are used for managing and securing cloud infrastructure, applications, and data |
| Examples | Examples of SSPM solutions include Protego, PureSec, and Bridgecrew | Examples of CSPM solutions include Prisma Cloud, Dome9, and CloudGuard |
What’s the difference between SSPM vs. CASB?
Explore the differences between SSPM and CASB with this comparison table. Learn about the distinct features of each solution, including their scope, functionality, deployment, use cases, and examples.
| Feature | SSPM | CASB |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Serverless Security Posture Management | Cloud Access Security Broker |
| Scope | Focuses on serverless infrastructure security | Focuses on cloud application and data security |
| Functionality | Monitors and manages serverless resources for security risks | Monitors and manages cloud application and data usage for security risks |
| Deployment | SSPM solutions are typically deployed within serverless environments | CASB solutions are typically deployed within cloud and on-premise environments |
| Use Cases | SSPM solutions are used for managing and securing serverless applications and functions | CASB solutions are used for managing and securing cloud applications, data, and user access |
| Examples | Examples of SSPM solutions include Protego, PureSec, and Bridgecrew | Examples of CASB solutions include Netskope, Bitglass, and Symantec CloudSOC |
Best Practices in SaaS Security Posture Management
Securing SaaS can be challenging, but having a comprehensive list of best practices can simplify the process and provide a standard to follow when developing your approach to SaaS security. By implementing these best practices, you can establish a successful SaaS security posture and ensure that your systems are protected against potential security threats:
1. Establish A Data Loss Prevention (DLP) System
A data loss prevention (DLP) system can significantly reduce the risk of confidential data leaks in your SaaS environment. This security software carefully monitors sensitive data at every stage of its lifecycle, preventing unauthorized access, theft, and manipulation.
Utilizing SSPM can further streamline your DLP efforts by identifying and filling any data security gaps in your SaaS technology stack, enhancing your overall security posture concerning data loss prevention.
2. Evaluate Your SaaS Providers
To ensure a successful SaaS security posture, it is essential to thoroughly evaluate your SaaS providers. Coordinate with your IT and security teams to comprehensively audit their systems, compliance, certificates, and other security assets.
Remember that your SSPM efforts and responsibilities commence when selecting your providers. By thoroughly evaluating your SaaS providers, you can establish a strong and successful relationship, ultimately leading to an effective SSPM program.
3. Encrypt Cloud Data
Encrypting it as needed throughout its lifecycle is crucial to safeguard your data from potential security breaches. Whether your data is stagnant in storage or transit between environments, it is constantly at risk of being compromised. Therefore, it is essential to use a strong encryption protocol to ensure its protection.
While many providers offer basic encryption solutions, it is still advisable to establish your encryption practices to complement theirs and enhance the overall security of your data.
4. Closely Monitor Data-Sharing
Although sharing internal data is a crucial aspect of business operations, monitoring this activity is equally important. Unfortunately, a significant amount of data tampering and misconfiguration occurs within an organization. With the growing popularity of storage platforms like Google Drive, sensitive data is always at risk of being manipulated.
Establishing collaboration controls to reduce the risk of data sharing is essential. This will enable you to identify individuals with access to confidential data and keep track of their activities if required.
5. Track Shadow IT
In recent years, Shadow IT has gained popularity, yet many organizations remain unaware of its potential risks to their business. Employees use this software or services without the knowledge of their organization’s management or security teams to simplify their workload.
However, just a few shadow instances can compromise your security posture. It’s critical to establish systems or security tools to detect rogue software and proactively manage all IT tools and corresponding access within your organization to mitigate this risk.
6. Employ Identity And Access Management (IAM) Solutions
An IAM solution based on roles effectively monitors user access by cross-referencing it with the roles assigned to them. This approach helps prevent users from accessing data or tools irrelevant to their job responsibilities. Implementing IAM is a highly recommended best practice for managing SaaS, and it works well on its own or in conjunction with SSPM. By strengthening access controls, IAM enhances overall SaaS security.
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5 Best SaaS Security Posture Management Tools
We have listed the top-performing and popular SaaS security posture management tools with their brief description. Let us have a look:
1. Zscaler
Zscaler is one of the most famous and leading cybersecurity providers on the current platform. This security provider implements the granular control system in the SaaS applications to eliminate the maximum internal and external security threats.
Zscaler provides cybersecurity solutions. It has the capabilities of continuous app connector monitoring and health monitoring for all apps. It can securely connect with any user, device, or app over any network. Zscaler offers cloud security posture management, workload segmentation, and secure app-to-app connectivity with its cloud protection solution. Features: Zscaler Workload Posture can identify, prioritize, recommend, and remediate misconfigurations and improper permissions in your cloud environment.
This security system attains simplified accessibility with an advanced navigation facility. Zscaler synchronizes the SaaS applications and functions according to the set policies regulated by the Shadow IT and security officials of the company. This security interface minimizes the maximum cyber security risks linked with SaaS applications.
Pros
- It visibly appears on the SaaS application for comprehensive cyber threat prevention.
- Simplified deployment and easy accessibility.
- Overview of the single dashboard for quick response.
Cons
- Weak granular reporting for application usage.
- Quite expensive for small-scale industries and start-ups.
2. Obsidian Security
Obsidian Security is an advanced and a comprehensive Saas security posture management tool that bridges the gaps between the compliance system and the security interface of SaaS applications in the company.
This security system empowers the IT and security network for simplified mitigation of internal and external cyber threats. Obsidian also provides best practice configuration recommendations to help security teams achieve a strong security posture.It frames the comprehensive record with details about the usage of the SaaS applications to monitor the activities according to the set regulations.
Pros
- It has simplified rules and regulations to start with.
- Advanced analytical system to detect the peer metrics and user interface for preventive reductions.
- Quick and easy deployment.
Cons
- Attain an underutilized licensing system that restricts reporting capabilities.
- It does not provide granular information.
3. AppOmni
AppOmni is one of the latest and most efficient SaaS security posture management tools which manage SaaS applications from extensive exposure to cyber threats and risks. Moreover, it is pretty active to monitor the anomalies in the data and configuration with details of users and activities.
This management tool detects the threat issues with a comprehensive compliance report about the SaaS-based application. It also empowers the IT and security teams to regulate the data protection policies in SaaS applications. It also analyses and monitors certain administrative activities and sensitive configurations.
Pros
- It attains robust reporting capability.
- It works through a single and consolidated dashboard to manage the security postures.
- Advanced accessibility power to security teams for protective exposures and data accessibility.
Cons
- It is pretty expensive.
- Weak customer assistance and support.
4. Adaptive Shield
Adaptive Shield is one of the top-performing SSPM management tools that let you hold complete control of the organization’s system and data security. In addition, this management tool is quite proactive in detecting the weak end of data security in the SaaS application.
It attains the capability to fix the weak ends to achieve robust protection for applications. Some noticeable features are constant configuration monitoring, unified native security controls, and sending alerts while detecting any glitch.
Pros
- It works with a unified truth source for SaaS applications.
- It provides extended control of the SaaS security system to its security teams.
- Advanced detection capability for detection and rectification of security issues.
Cons
- It has a low-performance learning curve.
- It needs minimized experience to start the process.
5. CYNET
CYNET SaaS security feature is a popular and top-performing SaaS security posture management tool with advanced features and empowered capability for data security. It monitors the usage and activity of the SaaS application to detect possible cyber threats and prepare preventive techniques.
It attains the automated remediation to configure the errors in the SaaS application and rectifies the mistakes in one click. In addition, it provides suggestions for improving the configuration to prevent cyber security risks.
Pros
- It attains an intuitive user interface that provides simplified accessibility.
- It supports the IT team with extended granular level control.
- It provides a rapid response time 24X7.
Cons
- Unstable performance due to minor bugs.
- Poor service uptime and slow processing.
Conclusion
You can choose the security posture to analyze your SaaS applications’ compatibility and requirements. According to the current survey’s malware and data breach records, around 39% of UK businesses suffered a cyber attack. This figure may impact the company’s market position and customer base to a great extent.
Hence it is necessary to implement the advanced and potent SSPM for the SaaS application in your organization. Integrating this security interface into your system is a futuristic approach to attaining a powerful closed system and managing the business data and configuration securely with a secure and accessible interface.
SaaS Security Posture Management FAQ's
SaaS Security Posture Management or SSPM Gartner is a new category of security solutions that continuously monitors security risk, ensures compliance, and prevents misconfiguration.
With businesses relying heavily on SaaS tools, investing in SSPM Gartner has become more important than ever. Its continuous network monitoring helps companies detect and react to security threats faster.
CSPM ensures the security of the overall cloud ecosystem, including the applications deployed in it, while SSPM keeps the data in those applications secure. Relying on any one security solution poses risks. SSPM works with CSPM to ensure your business has the best cloud security measures.
Enterprises need SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) because it has the following advantages:
- Simplifies compliance management
- Prevents cloud misconfigurations
- Detects overly permissive settings
Updated : September 15, 2023
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