The Pros and Cons of Using SaaS
Software as a Service (SaaS) has become a vital tool for businesses looking to enhance their flexibility and productivity. However the swift adoption of these cloud based solutions brings its set of obstacles, especially concerning cybersecurity. As companies increasingly turn to SaaS applications, they are also confronted with the security vulnerabilities that come along with them.
Recent research carried out by cybersecurity company, Wing Security, sheds light on how prevalent and impactful SaaS breaches are across organizations. By examining data from a study that was conducted on 492 companies, Wing has revealed statistics that emphasize the importance of implementing strong security measures to protect an organizaion from risks stemming from SaaS.
Understanding SaaS Security Incidents
Before delving into the research results, it’s essential to grasp what constitutes a SaaS security incident. Simply put, such an incident occurs when unauthorized parties gain access to an organizations data, applications or services stored on cloud platforms. These incidents can arise from factors like:
Misconfigured applications
Insufficient access controls
Weaknesses in third party connections
Human mistakes
The repercussions of these incidents can be severe, ranging from data breaches and regulatory violations to serious harm to customer confidence and brand image.
Key Discoveries from Wing’s Study
Wings examination of 492 SaaS environments in June 2024 uncovered some concerning trends:
1. Ranging Vulnerabilities
An astounding 95% of companies in the research were found to be utilizing at least one app that had been breached in the past year. This data emphasizes the widespread nature of SaaS vulnerabilities. This indicates that relying solely on the security measures provided by SaaS vendors is inadequate.
2. Numerous Breach Points
50% of the surveyed organizations had faced breaches in eight or more apps within the last year. This discovery highlights the importance of adopting a security approach that addresses vulnerabilities throughout the SaaS ecosystem rather than concentrating on a few prominent applications.
3. Hidden App Risks
One out of every seven organizations was using an app that had been breached and was used by less than one percent of organizations. This data underscores the security challenges associated with known SaaS applications, which may have security protocols and often escape detection by IT and security teams.
4. Vulnerabilities in Single User Apps
74% of companies encountered breaches in apps utilized by one user.
This discovery raises concerns expanding the attack surface for a single user app. This emphasises how important it is to take into consideration the overseeing all SaaS applications thoroughly, no matter who uses them.
Steps to Reduce Risks of SaaS Breaches
Given these findings companies need to take measures to reduce the risks associated with SaaS breaches:
Minimizing Attack Surface
It’s crucial to use automated tools to monitor and discover vulnerabilities in SaaS applications. This method ensures that new threats are dealt with promptly, ultimately decreasing the potential for attacks.
Managing Access Permissions
Regularly reviewing and correctly setting access permissions is vital in preventing entry. Implementing insider risk management practices is also key in dealing with threats that may emerge from within the organization.
Ensuring Secure Configurations
Following security practices conducting audits and compliance checks help uphold the integrity of SaaS application configurations. This proactive approach significantly lowers the chances of breaches due to misconfigurations.
Managing SaaS Supply Chain Risks
Thoroughly evaluating third party SaaS applications is critical. This evaluation process should involve examining their security policies, practices and relevant certifications to ensure they align with the organizations security requirements.
AI in SaaS Risk Management
With the integration of AI into SaaS services being on the rise, it’s crucial for organizations to put in place measures to handle associated risks. This involves making sure that AI models handle data securely and don’t accidentally introduce weaknesses or jeopardize data privacy.
The Importance of SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM)
Considering the increasing number and complexity of SaaS breaches highlighted in Wing’s research, it’s vital for organizations to adopt a SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) solution to bolster their security stance.
SSPM offers a range of advantages:
Automated detection of threats and response to incidents
Simplified security operations
Proactive identification and mitigation of risks
Scalability for security teams
By automating tasks and offering a comprehensive view of the SaaS landscape, SSPM allows organizations to react quickly and efficiently to potential breaches. This proactive approach is key to maintaining a security position amidst evolving SaaS threats.
In Conclusion: A Call for Awareness
The findings from Wings research should serve as a wake up call for organizations relying on SaaS applications. The frequency of breaches across application types and user groups emphasizes the importance of taking a proactive approach to SaaS security.
Through the implementation of security measures like SSPM solutions and practices for managing insider risks, organizations can significantly decrease their susceptibility to SaaS breaches. In the changing world of SaaS it’s essential to stay updated on threats. Embracing state of the art security measures is key to protecting data and upholding customer confidence.
