6 Keys to SaaS Security Posture Management

Just because your data is on the cloud, does not mean it's completely out of harm's way. If your organization is relying on one or more SaaS platforms, then SaaS security posture management is a critical component of your overall security program. SaaS stands for "Software as a Service" which means that the software is provided remotely. It may not be installed locally, so you probably access it via the web. However, that particularly doesn't ensure that your data is safe. You should never rely solely on your provider to take care of this for you. If you are looking into SaaS security posture management, read about the six keys below so you know how it works.

SaaS security responsibility

You might think that your service provider takes care of everything when it comes to data security. After, all they are the ones in control of servers and resources. While it is true that they have a big role to play, your organization is still ultimately responsible for the security of its data. The service provider might provide you with some tools and services to help you, but they can never completely guarantee the safety of your information and how it's being accessed on your end. It is up to you to make sure your company is meeting its targeted security policies while using SaaS platforms.

What is SaaS security posture management?

SaaS security posture management is the process of continuously assessing and managing the risk to your organization's data while it resides in a SaaS platform. This includes vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and other activities that help you understand where your data is most at risk. It also helps you set up the much-needed security measures to safeguard your data. With the dynamic nature of today's security threats, it's critical to have a posture management strategy in place so you can adapt as needed.

The 6 keys to SaaS security posture management

1. Security policy enforcement

   Some service providers will have security policies in place for their customers. For example, some might require multifactor authentication. Others will be a bit more lenient and allow you to use your own security policies as long as they don't conflict with that of the provider. Regardless of what the policy is, you must try to enforce it.

   
   

2. Regular configuration management

   One of the biggest problems with SaaS platforms is that they are constantly changing. With new updates, providers can add new features and make changes to the way their system works. If you're not keeping track of these changes, your organization might be opening itself up to several vulnerabilities. For example, if a new feature is added that allows users to upload files and then download them later, it could lead to malicious attacks. You need proper configuration management in place so you can track all changes happening on your SaaS platform(s) and the servers they are stored on.

   
   

3. Security posture assessment

   Even if you have security policies in place, it does not mean that your organization is automatically protected against threats. Because there are so many unique cyber attacks, it is impossible to defend against them all. There are also a lot of insider threats and mistakes that can lead to data breaches as well. To determine how vulnerable your organization is, you have to run regular security assessments on SaaS platforms and the servers being used for storage purposes. This will help you pinpoint any weaknesses in your security posture and fix them.

   
   

4. Security monitoring & response

   As mentioned earlier, threats are everywhere and it's impossible to protect against all of them. As such, you need to have a proper security monitoring infrastructure in place that is capable of detecting potential threats as soon as they happen. It needs to be able to monitor your SaaS platform(s) while also keeping an eye on the servers being used for storage purposes. This will help you determine if a threat is present, and also allow you to respond quickly. Doing this will help prevent attacks from spreading and minimize their impact since they'll be detected as soon as possible. Having proper security monitoring in place can even prompt service providers to upgrade their systems so that your organization remains protected at all times regardless of the changes made.

   
   

5. Updating your security policies as needed

   As mentioned earlier, there are so many different types of attacks that it's impossible to protect against them all. This is why you need to update your security policies as needed and make sure they remain relevant even when new threats emerge. For example, two-factor authentication used to be considered a well-known factor in online security but is now more complex given the rise of new attacks and platforms. As such, your security policies should reflect this and include two-factor authentication as a standard. If you don't update your security policies from time to time, they will not be able to protect against new threats that emerge in the future. In addition, it could also leave gaps for hackers because of outdated or missing controls. The best way to protect against this is to review your security policies in depth before implementing them.

   
   

6. Constant vigilance against new threats

   
   

   The best way to protect your organization against online threats is by being vigilant against new ones. This means you need to have a team in place that is constantly monitoring for new attacks and vulnerabilities. In addition, you also need to ensure that your security monitoring infrastructure is up-to-date so it can detect any new threats as soon as they emerge. This will help you determine if new threats are present on your SaaS platform(s), which servers they're being stored on, and what type of impact that could have.

The bottom line

Though there is no 100% foolproof way to prevent attacks from occurring, the six tips outlined in this article should help you minimize their impact. Remember that the best way to protect against online threats is by being proactive, and not just reactive when something bad happens. Don't wait for an attack to occur before implementing a strategy because it would be too late at that point and your organization could suffer a great deal of damage financially, reputably, and legally.