The Software as a service (SaaS) delivery model provides on-demand, subscription-based access to cloud services. SaaS eliminates the need to host applications on-premises. 

Like other cloud services, SaaS operates using the shared responsibility model that stipulates both vendor and customer are responsible for maintaining the security of the application. Here is how it typically works:

  1. SaaS vendor - must secure the network, platform, operating system, physical infrastructure, and applications. 
  2. SaaS customer - must secure their data and user access. 

SaaS providers offer various levels of security - some offering basic security while others offer extensive SaaS security controls. 

Security challenges for SaaS applications

Here are several unique security challenges introduced by SaaS applications:

  1. Shadow IT

The term shadow IT refers to the use of digital resources that the IT team has not approved. Shadow IT happens when employees or authorized third parties download, install or use applications without approval, for example, using personal email domains or social media. The main concern is that the IT team is unaware of these applications and cannot protect against any risks and threats they might introduce.

  1. Performance and bandwidth

SaaS software typically consumes a significant amount of bandwidth. As a result, the performance of other applications may be impacted. Additionally, these applications can clash with traditional security architectures, such as MPLS WAN, which lack bandwidth and end up backhauling traffic and slowing it down.

  1. Data loss

Shadow IT applications and approved applications that do not use secure Internet access can potentially leak sensitive information. This data loss can cause a data breach. For example, an authorized user using their personal cloud storage to upload sensitive information and download it later on their personal device, significantly increases the chances of a data leak.

Organizations must adopt a data classification strategy to identify sensitive data in SaaS applications and apply the relevant permissions and controls.

  1. Unrestricted access

Users can access SaaS software from any location or device. This type of flexible network access is a key benefit of SaaS, but it also poses a significant risk.

IT teams often struggle to control the use of SaaS applications because they do not have visibility across all locations, nor do they have any granular access controls to prevent misuse. These types of challenges can be address by a zero trust security model, which denies access to everything by default, and verifies every user request before allowing access.

Security checklist

Here are several technologies and practices that can help you secure your SaaS applications.

  1. Using security technologies

Here are key technologies you can employ to mitigate certain SaaS security challenges:

  1. SaaS security posture management (SSPM) - tools that continuously assess security risks and manage the security posture of your SaaS applications. SSPM tools offer capabilities such as reports on native SaaS security configuration, management functionality for identity permissions, and suggested configuration improvements.
  2. Secure access service edge (SASE) - tools delivered as a service. SASE solutions enable access to systems according to security and compliance policies, device or entity identity, and real-time context. SASE tolls offer several converged security and network capabilities, such as zero trust network access (ZTNA) and SD-WAN. 
  3. Cloud access security brokers (CASBs) - tools designed to protect your data and users across cloud resources, including PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS. CASB tools can detect threats and extend the visibility of IT departments into cloud user behavior and data usage. Additionally, CASB tools can immediately remediate security threats by fixing security misconfigurations and high-risk user activities applications.
  4. Advanced malware prevention - a broad category of technologies designed to extend malware prevention. For example, real-time threat intelligence and behavioral analytics that can detect and block zero-day exploits and malicious files that can potentially spread across cloud email and file-sharing applications.
  5. Create a detailed SaaS security guide

A detailed SaaS security guide can help your organization determine the most suitable security measures, practices, and technologies for your needs. Ideally, you should collaborate with your internal IT team as well as external security experts when creating a security guide.

Once you have evaluated your software environment, you can better understand potential security vulnerabilities and risks. This assessment can help inform your decisions and help you efficiently mitigate these risks by using internal security controls and defining standards for use of SaaS technology across the organization.

  1. Ensure secure deployment

Here are the two main SaaS deployment options:

  1. Cloud deployment - the SaaS vendor is responsible for data security and segregation. 
  2. Self-hosted deployment - you gain control over the deployment and are responsible for preventing network attacks and denial-of-service (DoS) attempts. 
  3. Configure automated backups

Data backup is critical to enable normal operations during security events and outages. Ideally, you should always have the most recent copy ready for retrieval. You can achieve this by configuring automated backups, which can quickly and efficiently copy and store the latest version of your data.

  1. Implement security controls

Here are key SaaS security controls every organization should implement:

  1. Data encryption - involves encoding data and creating a ciphertext. A successful data encryption process enables only authorized parties to read the ciphertext.
  2. Malware prevention - you can use various methods, such as installing firewalls, limiting application privileges, and enforcing use of strong passwords.
  3. Identity and access management (IAM) - tools that offer access security features, such as password policies and two-factor authentication.

Conclusion

In this article, I explained the basics of SaaS security and presented several best practices that can help you improve security for your SaaS applications.

In short, use tools like SSPM, SASE, and CASB, enforce secure access, and automatically remediate security issues. Create a SaaS security guide with approaches and policies. Configure automated backups and implement security controls, e.g. encryption, anti-malware, etc.