SaaS Security

SaaS security refers to the measures, practices, and technologies used to protect software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications and the associated data and infrastructure.

SaaS applications are hosted in the public cloud or an off-premises data center and accessed primarily through a web browser, mobile application, or desktop client application. Securing SaaS applications presents challenges, but organizations must proactively manage this critical area of cybersecurity. Protecting SaaS applications against unauthorized access and other threats is crucial because of the sensitive information they often contain.

Business use of SaaS applications can put protected data and workloads in an unprotected environment. There are several high-profile reasons to consider SaaS security in your enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy:

User access control: Ensuring that only authorized users have access to the SaaS application helps prevent insider threats and unauthorized data access.

Data protection: SaaS applications often handle sensitive data, including personal information, financial records, and intellectual property. Robust security measures protect this data from unauthorized access and breaches.

Regulatory compliance: Many industries are subject to strict regulations regarding data security and privacy (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). Ensuring SaaS security helps organizations comply with these regulations and avoid legal penalties.

Business continuity: Security incidents can lead to significant downtime, disrupting business operations. SaaS security helps maintain business continuity by preventing such incidents.

Reputation management: Data breaches and security incidents can damage a company’s reputation. Strong SaaS security practices help maintain customer trust and confidence.

Future cost savings: Investing in proactive security measures can save organizations from the high costs associated with data breaches, including legal fees, fines, and the expense of repairing damaged systems.

Reducing shadow IT: Unapproved SaaS applications pose a substantial security risk. Comprehensive SaaS security includes monitoring and managing the use of SaaS applications and identifying those that are unauthorized.

Vendor and third-party risk management: SaaS applications often integrate with third-party services, which can introduce additional vulnerabilities. A complete SaaS security plan will require these external parties to adhere to the company’s risk-mitigation requirements.

To illustrate the importance of SaaS security, let’s consider some key business data and operational assets associated with Microsoft 365 and Salesforce:

Microsoft 365 and Salesforce are two of the largest SaaS applications used by companies around the world. A threat actor who gains access to these applications can steal sensitive information and disrupt the company’s communications and other operations. These applications can also be used to spread malware through the business network or launch an account takeover or business email compromise attack.

These are the most common layers of security that companies deploy to secure their SaaS applications and data:

Access controls and authentication: Multifactor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) solutions combined with the appropriate access controls should ensure only authorized individuals can access SaaS applications and data. Individuals should have access to only those resources required to do their jobs.

Enforcing the principle of least privilege (PoLP or ‘least privilege access’): This principle requires that users get only the least amount of privileges required to perform their jobs. Enforcing PoLP is tightly aligned with ensuring the appropriate access controls and should be deployed during the rollout of the application. The principle of least privilege helps prevent employees from accessing unauthorized resources, and it may limit the activities of a threat actor who has accessed a system using stolen credentials.

Data protection: Encryption mechanisms, access controls, secure storage, and regular data backups should be implemented immediately. Data used by or stored in SaaS applications must be protected from unauthorized access, data breaches, and data loss. Strict data protection measures are required to prevent unauthorized access and data tampering. These data protection practices may also be required by government regulations.

Monitoring and incident response: Real-time monitoring and established incident response procedures can prevent or limit the damage of an attack. Audit trails and security event logs are helpful in forensic investigations and are often required for regulatory compliance.

Vendor management: SaaS providers and external parties that have access to your environment should meet your company’s security requirements. Attackers often target third-party service providers because they often lead to the systems of a larger organization. Regularly review the security posture of each service provider to make sure it meets current company standards.

Compliance security: Regular security assessments and audits should be conducted to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. This area of security also requires appropriate documentation and strict adherence to best practices.

Network security: Protects the communication channels used to access SaaS applications. This includes using secure protocols, firewall configurations, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.

Application security: Rigorous security testing, secure coding practices, and consistent patch management will protect applications and APIs from potential vulnerabilities. Application security will also defend against distributed denial of service attacks, credential stuffing, and zero-day attacks. This protection may also be required to meet data protection regulations or to restrict access based on location or other criteria. 

Endpoint security: Laptops, smartphones, and other devices must be protected against viruses, malware, and other threats. Secure internet access (SIA) should be provided by endpoint components working with a secure web gateway.

User training and awareness: Teaching users how to identify social engineering, phishing, and other common attacks will improve the overall security posture of the company. Users can be instructed on attack types, best practices, and incident response procedures.

These solutions and practices secure the SaaS application with multiple layers of protection.

Protecting your business network with Zero Trust Access will ensure continuous verification of every user and device that attempts to access networked resources. Here are the key principles of Zero Trust in SaaS security:

Identity verification: MFA and strong password policies authenticate every user and device attempting to access a resource.

Microsegmentation: The network is divided into smaller segments to limit the lateral movement of threats within the network. Each segment is isolated and protected.

Secure SaaS-to-SaaS connections: Traffic between SaaS applications is secured and continuously inspected to prevent unauthorized access or data leakage through third-party integrations.

Device security: The security posture of each device is verified before the device is granted access to the network. Verification and authentication processes require compliance with security policies and baseline security posture.

Automation and orchestration: Enforcement of security policies and incident response procedures are automated to ensure consistency and speed.

Adaptive policies: Zero Trust enables dynamic security policies that can adapt based on the context of the access request, such as user location, device health, and the sensitivity of the data being accessed.

Some Zero Trust principles are considered basic security practices. These include the principle of least privilege, continuous monitoring of user activity and network traffic, and end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive information. Comprehensive Zero Trust Access will elevate SaaS security far beyond basic practices. Zero Trust models and solutions enforce a consistent security posture across the entire business network, including SaaS applications and other public cloud workloads.

Your SaaS security approach will depend on your use-case. For example, a small or medium size retailer may use a SaaS application for customer relationship management (CRM). The CRM provider may offer data encryption, access control, and regulatory compliance features. These and other native features may meet the needs of this user.

Alternatively, a financial services firm may require a third-party security solution to protect their SaaS applications. Advanced threat protection (ATP), audit logs, granular access controls, and other enhanced security features are required for even the smallest operation in a highly regulated industry. A security solution built specifically for SaaS applications may be the best choice.

A third option is to configure a hybrid approach that uses some of the native SaaS security features alongside those provided by a third-party security solution. This is common in strictly regulated industries like healthcare. An electronic health records (EHR) system may include built-in encryption, access control, and regulatory compliance features. In this example, the native SaaS security features are purpose-built for healthcare because the SaaS application was purpose-built for healthcare. The third-party solution provides the comprehensive protection for the entire SaaS environment and business network. This includes Zero Trust Access, advanced threat intelligence, MFA and SSO capabilities, data leak prevention, audit trails, real-time monitoring, and many more security features.

Deploying and securing a SaaS application requires preparation and diligence before, during, and after the rollout. To illustrate this point, here’s one deployment scenario for Microsoft 365:

Pre-deployment planning and assessment

• Thoroughly review and understand the Shared Responsibility Model and the entities that must be secured by the SaaS customer. 
• Review Microsoft recommendations and requirements to ensure you are following best practices.
• Identify the specific needs and compliance requirements for your organization and document how these requirements will be met.
• Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats specific to your SaaS deployment.
• Develop security policies that outline how Microsoft 365 will be used securely within your organization. Define these policies in the deployment plan and the company cybersecurity strategy.

SaaS application deployment

• Configure Microsoft 365 with security best practices from the start. This includes setting up strong password policies, multifactor authentication (MFA), and restricting administrative access.
• Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure users have the minimum necessary permissions. 
• Enable data loss prevention (DLP) policies to protect sensitive information. Configure encryption settings for data at rest and in transit.

Post-deployment monitoring and management

• Set up continuous monitoring and incident alerts to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
• Regularly review audit logs and reports to identify any suspicious activities. Include user access and security policy reviews in this process. 
• Conduct regular security awareness training for users to recognize phishing attacks and other social engineering threats.

Incident response and recovery

• Develop and maintain an incident response plan specific to your Microsoft 365 deployment. This should include steps for identifying, containing, eradicating, and recovering from security incidents.
• Ensure that you have robust backup and recovery procedures in place. Microsoft recommends a third-party solution for data backup, so keep this in mind when you plan the deployment.

This is just one of many deployment options, but all scenarios will require security-related activities in all phases of deployment.

How does SaaS security differ from traditional on-premises security?

The differences are found primarily in the responsibility model. The SaaS service provider handles the infrastructure security, application security, and some aspects of data security. The SaaS customers are responsible for user access management, data security on their end, and ensuring proper use of the service. This shared responsibility model requires a clear understanding and cooperation between the SaaS provider and the customer. 

What are the most common security risks associated with SaaS applications?

Data breaches, account takeover, insecure APIs, and data loss controls are top SaaS security concerns. These risks may come from vulnerabilities in the SaaS application and infrastructure, but more commonly come from stolen credentials, weak passwords, and mis-configured security settings.

How can organizations ensure compliance with data protection regulations when using SaaS applications?

Companies should select SaaS providers that offer robust security measures and compliance certifications like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They should also implement strong data governance policies, conduct regular audits, and use encryption to protect sensitive data. The SaaS provider’s data protection practices should be reviewed in the pre-deployment planning.

What measures can be taken to secure user access to SaaS applications?

MFA, SSO, and strong password policies are essential for secure access control. The security staff should regularly review and update access permissions, monitor user activity, and train employees on the best security practices.

What are the best practices to secure SaaS applications?

SaaS security best practices include implementing robust authentication mechanisms like MFA, end-to-end data encryption, and regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. Strict access controls and continuous real-time monitoring are essential to safeguard against potential threats.