SaaS (Software as a Service) applications offer businesses the flexibility to work remotely and worry less about the in-house IT setup. As a result, the SaaS market has been seeing exponential growth, with an estimated CAGR of 19.3 percent by 2029 (Statista).
However, with the perks also come some challenges in security. As cyberattacks are increasing, data privacy is becoming a bigger concern. Moreover, compliance regulations are stricter than ever.
Let’s learn about the major security threats to implementing SaaS in cloud computing and the prevention techniques and best practices.
Common Threats to SaaS Security
Implementing SaaS solutions unlocks avenues of efficiency yet can also open doors to security risks. Below are some of the most common threats you should keep on your radar:
1. Privacy and Data Breach Concerns
Data breaches are every organization’s nightmare. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach is estimated to be $4.88 million.
Sensitive data, such as customer information, financial records, and intellectual property, is a prime target for cybercriminals when present on a cloud-based SaaS (software as a service) platform. Hackers can bypass weak access controls, vulnerabilities in APIs, or misconfigured cloud settings to gain entry and steal data.
The consequences? Reputations are harmed, and potential lawsuits are awaited.
2. Unauthorized Access / Insider Threats
Not all threats come from outside your organization. Insider threats, from employees, contractors, or even ex-employees with access to sensitive data, represent another major SaaS vulnerability. Sometimes, they’re deliberate—a disgruntled employee trying to do damage—but usually, they’re a mistake, such as a company’s confidential files getting sent to the wrong contact.
Moreover, another SaaS security risk is unauthorized access. Attackers may use weak passwords, stolen credentials, or poor access management to impersonate legitimate users and gain access to your SaaS environment. That is why you need to ensure the authentication measures are in place.
3. No Direct Control Over Your Data
When it comes to SaaS solutions, you are handing over your data to a third-party provider. While this makes it convenient, it means you have less control of your data. Where is it stored? How is it being used? Who has access to it? Without transparency, it is difficult to know for certain.
This can challenge organizations that must comply with strict data regulations. If your SaaS provider doesn’t fit well with your security model, you put your data at risk.
4. Event Visibility
One of the difficulties of using SaaS is monitoring events and activities across the platform. While on-premises software makes it relatively easy to view logs and activities, SaaS tools can make it tough to monitor user behavior and identify potential threats in real-time.
With low visibility into events, it’s difficult to identify and respond to abnormal behavior before it becomes a serious issue.
5. Shadow IT
Shadow IT is when employees (or departments) run unauthorized SaaS applications that your IT team has not approved. It typically occurs when teams want shortcuts to solutions they need, causing them to bypass security systems.
These unauthorized software solutions are insecure, exposing your organization to data leaks, compliance violations, and security breaches that you may not even be aware of.
6. Insecure APIs
SaaS tools rely on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). They connect systems, allowing the flow of data and automation. However, poorly secured APIs are vulnerable as cyber criminals can target them to attain unauthorized access to your SaaS platform, steal data, or hamper services.
7. Compliance Challenges
Compliance is a big deal for companies that deal with sensitive data. With regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, organizations are under strict compulsion to ensure data privacy and security. However, as many SaaS platforms are multi-geographical, achieving compliance can pose challenges.
Your organization may face legal penalties and customer backlash when a particular SaaS provider does not meet these regulatory standards.
How to Prevent SaaS Security Threats?
So, how can you secure your SaaS tools from these risks? Here are some effective strategies to help you minimize risks:
1. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Just using passwords is not enough to stop attackers anymore. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) adds a layer of protection by combining a verification method, such as one-time codes, biometrics, or authenticator apps, with your password. MFA makes it too difficult for the hacker to access the account even if they steal your password.
2. Data Encryption
Encryption ensures that even if the malefactors intercept your data, they can’t make sense of it. You want to encrypt data in transit (when it’s being moved) and at rest (when it’s stored). Also, you must SaaS providers who use strong encryption protocols such as AES-256.
3. 24/7 Risk Management
SaaS Security is not something you do once, and then you’re done. Go with a continuous risk management approach to monitor your SaaS environment periodically. Spot weaknesses, identify threats, and take action to bolster security.
4. Integration of Real-Time Threat Detection and Prevention
Use tools that detect threats in real-time to identify and neutralize attacks before they cause damage. You must also utilize behavioral analysis tools to track user activity for signs of abnormal behavior, such as unusual login times or patterns of access that may suggest a breach.
5. Create a Data Retention Policy
Establish and apply a clear data retention policy with automatic deletion of unnecessary data in place. This limits how much sensitive information is exposed in the event of a breach.
6. SaaS Implementation: Best Practices
Apart from the strategies mentioned above, here are some best practices you must adopt to tighten your SaaS Security:
7. The SaaS Provider Profile Checklist
Conduct due diligence on any SaaS provider you choose. Learn about their security policies, certifications, and history. Seek out providers that comply with standards like ISO 27001 or SOC 2.
8. Maintain a Record
You must maintain a centralized list of all SaaS applications leveraged throughout your enterprise. With the inventory, you can identify shadow IT, monitor usage, and ensure each app has security controls in place.
9. Incident Response Planning
Have an incident response plan to prepare for the worst. The plan should include the steps your team will take after a data breach or a security incident, such as communication, mitigation, and recovery.
10. Training Customers and Employees
One of the leading causes of security breaches is human error. Teach your employees and customers security best practices, including identifying phishing emails, creating strong passwords, and staying away from unauthorized SaaS tools.
11. Implement a Zero Trust Security Model
The core principle of Zero Trust is “never trust, always verify.” Under Zero Trust, access to SaaS applications is restricted based on user roles, and users and devices are continuously monitored and validated.
12. Data Backup / Disaster Recovery
Back up your SaaS data regularly to ensure quick recovery in case of data loss or ransomware attacks. Also, you must select a SaaS vendor that provides disaster recovery solutions.
13. Logging and Monitoring
Do set up logging and monitoring to monitor the activity in your SaaS environment. This allows you to identify abnormal behavior, harden security iteratively, and respond to incidents.
Secure Your SaaS Applications to Ensure Uninterrupted Operations
Ensuring complete security for your SaaS applications empowers you to utilize the full potential of cloud computing. You can protect your organization’s data and build a resilient security framework by implementing techniques like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and continuous risk management and adopting best practices such as incident response planning and Zero Trust models.
AceCloud offers advanced managed security solutions to ensure the comprehensive safety of your SaaS applications. Book a free consultation with our experts to know more.
