These days, almost all types of businesses are using SaaS (Software as a Service) not because it was planned that way, but because different departments have been using different tools over the years, like marketing having one kind of software stack, finance another, and sales having three different CRMs, which is something that no one admits they use. Every one of these applications contains important data, and for the most part, these applications were never verified by security. A simple compromised login can lead to a much bigger breach than expected, with compliance costs being very high.

People do not bother to ask themselves whether it is necessary for a particular tool to use customer data before they allow the application to access it. They simply click on the button one day, and this is how SaaS systems start deploying hundreds of applications, with very few applications being monitored. Data breaches from SaaS misuse usually do not get media coverage like ransomware much, but the loss in finances may be very high. A comprehensive security policy is a must in this situation.

Understanding the Biggest SaaS Security Challenges

The list of problems here is long, and honestly it keeps growing every year.

• Shadow IT, tools nobody in security even knows exist
• Identity based attacks, stolen credentials being the easiest way in
• Misconfigured SaaS apps, permissions left wide open by default
• Third party integrations that quietly get more access than anyone intended
• Insider threats, sometimes accidental, sometimes not
• Data leakage through file sharing links nobody tracks

I have seen every one of these play out at real companies, sometimes more than one at once. Shadow IT and misconfigurations tend to travel together, since nobody reviewed the app’s default settings when it was never supposed to be there in the first place. Identity based attacks are the one that keeps me up at night honestly, because a stolen password looks identical to a real login until something goes wrong downstream. The uncomfortable truth is that most breaches are not sophisticated at all, they are just someone finding the door nobody bothered to lock.

7 Best Ways to Improve SaaS Security

1. Strengthen Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Even though people with bad intentions often take advantage of network security vulnerabilities and loopholes, breaches begin much earlier, at the point of identity verification. Try to practice least privilege everywhere, even if it creates some inconvenience. At the same time, implement SSO and MFA and use these techniques as mandatory, not optional. Regular access review is crucial as well, because granting or denying permissions is not a one-time event.

2. Gain Visibility into All SaaS Applications

It is impossible to protect what you do not know exists- it sounds self-evident, yet scanning reveals a harsh reality. Many companies discover dozens or even hundreds of applications they were not even aware of. You need to keep track of how your applications are used, pay special attention to those that potentially can cause problems, and struggle with shadow IT. Those efforts may look boring, but the bad news is that skipping the process leads you to bigger problems.

3. Protect Sensitive Data Across SaaS Platforms

Not all types of data are equally important, so it is better to identify what should be protected. Data protection solutions are designed to prevent sensitive information from being stolen. Data has to be safely stored and moved via encryption. File sharing rights have to be administered better than they are now, because one single file can render other efforts useless.

4. Continuously Monitor User Activity and Threats

A suspicious login does not always have to be spectacular. It may also be a login from an unexpected country at 3 am. Users with high privileges should be treated especially carefully. Advanced systems of anomaly detection can identify patterns that would otherwise be missed manually.

5. Automate Compliance and Security Governance

Manual compliance tracking does not go beyond a certain scale. Continuous monitoring tools allow you to check your level without having to assemble a spreadsheet every quarter. Audit-ready reports help save a significant amount of time in situations in which a regulator or a customer makes a request for proof. Automating policy enforcement also avoids uncomfortable conversations where somebody needs to justify why a certain rule was not followed.

6. Secure Third-Party Integrations and APIs

Every integration you accept is a door that you trust someone else to lock. Check what permissions the application actually has instead of assuming that it only needs what it claims to need. Always monitor API utilization for abnormality, and eliminate those integrations that are no longer in use. Third parties may be subject to risk review, yet that review should be continuing to be secure.

7. Partner with a Managed SaaS Security Provider Like Blazeclan

Not every organization has the in-house capacity to achieve excellence in this area, and that’s perfectly acceptable. Blazeclan provides security assessments across the board and has continuous surveillance of its developments. This means that security loopholes will be discovered immediately and not after an event. They also provide support in identity and access management, compliance, governance, cyber threat detection, and incident response services. Thus, having a partner like that means that best practices in security will be used specifically for your business and not some irrelevant standard practice.

Comparison of the Best SaaS Security Solutions

Each organization has its individualized SaaS security requirements dictated by its cloud ecosystem, compliance needs, and risk appetite. No individual protection method is suitable in all cases, so the best method is to combine approaches. The table that follows shows how different methods are applied according to their effectiveness.

Best Practices for Building a Resilient SaaS Security Strategy

A few habits separate companies that stay secure from ones that just react after something breaks.

• Adopt a Zero Trust security model, trust nothing by default
• Review user permissions regularly, not just once a year
• Train employees on SaaS security risks in plain language, not jargon
• Monitor security posture continuously, not through occasional check ins
• Run periodic security assessments even when nothing seems wrong
• Build an incident response plan before you actually need one
• Assign clear ownership for each SaaS application, someone has to actually be responsible
• Keep an updated inventory of every connected app and integration, reviewed quarterly

Individually, these actions are not difficult; however, the challenge lies in carrying them out on a continuous basis. Many security measures do not fail because they are poorly conceived, but because they are carried out only once and then neglected. Employee training is often regarded simply as a step taken during the onboarding process and subsequently disregarded. In order for any effective strategy to work, there must be someone overseeing it on a weekly basis, rather than just a policy document gathering dust in a shared folder that nobody uses.

Conclusion

It is important to remember that SaaS security is not a one-time fix but rather a continuous intervention. This is because no single tool can provide a stand-alone solution as there are many other components in SaaS security. However, many retailers ignore these components and consider that their SaaS security program will be handled effectively with the introduction and use of one tool.

While it is possible to create a SaaS security program internally, such effort requires many human resources that are usually limited in the companies. Blazeclan is dedicated to assisting organizations in assessing their needs and implementing proper SaaS security measures through cloud managed solutions tailored to their specific environments. If your SaaS footprint is greater than your chances to track it, it is time to consider receiving some external help.