If you are like the majority of other companies, you most likely use cloud environments or multi-cloud implementations. Even though cloud computing has become increasingly popular, it introduces security threats such as contract breaches, compliance problems, and APIs that are not secure or are misconfigured. Because most SaaS applications include large amounts of sensitive data, such as credit card information and other personally identifiable details, they are very appealing targets for cybercriminals, making it very important to secure your SaaS applications as best as possible.
While many companies are prepared to handle the security risks associated with PaaS and IaaS environments, SaaS applications operate differently, making it difficult to manage when it comes to security, which is all the more reason why it should be a priority.
In order to secure your SaaS environment, you should adhere to the following best practices:
Authentication: It can be challenging to decide which SaaS resources users should be given access to. Some vendors will support integration with identity providers that the customer can manage and also support multi-factor authentication, while some don’t. Make sure your organization’s security team has a clear understanding of which services are being used as well as what the supported options are for each of the services so that you are prepared to choose the best enhanced authentication option that will meet your company’s needs.
Data encryption: Most commonly, SaaS applications use TLS (Transport Layer Security) as a means of protecting data in transit. To make sure your SaaS environment is secure, make sure you have data encryption capabilities available to protect data that is at rest and also in transit. Sometimes it is already a default feature, and other times you may have to enable it when relevant.
Do your research: When sourcing which SaaS provider you want to go with, make sure you fully understand all the details - from which security model is used to how the service works, and any additional security options that might be available to you.
Be prepared for unexpected changes: SaaS usage patterns should be trackable, since patterns can change, especially if an application is deployed rapidly. Look for new, untracked SaaS usage and stay alert for when changes occur. One way to stay aware is to use different manual data collection methods combined with automation tools, which will help your organization maintain an updated inventory of the services employed as well as keep you informed as to who is using them.
CASBs: If possible, it is a good idea to use a CASB solution in the case that the SaaS provider you go with does not offer an adequate level of security. Having a CASB is helpful when SaaS providers don’t give you the ability to add controls. To make sure your SaaS remains secure, evaluate all of your options to determine which will be able to address any shortcomings in the SaaS provider’s security model. When you explore your options, it is also important to pay attention to deployment modes so you will pick the right deployment configuration that is best for your organization’s architecture.
Monitor your SaaS: It is best practice to monitor your SaaS use as well as to examine the data from tools like CASBs. Your organization should also keep track of the data and logs provided by the SaaS provider. This is crucial in ensuring that your SaaS application remains secure because they are very robust tools, so it is best to have systematic risk management measures in place, which will also help ensure users employ SaaS safely and that your organization’s SaaS usage remains protected.
Use an SSPM: Having an SSPM is essential because without it, you cannot ensure that your SaaS application will be properly configured. If your SaaS application is not configured correctly, you may not be able to protect your application from becoming compromised. It is best to look for an SSPM solution that will continuously monitor your organization’s SaaS applications in order to identify gaps between stated security policies and actual security posture. This way you will be able to automatically find and fix security risks, and you also will be able to automatically prioritize risks and misconfigurations by severity.
Implement SSO: To secure access to cloud apps, it is important to implement single sign-on. Attackers use login credentials as a target, which is becoming more attractive to them as organizations move SaaS applications online. That means passwords are no longer good enough to verify identity or prevent companies from experiencing attacks, data loss, or fraud. With SSO, you can leverage a central identity provider for user authentication. Using SSO also allows your organization to grant access to SaaS applications by using just one set of login credentials, which helps increase security by encouraging stronger passwords. In addition, an SSO helps boost productivity because it creates a simplified access process for employees as well as making IT teams’ jobs easier when they need to manage access privileges across an entire business.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Another method of securing your SaaS application is to strengthen access controls by using MFA. MFA works by making users pass multiple authentication challenges so they can prove they really are who they say they are. This may be done through using a one-time code sent to the user’s mobile phone. MFA is becoming more necessary as employees increasingly begin to work from home and need to be granted regular access from outside of their corporate network.
Identity governance: It is a good idea to install and integrate a good identity governance solution to help your business gain a unified view of your identity landscape. In addition, integrating an identity governance solution to secure your SaaS application will help you manage all identities based on company policies so you do not have to worry about meeting regulatory compliance and access policy requirements.
In summary, properly managing and securing SaaS applications is an essential part of establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. If you take the right steps to secure your SaaS application properly, not only will your organization be able to efficiently manage internal operations, but you will also be able to stay ahead of your competition.
Search Engine Optimization Specialist at LoginRadius
Vendor
Top 20
Jul 27, 2023
To be successful, your SaaS needs to use the right application performance management software. CIAM is the first step you need to take to avoid common challenges like lack of compliance, and incompetent onboarding.
As a solution provider of IAM solutions for SaaS companies, LoginRadius’s team understands the issues at hand related to compliance and performance.
Single Sign-On (SSO) is essential for companies as it simplifies user management and enhances security. Important aspects to consider include:
Enhanced security measures
Streamlined user access
Enhanced productivity
Reduced password fatigue
Cost efficiency in IT management
The importance of SSO lies in its ability to enhance security by reducing the number of login credentials employees need to...
Search Engine Optimization Specialist at LoginRadius
Jan 18, 2024
Single Sign-On is important for companies because it provides a secure and user-friendly authentication solution, streamlines access management, reduces support costs, and contributes to overall operational efficiency. Here are key reasons why SSO is important for businesses: Enhanced Security, Improved User Experience, Cost Savings, Centralized Identity Management, Flexibility and Scalability, Security Compliance Single Sign-On is important for companies as it addresses user authentication challenges, enhances security, improves user experience, and contributes to overall operational efficiency. It is a valuable component of modern identity and access management strategies.
Single Sign-On (SSO) is essential for companies as it simplifies user management and enhances security. Important aspects to consider include:
Enhanced security measures
Streamlined user access
Enhanced productivity
Reduced password fatigue
Cost efficiency in IT management
The importance of SSO lies in its ability to enhance security by reducing the number of login credentials employees need to remember. With SSO, companies can apply centralized security protocols and monitoring, making it easier to detect unauthorized access. This system helps in managing user access efficiently by maintaining strict compliance with security policies. Companies benefit from fewer security breaches and data leaks as SSO strengthens authentication processes and integrates with multi-factor authentication.Additionally, the importance of SSO in improving productivity cannot be understated. Employees spend less time managing multiple passwords, resulting in fewer IT support requests related to password recovery. This not only saves time but also reduces associated support costs. SSO allows users to access various applications and systems with a single set of credentials, leading to a smoother and more efficient workflow. With the reduced burden of maintaining separate login information, employees focus more on their tasks, thereby increasing overall operational efficiency in an organization.
I highly recommend Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as an excellent single sign on platform. The features I like the most are the multi-factor authentication and authorization. Its single sign-on provides flexibility and helps because users don't want to remember so many passwords when logging in. Once you log in, you have access to all the applications. It also enables us to provide backend a...
Search Engine Optimization Specialist at LoginRadius
Nov 17, 2022
Users can easily log into accounts using Single Sign-On because they don't have to keep track of numerous distinct accounts and passwords. Additionally, it means that companies can be certain users who aren't using passwords that are simple to guess or are being used on several accounts. The Best Single Sign-On Solutions Include: Duo Single Sign-On, Ping Identity, LoginRadius, Thales SafeNet Trusted Access, JumpCloud SSO, Okta Single Sign-On, OneLogin Secure Single Sign-On, RSA SecureID Secure, Auth Identity Platform.
I highly recommend Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as an excellent single sign on platform. The features I like the most are the multi-factor authentication and authorization. Its single sign-on provides flexibility and helps because users don't want to remember so many passwords when logging in. Once you log in, you have access to all the applications. It also enables us to provide backend access controls to our users, especially when it comes to groups.
Another valuable feature is Identity and Access Management. As an IT admin, this feature allows me to manage access for users and groups. This product is easy to use and easy to manage.
We are quite happy with the metrics and reports, as well as the logging of risks, such as attempts to sign in from different areas
This is a scalable product. You can scale it to any number of users and any number of servers, and there is no issue.
My advice for anybody who is considering Azure Active Directory is that if they are going to use other Microsoft services, like Office 365, then this is the perfect solution to implement.
I’ve found tech phone support to be inconsistent, but I like the support documentation on the Azure AD web page; it’s really helpful. If there are any updates, then there’s a section for notes in the documentation that explains it.
If someone’s using a different stack, like Google, and you choose a different cloud provider like Google or Amazon, (instead of Microsoft), I’d say it’s still good to use Azure Active Directory. The costs are relatively cheap compared to others.
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To be successful, your SaaS needs to use the right application performance management software. CIAM is the first step you need to take to avoid common challenges like lack of compliance, and incompetent onboarding.
As a solution provider of IAM solutions for SaaS companies, LoginRadius’s team understands the issues at hand related to compliance and performance.
Look into www.docontrol.io/