SaaS solutions are the trending services among most web-based businesses. They are easy to maintain and set up, they don’t need a lot of care to keep it running since most of the things are handled by the vendor, and they make the daily tasks of most employees easier. So it looks like software-as-a-service will constitute the majority of the software used by online businesses.
But can SaaS tools be risk-free? Hardly, to be honest. Just like any other digital tool that is not yet perfected, SaaS pose new risks to web-based companies and their private networks. After all, using several SaaS tools means that you are somewhat sharing and exposing your resources to a 3rd party. So we need to think about these risks and possible solutions. Let’s do so.
Top 5 SaaS Security Risks and Solutions
#1- Third Party Risks
When you are using a SaaS, it means that some of your resources are stored and used under another company’s database, since your company is not the one providing the software for your operations. You may have an incredible security structure in your own company, but you cannot guarantee that for the third party you are working with.
So what you need to do to fix this issue is use high-end risk management tools that be utilized on a third party or a SaaS tool. These tools are great when you have no other way but to let your SaaS provider store some sensitive data but you still need to make sure it’s secure. SaaS risk management tools can be found online from cloud-based providers.
#2- Identity Management Issues
Identity management and access control are keys regardless of what service you are using. If you have a private network, you need to make sure who is accessing, which they access, and most importantly why they need access to a particular piece of resource. When it comes to SaaS, this is much more important since modern companies use a variety of them, not just a single one.
You need to put certain policies and services for access permission and user authentication. You can ask your cybersecurity vendor about what they have to offer in terms of verification technologies. This is crucial to minimize SaaS risks.
#3- Managing Data Protection
If you are getting a service from a SaaS provider, you cannot be leaving all the security tasks to them, because you do not know what they use to protect your data or how well they store them. You need your own ways to control your own data and protect them well. When you have control over your resources, things will be much easier, and of course, much safer.
That’s where constant monitoring comes into play. Just like any other part of your network, you need a capable IT security team that would monitor your SaaS tools and the information they contain frequently. This will not only let you know what’s going on in there but it will also allow your IT team to make adjustments as needed on how they are stored and secured.
#4- Secure Cloud Access
SaaS is mostly used in the cloud even if you can opt for on-premise options. Since you will be granting your employees remote access (because the resources in a SaaS tool will be available in the cloud), you have to make sure cloud access is safe. If your cloud access is compromised, you risk your private network being tracked by malicious users. This is a common risk of SaaS.
Using cloud-based security services is perhaps the single most important thing you need on your SaaS security checklist. Things like VPN or Zero Trust are great tools for ensuring secure remote access, to name a few. With that being said, there are a lot of other services in the market that are compatible with SaaS, and they will complete your SaaS journey by offering maximum security. You need to adapt to the emerging cloud technology, including the security tools you use.
#5- Disaster Recovery
Even if you have the most advanced cybersecurity methods in place, something can happen and you might lose a significant amount of your resources, especially if you use SaaS tools and do not know where they store your data. Natural disasters, outages, and other significant events may hamper your SaaS provider’s ability to keep up and running.
Even though these sound like the end of the world, they are not. Things like these will always happen and we effectively have no way of preventing them. But what you can do is ask questions to your SaaS provider about how they will restore your data in case of such things. Another thing to consider is if they have a plan for these situations. A disaster recovery plan that is explainable and doable is a precious asset to look for in SaaS tools.
Conclusion
SaaS is a gift of the cloud and the advancing technology of the modern world. Web-based businesses that want to cut down costs and minimize manual labor utilize them every day. An average company can use several SaaS tools for daily tasks, so they are highly functional.
But they are also high-risk; SaaS tools can introduce new challenges to your IT security team, and you need to make sure to protect your resources while also benefiting from these tools. Make sure to take the necessary precautions and be aware of these risks.
