SaaS Security Posture Management
SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) is a security solution specifically designed to manage the security posture of an organization's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.
In today's cloud-centric world, most organizations rely on many SaaS applications for various functions, from CRM and project management to data storage and analytics. However, this reliance introduces security challenges:
Shared Responsibility Model: Cloud providers are responsible for the security of the underlying infrastructure; however, the company utilizing the SaaS application still protects its data and configurations.
Misconfigurations: Improper configurations within SaaS applications can create security vulnerabilities and expose sensitive data.
Shadow IT: Unauthorized use of unsanctioned SaaS applications can introduce security risks beyond an organization's visibility.
Limited Visibility: Traditional security solutions often need more deep visibility into the security posture of SaaS applications.
SSPM addresses these challenges by providing functionalities like:
Inventory and Discovery: Creates a comprehensive list of all the SaaS applications used within the organization, including sanctioned and shadow IT.
Continuous Monitoring: This involves regularly analyzing the security posture of identified SaaS applications, looking for misconfigurations, outdated software, and suspicious activities.
Compliance Management: Helps ensure that SaaS application configurations adhere to internal security policies and external compliance regulations.
Threat Detection and Remediation: Identifies potential security threats within SaaS applications and provides recommendations for remediation.
Place in Cybersecurity amongst Complementary Solutions:
SSPM is a valuable addition to an organization's overall cybersecurity strategy, working alongside other security solutions:
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): While SSPM focuses on SaaS applications, CSPM offers a broader view of the entire cloud environment, including infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) deployments.
CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker): CASB acts as a gateway between users and cloud applications, enforcing access controls, data loss prevention (DLP), and malware protection. SSPM complements CASB by providing deeper security posture analysis within the SaaS applications.
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): SIEM collects and analyzes logs from various security solutions, including SSPM. This consolidated view helps security teams identify and respond to security incidents more effectively.
SSPM is vital in securing today's cloud-dependent organizations. SSPM helps organizations reduce risks, ensure compliance, and safeguard sensitive data in the cloud by providing comprehensive visibility and management of SaaS application security posture.
ThreatNG and an SSPM (SaaS Security Posture Management) solution can be powerful complements in an organization's cybersecurity strategy, working together to secure the attack surface across external and internal SaaS applications. Here's how they work together:
ThreatNG's Role: External Attack Surface Visibility
External SaaS Identification: ThreatNG scans the public internet to discover all externally facing SaaS applications connected to the organization, its subsidiaries, and its known vendors (third-party connections). This includes identifying shadow IT situations where unauthorized personal or external SaaS instances might be used.
Digital Risk Protection (DRP): ThreatNG monitors the internet for mentions of the organization or its connected entities concerning SaaS applications. This can uncover potential data leaks or breaches involving exposed SaaS data.
Security Ratings: ThreatNG can provide security ratings for identified SaaS applications based on industry benchmarks and known vulnerabilities.
SSPM's Role: Internal Security Posture Management
Inventory and Discovery: SSPM focuses on creating a comprehensive list of all sanctioned SaaS applications used within the organization.
Continuous Monitoring: SSPM analyzes the security posture of identified internal SaaS applications, looking for misconfigurations, outdated software, and suspicious activities.
Compliance Management: SSPM helps ensure internal SaaS configurations adhere to organizational security policies and external compliance regulations.
Threat Detection and Remediation: SSPM identifies potential security threats within internal SaaS applications and provides recommendations for remediation.
How They Work Together: Examples
ThreatNG Identifies External Risk: ThreatNG discovers a publicly accessible Trello board used by a critical supplier that contains sensitive project details about an upcoming product launch.
SSPM Confirms Internal Use: The organization's SSPM solution confirms that the same supplier has a sanctioned Trello instance connected for internal collaboration.
Joint Risk Assessment: ThreatNG's security ratings and DRP findings are combined with SSPM's internal security posture analysis to assess the overall risk associated with Trello usage.
Communication and Remediation: The security team can now comprehensively view the Trello risk and take appropriate action. They might contact the supplier to secure the public board and improve access controls within their internal Trello instance.
Benefits of Combined Approach:
Comprehensive Visibility: ThreatNG and SSPM provide a combined view of the entire SaaS attack surface, encompassing external and internal applications.
Proactive Risk Management: Organizations can address security issues before they are exploited by identifying external risks and internal misconfigurations.
Improved Third-Party Security: ThreatNG helps hold suppliers accountable for maintaining secure SaaS practices, ultimately enhancing the supply chain's overall security posture.
Streamlined Workflow: Sharing data between ThreatNG and SSPM allows for a centralized view of SaaS security risks and facilitates a more efficient response process.
ThreatNG is the initial line of defense, uncovering external SaaS applications and potential security risks. It then integrates with SSPM, focusing on internal SaaS security posture management. This combined approach provides a holistic view of the SaaS attack surface, enabling organizations to proactively manage risks and secure their data across the entire cloud application ecosystem.
