What is SSPM (SaaS Security Posture Management)

Businesses are feverishly accelerating their move to cloud SaaS apps, now the standard for modern productivity. However, data security comes front and center with cloud SaaS paving the way for the future for businesses. Therefore, managing the cloud SaaS security “posture” becomes critical for companies to protect their data and provide the tools needed for productivity. SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) tools allow businesses to meet cloud SaaS security goals effectively. Why is SSPM crucial?

Security risks in the cloud 

While cloud SaaS is ripe with modern tools and technologies empowering businesses, it can equally be filled with security pitfalls using SaaS applications. For example, cloud misconfigurations, risky third-party applications, shadow IT, ransomware, data leakage, and many other threats can jeopardize critical and sensitive data and lead to security breaches.  

Companies can fall into the trap of misconceptions, thinking that simply migrating data to cloud SaaS environments makes it inherently more secure. However, the security posture of cloud SaaS still depends on implementing and following security posture best practices. 

What is SaaS security posture?

An enterprise’s security posture refers to the overall security state of all software, hardware, configurations, services, networks, and applications as part of the technical landscape. It is a good indicator of how the organization can defend against security threats and security risks as these come along. 

When related to SaaS, all the same principles apply. However, the underlying infrastructure security is fully managed since SaaS is located in a cloud provider data center. Therefore, the focus shifts to the security stance and configuration of the SaaS applications.

What is SaaS Security Posture Management SSPM?

SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) refers to the security solutions and tooling needed for automated continuous monitoring and visibility of an organization’s SaaS apps in the cloud SaaS environment.

It helps to minimize cloud misconfigurations and security risks of SaaS apps and provides native security controls to help protect sensitive data housed in cloud services. In addition, it bolsters the security team by providing 24x7x365 monitoring of the environment, quickly detecting security gaps in cloud apps, and allowing SecOps to address security issues effectively or use automated responses to remediate these.

CASB vs. SSPM tools

CASBs (Cloud Access security brokers) can be located on-premises or in the cloud and provide a way for organizations to enforce security policies defined by a cloud administrator as defined by the business. CASBs can be API or firewall-based solutions, with API being the more effective for policy enforcement capabilities with cloud SaaS.

Rather than being competing technologies or a “one or the other” type choice, SSPM works hand-in-hand with CASB solutions. The CASB solution defines and enforces organization-wide policies, while SSPM continuously scans cloud SaaS applications to ensure these meet the security policies defined.

SSPM and threat detection

SSPM helps organizations define comprehensive SaaS security, detecting security risks in the SaaS environment. These include SaaS misconfigurations, user access, compliance risks, cloud security vulnerabilities, risky apps, and visibility over data sharing. 

With the constant visibility provided, SSPM solutions help businesses develop a strong security posture, meeting industry standards. Continuously monitoring for security threats also helps meet compliance requirements by assisting companies in aligning with security frameworks.

SpinOne – A modern SSPM solution

No matter which SaaS vendor you use, SSPM is an integral part of the SaaS security strategy in the cloud. SpinOne combines the power of modern CASB and SSPM solutions to protect organizations against cyber threats. In addition, it provides the security tools to bolster an organization’s security posture and SaaS app security.

SpinOne provides the security tools needed to meet SSPM objectives, including:

• Application monitoring – It provides continuous applications monitoring, allowing real-time visibility and assessment of Microsoft 365 applications and OAuth access
• Access management – Spin evaluates applications with access to Microsoft 365 data and provides risk assessment scoring of cloud apps. In addition, it enables businesses to create allowlists and blocklists of applications.
• Security Policies – With Spin, you can create organization-wide security policies that define which applications can be used and which data shared
• Zero-day mitigation – Take control over applications used in your SaaS environment, making sure these align with your security policies
• Compliance – Only allow authorized applications and data sharing to meet compliance objectives
• Alerts and reporting – Receive real-time alerting that notifies of application score changes, security events, and other changes and updates

Hackers commonly target the weakest link in the security chain. Cloud SaaS is no exception. Even the slightest misconfiguration or lax SaaS app security can open an organization to many threats. With Spin’s effective security automation, you can create policies to allow or block applications based on their risk score, application ID, category, developer, or application name. It also helps to level the playing field against the growing threat of shadow IT.  

With automated scoring and security policies and third-party app protection provided, Spin allows customers to use cloud SaaS applications with confidence, knowing the apps have been evaluated and assessed for security and compliance risks. 

If you want to speak with a Spin Solution Engineer to discuss how SpinOne helps protect your environment from malicious cloud SaaS apps, click here to book a demo: Request a Demo of SpinOne.