When SaaS applications started to grow in popularity, it was unclear who was responsible for protecting data. Most security and IT teams today understand the shared responsibility model, where the SaaS vendor is responsible for securing applications and the organization is responsible for securing data.
However, it is even more opaque where the data responsibility lies within the organization. For large organizations, this is a particularly difficult problem. Store terabytes of customer data, employee data, financial data, strategic data, and other sensitive data records online.
SaaS data breaches and SaaS ransomware attacks can lead to the loss or exposure of that data. Depending on the industry, some companies may face severe regulatory penalties for data breaches. In addition to the negative PR and loss of trust these breaches bring.
Finding the right security model is the first step before deploying any type of SSPM or other SaaS security solution.
See how Adaptive Shield’s SSPM solution can help secure your SaaS stack.
know the player
Various groups of players are involved in the SaaS security ecosystem.
SaaS app owner – When a business unit subscribes to SaaS software, typically someone within the business unit is responsible for setting up and onboarding the application. They may get help from IT, but the application is their responsibility.
Choose settings and configurations that meet your business needs, add users, and get started. SaaS app owners recognize the need for data security, but it’s not their responsibility or their knowledge. Some people mistakenly believe that data security is the sole responsibility of SaaS vendors.
Central IT – In most large organizations, central IT is responsible for infrastructure, hardware, passwords, etc. Manage IDPs and servers and oversee help desk activities. SaaS applications typically do not fall under direct domains.
Central IT is more familiar with security requirements than the average employee, but it’s not their primary concern. Note, however, that they are not security experts.
security team – Security teams are best suited to implement security management and monitoring. They are tasked with creating and implementing cybersecurity policies that apply across the organization.
However, there are some challenges that hamper your ability to protect your applications. First of all, he is often unaware of his SaaS applications that companies use. Even those applications we know do not have access to configuration panels within the SaaS stack and are not always aware of the unique security aspects associated with each application. They are managed and maintained by the SaaS app owner and central IT.
GRC team – Compliance and governance teams are tasked with ensuring that all IT meets specific security standards. While they do not play a specific role in protecting corporate assets, they do have oversight and must determine whether a company is meeting its compliance responsibilities.
SaaS vendor – SaaS vendors take no responsibility for protecting your data, but they are the teams that built the security apparatus for SaaS applications and have deep knowledge of the application and its security features.
Definition of roles and responsibilities
Securing the entire SaaS stack requires close collaboration between security experts and those managing and running individual SaaS applications. We created this RACI chart to share our views on which departments are held responsible, accountable, consulted and informed on various tasks related to securing SaaS data. bottom.
Note that this table is not a one-size-fits-all and is a framework based on how many companies handle their SaaS security responsibilities. This should be tailored to the needs of your organization.
Learn more about SaaS user roles and responsibilities. Schedule a demo now.
Building the right infrastructure
Developing a RACI matrix is important, but without the right tools in place, implementing security responsibilities can be a nearly impossible task.
Organizations need a SaaS security platform that facilitates clear communication between security teams and app owners. This communication should include alerts when misconfigurations occur that weaken the security posture of individual apps and when threats are detected by IAM governance tools.
Communication should be channel-agnostic, allowing users to receive messages and alerts via email, Slack, Splunk, or their messaging platform of choice. All security-related notifications should also include remediation steps so that app owners and central IT have a clear understanding of the steps required to mitigate risk.
Within the platform, each owner must have visibility and access to apps under their control. You should be able to see the status of your security settings, your secure score, users, third-party her SaaS applications connected to your app, and the device being used to access your SaaS app.
App owners and central IT departments should also have the ability to dismiss security alerts because they are not applicable or due to business needs, and consult with the security team about risks.
Protecting SaaS data requires a cross-team effort
SaaS application security is often overlooked. It is outside the scope of the security team and managed by qualified professionals whose responsibilities do not include security.
However, data contained within SaaS applications is often the lifeblood of an organization, and failure to protect it can have disastrous consequences.
Fully protecting data from exposure requires cross-team effort and commitment by all involved parties, and a sophisticated SSPM platform built for SaaS in the real world.
See how SSPM can help protect your data. Book a demo
