In today’s cloud-first world, Software as a Service (SaaS) applications have become the backbone of modern business operations, offering flexibility, scalability, and convenience. However, as organizations increasingly rely on SaaS apps to drive productivity and collaboration, managing identities and access permissions across these diverse platforms becomes a critical challenge. As cloud adoption and digital transformation have accelerated over the last few years, so has application sprawl, with the average company having a whopping 254 SaaS apps (with enterprises averaging 364 apps). This has increased from 110 SaaS apps in 2021. SaaS is projected to make up 85% of the software organizations use by 2025 compared to 70% in 2023, according to The State of SaaS 2023 study.
To navigate the complexities of SaaS identity management successfully, organizations must adopt best practices that prioritize security, efficiency, and user experience to ensure the integrity of their SaaS ecosystems. Here are some key best practices for mastering SaaS identity management:
Practice 1: Automated Discovery Tools
Before any control can be exerted, organizations must first understand what they need to protect. Automated discovery tools are crucial in this endeavor, allowing organizations to gain visibility into their SaaS landscape without adding unnecessary friction for users. By uncovering shadow IT and identifying potential security risks, automated discovery helps organizations make informed decisions about their security posture.
Practice 2: Access Control in a SaaS Environment
Controlling who has access to what in a SaaS environment is paramount for maintaining security. While one way to achieve this is by using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), a more modern approach involves implementing Policy-Based Access Control. Policies allow for access based on multiple aspects, include behaviors, and enable more granular decision making than a binary “block or allow” model.
Practice 3: User Authentication and Authorization
Robust authentication and authorization mechanisms are critical for protecting identity and access in SaaS environments. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple factors. Deploying single sign-on (SSO) solutions streamlines authentication while maintaining security standards. Regularly auditing and updating authentication protocols is crucial for mitigating evolving cyber threats and ensuring ongoing security.
Practice 4: SaaS Identity Compliance and Auditing
Adhering to compliance standards and conducting regular audits are imperative for maintaining security and integrity in SaaS environments. Implementing tools for continuous compliance monitoring and reporting enables organizations to proactively identify and address security vulnerabilities. Regular security audits help organizations stay ahead of emerging threats while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA.
Practice 5: Regularly Review and Update Access Permissions
Conduct regular access reviews to ensure that users’ access permissions align with their current roles and responsibilities. Remove or adjust access permissions for users who no longer require them, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and maintaining compliance with security policies.
Practice 6: Monitor User Activity in SaaS Apps
Implement SaaS application monitoring and logging capabilities to track user activity within SaaS apps. Monitor login attempts, file access, and other user actions to detect and respond to suspicious behavior, unauthorized access attempts, and potential security incidents promptly.
Summary and Next Steps
By implementing best practices such as automated discovery, access control, user authentication and authorization, and compliance auditing, organizations can mitigate security risks and maintain control over their SaaS ecosystems. With the right tools and strategies in place, organizations can harness the full potential of SaaS while safeguarding against cyber threats and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements – while maintaining user productivity.
For organizations seeking comprehensive solutions to master security in SaaS environments, Savvy offers a powerful platform designed to streamline identity management and access control.
SaaS Identity Management with Savvy
Savvy provides organizations with comprehensive visibility, control, and security for their SaaS apps. By acting as a low-friction security enforcement point between users and the cloud apps they access, Savvy enables organizations to monitor and manage user activity, enforce security policies, and protect sensitive data across their SaaS environment. Experience Savvy by requesting a demonstration.
