As companies increasingly rely on cloud-based solutions, the security of Enterprise SaaS (Software as a Service) applications has become a critical issue for IT departments worldwide. A new study sheds light on how businesses are tackling this growing challenge. The annual SaaS Security Survey Report, a joint effort by Adaptive Shield and the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), reveals a significant shift in how organizations approach SaaS security.
The findings paint a picture of businesses doubling down on their SaaS security efforts, even in the face of economic uncertainty. With 70% of surveyed companies prioritizing investment in this area, it’s clear that security of saaS is no longer just an afterthought, but a core component of modern business strategy.
Key Takeaways:
- Enterprise SaaS security investment is rising, with 70% of organizations prioritizing it despite economic challenges.
- Dedicated security teams are becoming common, with 57% of companies having at least two full-time employees in this role.
- Visibility into SaaS environments has improved significantly, nearly doubling from the previous year.
- Organizations using SSPM tools have better visibility and control over their SaaS stack.
- While threatening incidents have decreased overall, data breaches and leakage remain the most common security issues faced by organizations.
SaaS Security Teams Become a Reality
An impressive 57% of respondents report having at least two full-time employees dedicated to SaaS and cyber security, while an additional 13% have allocated one full-time resource. This marks a significant milestone in the evolution of enterprise security strategies.
Improved Visibility into SaaS Environments
Organizations have nearly doubled their visibility into their SaaS stack compared to the previous year, with 70% reporting moderate to full visibility. This enhanced oversight has contributed to a significant reduction in security incidents, dropping from 53% to 25% over the past two years.
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Persistent Challenges in SaaS Security
Despite progress, organizations continue to grapple with issues such as:
- Achieving visibility into business-critical apps (73%)
- Managing third-party connected app risks (65%)
- Addressing SaaS misconfigurations (65%)
- Ensuring data governance and privacy (63%)
- Aligning SaaS application settings with compliance standards (61%)
Many of these challenges stem from reliance on traditional tools like Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) and manual audits, which may not be optimized for the complex software as a security environment.
SSPM Adoption Shows Promise
Companies that have adopted SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) solutions are faring better. These organizations are more than twice as likely to have full visibility into their SaaS stack, with 62% overseeing over 75% of their SaaS environment, compared to 31% for those using other tools and manual processes.
SaaS Security Investments Yield Results
Although progress is apparent, the prevalence of data breaches (52%) and data leakage (50%) highlights the persistent need for vigilance in Enterprise SaaS security. Other notable incidents include unauthorized access (44%) and malicious applications (38%).
As businesses continue to navigate the complex SaaS landscape, prioritizing and investing in robust security measures remains crucial for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity. The trends identified in this report suggest that organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of dedicated resources and advanced tools in managing their Enterprise SaaS posture.
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