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SaaS Application Security Steps for Customers' Safety (2024)

Learn the best SaaS application security measures and best practices. Make your customers feel safer using your product, and reduce risk to them and your business.


Dominika Krukowska

4 minute read

SaaS Product Security Tips

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Short answer

What is SaaS security?

SaaS security describes the security measures applied to safeguard sensitive data in SaaS applications that run in the cloud, such as consumer personal information and confidential corporate data. SaaS security is a joint obligation of service providers and their clients.

The world has never been more connected. That means that software vulnerabilities are also on the rise, and you're at risk of anyone in the world exploiting them in your company.

According to the Equifax data breach, SaaS security breaches affected approximately 148 million customers due to application susceptibility on company sites.

It's more important than ever to keep your SaaS products secure. If a customer’s information is hacked, it can lead to severe repercussions for the customer and for your company.

In this article, I’ll teach you 8 top-notch SaaS product security tips to make sure you avoid any mishaps!

Best SaaS product security tips

Effective SaaS management requires SaaS security to achieve goals, including lowering the number of idle licenses, getting rid of shadow IT, and obtaining high visibility to reduce security concerns.

One of the best ways to consider this is to classify SaaS security as a component of the trends in digital marketing.

Amid security concerns in the digital industry, it is considered as a prerequisite to boost the walls and bolster the IT management system. It is indispensable to creating a safe and theft-free online world.

Here are the leading SaaS security tips to help protect your SaaS products:

1. Use products that offer strong authentication

Cloud providers supply several authentication options, and a few let you merge with a top-notch customer-governed identity provider, for example, open authorization and OpenID connect.

Some products offer an additional degree of protection, like just-in-time access, support multi-factor authentication (MFA), etc.

You must be aware of the options your cloud provider offers. Depending on the requirements of your firm, you can then choose the best authentication strategy.

Therefore, you must opt for a SaaS provider that offers AD SSO and Active Directory Single Sign-On, to ensure password and account norms align with your SaaS application usage. Using a password strength test can add an extra layer of security, ensuring that the apps you use are less likely to be hacked.

2. Encrypt your data with an SSL certificate

Every channel employs an SSL certificate to safeguard data in transit and maintain proper communication with SaaS apps. Several SaaS providers supply a top-notch encryption ability to safeguard data at rest.

A SaaS site holder can choose any type of SSL certificates like Single Domain SSL, Wildcard SSL, or Multi Domain SSL certificate to allow strong encryption over the site.

It is considered a default feature for some providers, which the customer should authorize. Teams must investigate the security mechanisms to identify which apply to the services being used.

Implementing data security features is an intelligent move if given a chance.

3. Vetting and oversight

Make sure that SaaS providers are evaluated and validated by companies in the same manner as potential vendors. You must recognize their utilization, their security approach to supply their service, and the available alternative security elements.

4. Consider CASBs (Cloud Access Security Broker)

If you are distressed about SaaS security breaches, consider analyzing SaaS usage and evaluating the security logs given by the data & service provider from the best cyber security tools, for example, CASBs.

On the other hand, whenever a SaaS provider cannot give an enhanced level of security, they explore CASB tool options.

Organizations can add extra security measures that the SaaS provider does not naturally offer by using a CASB. The security model of the cloud providers can have some flaws, which these cloud monitoring tools can help with.

By continually monitoring and addressing the exposure of your applications, organizations can manage your external attack surface. This proactive approach is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities before they become exploited by malicious actors.

5. Monitor data sharing

By analyzing how consumers utilize and gain access to SaaS resources, you can start the process gradually. It would be preferable to employ excellent collaboration controls so that external users can easily access the shared files via a web link and determine their specific rights. Using a good VPN like ExpressVPN can add an extra layer of security when accessing your SaaS products, especially from public networks.

Authorized users can transmit private information consciously or mistakenly through team spaces, email, and cloud file storage services like Dropbox. When considering online security it's also essential to choose the best encrypted search engine that perfectly corresponds to your security needs.

6. Train your employees

You may invest in employee training so that they have essential information and knowledge in SaaS security. Your strategy for defending against them must be unrestricted to annual training because new attacks emerge daily.

One risk involves the exposure of sensitive data, such public records must be removed. Onerep can assist in eliminating public records.

To keep your team informed on what is happening and what to do about it, you must be prepared to engage in a wide range of strategies.

This calls for a mental adjustment: realizing that the SaaS security and training framework around the person who opened the incorrect attachment has failed, rather than seeing that person as the center of failure. To enhance your security measures further, consider integrating cost-effective solutions (e.g., using static residential proxies) for added protection against evolving threats

7. Hire dedicated security engineers

Many of us are trapped in an information bubble where significant corporations, political parties, and other influential business figures are worried about cyberattacks, ransomware, and SaaS security theft.

In the meantime, data is the digital world's money, and anyone can become a victim of data breaches.

Throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), an application security engineer ensures that security best practices are followed at every stage, focusing on securing the SDLC from potential threats.

Implementing a CWPP (Cloud Workload Protection Platform) can offer strengthened security for cloud-based workloads, covering gaps that traditional security tools might overlook.

Additionally, they must follow secure coding guidelines and help with the application's pre-release security testing to ensure it is free from concerns around computer network security. This includes using codeless automation testing tools and application security testing tools, which can help identify vulnerabilities efficiently and ensure comprehensive security coverage.

8. 2-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA), also known as two-factor verification, is a safety mechanism that has been shown to reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber-espionage.

Regarding SaaS application security, the cloud access security broker (CASB) is kept between the user and the endpoint using two-factor authentication (2FA).

In addition, it puts the position in which any successful data breach or illegal transaction necessitates further efforts and resources.

Therefore, one of the most significant SaaS Security Tips is 2FA, which helps increase security, lowering the possibility of hackers accessing sensitive data or any corporate device.

9. Incorporate Antivirus Software for Enhanced Protection

Consider integrating robust antivirus software within your SaaS security framework as an additional layer of defense against evolving cyber threats.

With the increasing sophistication of malicious actors, having reliable antivirus protection can help safeguard your SaaS products and mitigate the risk of data breaches. You may want to explore solutions like Malwarebytes to determine how they align with your security needs.

Takeaways

SaaS products are not "simply another website," which IT and security executives should realize. Since they are vital equipment, they need the same level of protection as other company applications.

Organizations must guarantee that users and that SaaS usage remains protected by implementing these top-notch SaaS security tips and systematic risk management techniques use SaaS safely.

Dominika Krukowska

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

Table of contents
What is SaaS security? Best SaaS product security tips 1. Use products that offer strong authentication 2. Encrypt your data with an SSL certificate 3. Vetting and oversight 4. Consider CASBs 5. Monitor data sharing 6. Train your employees 7. Hire dedicated security engineers 8. 2-factor authentication Takeaways
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