SaaS Security Introduction
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software delivery model where applications are hosted remotely on a cloud service provider’s infrastructure and made available to users over the internet on a subscription basis. This model contrasts with traditional software delivery methods where the user has to purchase and install the software on their hardware. SaaS applications are accessible from any device with an internet connection, offering flexibility and scalability to users. Three popular SaaS providers are Salesforce, Xero and Microsoft Office 365, however, thousands of these companies and systems now exist.
SaaS providers manage the infrastructure, platforms, and software, ensuring applications are always available, up-to-date, and secure. This offloads a significant amount of work from the users, who no longer need to worry about software maintenance, updates, and security patches. However, whilst some elements of security are handled by the SaaS provider, there are key elements which are not, and due diligence still needs to be taken to ensure the SaaS provider.
It is important to ensure that the onboarding of any new SaaS solution is done securely and competently. This SaaS Security Onboarding Checklist provides a comprehensive guide to help you evaluate the security of a SaaS provider and ensure that the necessary security measures are in place before, during, and after implementation. The checklist covers a wide range of security aspects, including compliance, identity and access management, data security, audit trails, privacy, business continuity, network security, SLAs, and more. Following this checklist ensures that your organisation’s data and systems are protected when using SaaS solutions.
The pre-procurement checks offer some factors to consider when appraising and comparing SaaS suppliers.
Assess potential SaaS providers for their security posture, historical incidents, and compliance with industry standards to ensure robust security practices.
Ensure the SaaS platform integrates securely with existing identity systems and supports essential security protocols and practices.
Confirm that all data within the SaaS environment is encrypted in transit and at rest to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorised access
Audit trails and monitoring are essential for tracking user activities and identifying potential security threats in real time.
Carefully review how the SaaS provider handles privacy and data management, especially regarding data storage, processing, and access, to ensure compliance with applicable legal requirement.
Evaluate the SaaS provider’s capability to recover from disasters and continue operations, ensuring they have effective backup and recovery procedures.
SaaS applications often allow integrating third-party apps and services to extend functionality. However, this greatly expands the attack surface:
Review and understand the SLAs and policies of the SaaS provider, particularly those related to uptime, performance, and data handling, to ensure they meet your business requirements.
Having a clear exit strategy is essential for transitioning away from a SaaS provider securely and efficiently.
The deployment checks are things to consider once you have decided to implement the SaaS system. Some of these might be before the actual technical deployment has begun, such as change management, which is essential to consider before jumping into a SaaS web GUI. Some others, such as testing, can only happen once the deployment is complete.
Change management ensures that changes within the SaaS deployment are controlled and documented, minimizing potential disruptions.
Setting up detailed audit logs and monitoring systems is critical for ongoing security and compliance.
Understand and utilise the customisation options provided by the SaaS platform to enhance security settings according to specific needs.
Configure user roles and access levels to adhere to the principle of least privilege, reducing potential exposure to security threats.
End-user training is crucial for ensuring that all users understand and comply with security best practices when using the SaaS system.
Test all integrations thoroughly to ensure they do not compromise the security of the SaaS environment.
Confirm that third party integrations don’t introduce additional attack surface beyond the required additional functionality.
Conduct comprehensive security testing, including penetration testing, to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
These checks should be done once the implementation has been signed off and the solution is in production. Some will form a basis of ongoing checks.
Continuous monitoring helps detect and respond to security incidents promptly.
Regularly review SLAs to ensure the SaaS provider meets performance and uptime commitments.
Periodic security audits help maintain a high security standard and adapt to evolving threats.
Regular testing of disaster recovery plans ensures readiness and effective response to disruptive events.
Continual training updates are necessary to address new security challenges and changes in the threat landscape.
Regularly update and review the exit strategy to ensure data can be retrieved securely and completely if transitioning to a different provider.
Further Reading
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