As many businesses transition to cloud applications, Software as a Service (SaaS) has captured the pragmatic zeitgeist of modern operations. As with any new technological era, this shift has come with novel security challenges. Maintaining SaaS security is a critical business priority that multifold organizational resources should be invested in. To that end, let's dig deeper!
What is SaaS Security?
SaaS security measures and protocols are implemented to protect the infrastructure of a SaaS environment and the data and applications within it. Unlike security for traditional, on-premise solutions - wherein the responsibility for security relies primarily on the organization - SaaS cloud security responsibility is shared between the service provider and the customer. This "security partnership" of sorts is crucial for safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring that SaaS applications function smoothly and safely without security issues.
3 Challenges in SaaS Application Security
Organizations can face myriad challenges when addressing SaaS security - including these three key examples.
- Data Breaches/Data Loss: Any unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within SaaS applications is a major concern for SaaS security risks.
- Compliance Issues: Observing and adhering to industry- and location-specific data security regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR is critical for widespread operational stability.
- Insecure Solutions: If the SaaS solution lacks adequate security attestations - such as SOC 1, SOC 2, and Privacy Shield compliance - it may not be the right solution to leverage. FYI: CobbleStone® contract management software boasts all three of these and has been praised for its SaaS security by customers and third-party analysts alike!
- User Configuration: Misconfigurations and non-standard user practices can lead to vulnerabilities. It's best to choose a user-friendly and configurable solution according to the organization's needs.
Key Components of SaaS Application Security
Authentication and authorization are critical. It's best to ensure only authorized users can access specific data and features within the SaaS application. Strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication, are recommended. Additionally, advanced SaaS solutions - such as CobbleStone Contract Insight® - support robust but intuitive user permissions management and access controls for necessary parts of the system.
In today's web-based business environment, data encryption is a must. The latest and greatest methods protect resting and in-transit data. The goal is that even if data is exposed, it remains secure and unreadable. Thus, it is important that the provider retain up-to-date security attestations.
For dynamic SaaS app security, vulnerability management proves paramount. Regular provider updates and patches can address new exposure points to hackers who are willing and able to exploit them. A proactive and prescient approach to vulnerability management helps organizations stay ready to mitigate threats.
Finally, aligning with industry security compliance standards and regulations is a must. SaaS providers should retain compliance certifications that show customers that their data is securely handled according to legal requirements.
More YOU Can Do for SaaS Application Security Day-to-Day!
In addition to the holistic tips mentioned above, here are some day-to-day SaaS security best practices.
Stay abreast of current events and industry standards regarding data handling. Adapt your organization’s information handling policies and procedures accordingly to prevent security breaches and data leaks.
Ensure that your organization meets the security requirements for all organizations you work with within SaaS applications. Review your internal technology infrastructure to ensure all firewalls and servers are secure and working properly. Examine guidelines with your IT department often and make sure that all employees are observing recommended guidelines and taking proper precautions regarding sensitive information - especially when using SaaS apps.
As mentioned, guard all sensitive documents, contracts, and information with a unique and secure password. Strong passwords contain a mix of various characters (upper and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, etc.), can be acronyms or misspellings of words or phrases, and are not as easily guessable. Change your passwords periodically in case they do fall into the wrong hands to avoid data leakage. Leading SaaS applications should offer these password complexity options to automate the process.
The CobbleStone Software Security Difference
In the interest of trusting SaaS vendors with SaaS app security among its top priorities and points of positive feedback, CobbleStone Software's CobbleStone Contract Insight® boasts the security features and benefits listed above and many others.
CobbleStone Contract Insight Enterprise can be hosted as SaaS or deployed (on-premise). When your organization selects CobbleStone’s SaaS model, the application is located, managed, supported, and secured within Google Cloud and other leading data centers. CobbleStone hosts numerous US and international data centers. CobbleStone's Google Cloud and other leading data centers provide CobbleStone’s clients with state-of-the-art security.
Now that you know about CobbleStone's SaaS security attestation, it's time to learn how contract lifecycle management software can positively transform your organization's contract processes, from requests and creation to renewals. Book a free demo or a free trial of CobbleStone Contract Insight today. It's risk-free!
