According to a Thales 2023 cloud security study, enterprises use, on average, 97 SaaS apps as they increasingly switch away from legacy in-house applications.
“Thales says while the benefits of SaaS are manifold, enterprise SaaS consumers require comprehensive security, often based on compliance mandates, for their sensitive data stored in SaaS clouds,” says Ethan Searle, Business Development Director, LanDynamix. “SMEs are no different, and whether they know it or not, they require comprehensive security measures for their sensitive data stored in SaaS clouds.”
SaaS apps are here to stay, and with good reason – they live in the cloud and can be accessed via a stable internet connection, removing the technology burden from the shoulders of the SME. It translates into your own in-house IT team without employing an expensive technician.
One site notes the significant benefits of SaaS for small businesses and declares without it, they will not survive the competition. “Possibly quite true, but one thing is certain; introducing an array of SaaS platforms into your SME’s operations without the knowledge or ability to manage the cybersecurity implications is immensely risky,” confirms Searle.
Forbes reports that the top security risks of using third-party SaaS providers include authenticated access, data leaks, and control of data backup, with SaaS providers processing the customer data of hundreds and thousands of organisations. “You do not have to be a rocket scientist to work out that this will make them a significant target for cybercriminals.”
“SaaS applications are certainly very convenient and offer much to the market. However, the risks are immense and need to be managed. This is where a skilled managed services provider (MSP) comes into the picture with the necessary skills and depth of knowledge to protect your business against potentially deadly breaches. MSP’s remove the heavy lifting from your technology implementations; they can ensure your SaaS applications are integrated into your network for authenticated access.”
The shared responsibility model
Searle says it is important to remember that if Microsoft 365, Salesforce, or Google Workspace data is lost, it is your responsibility to recover it – not the vendor’s. “This is the shared responsibility model between SaaS vendors and their customers, like your organisation, that puts the burden of protection squarely on your shoulders. Again, this is where an MSP can add immense value by backing up IP and sensitive information into an agnostic system that ensures that SaaS weak links do not damage your business’ positioning and inevitably your reputation.”
Stuck between a rock and a hard place
He notes that this is exactly where the average SME is with regards to SaaS applications. “Firstly, you cannot live without them, but secondly, they are the most likely source of illicit entry into your systems for malicious reasons. If you are bringing a third-party SaaS provider on board, there are several things you can do, beginning with a due diligence of the supplier.”
“You would also be wise to stay on top of what SaaS providers your employees are using. You can achieve this via regular audits, monitoring and implementing strict security policies that link access into your business’ authentication mechanisms, such as Active Directory. You must also consider deploying agnostic backup solutions for data protection, not forgetting to factor in the possibility of supply chain attacks.
“You can do all these things, but if you want to show good business sense, you will stick to the essentials of running your business, get a top MSP on board, and let them take away these issues and run with them. These activities are core to an MSP’s ongoing success in business. The aim is to provide you with the time and head space (not cluttered by security and tech worries) to focus on running your business, while highly specialised IT professionals keep it operational and safe,” concludes Searle.
For more information, contact LanDynamix,
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