Ofer Klein, CEO and co-founder of Reco, is an experienced entrepreneur known for building and leading GTM teams in the US. The rise in software as a service (SaaS) adoption has led to a sprawl of applications within businesses, with companies over 2,000 employees averaging 211 SaaS applications. This lack of centralized oversight poses significant security and compliance risks.
SaaS security posture management (SSPM) has emerged as a solution to address the unique security, compliance, and configuration issues specific to SaaS applications. Regulatory initiatives like the recent SEC rule enforcing timely data breach disclosures have made the adoption of SSPM a pressing need, especially for public companies. The recent ransomware attack on MGM Resorts International highlighted the potential financial and reputational damage that can result from SaaS security breaches.
SSPM focuses on hardening SaaS applications’ security and compliance levels automatically, saving time and manual labor for large companies. By centralizing controls and indicators in a dashboard, admins can assess risks and enforce policies at scale. An SSPM provider must stay up-to-date on changing configurations, popular SaaS applications, and regulatory requirements to offer effective SSPM solutions that prioritize identity and access management.
While no SaaS implementation is immune to attacks, SSPM’s focus on SaaS applications’ vulnerabilities and user rights enables rapid detection and response to potential threats. AI-powered SSPM solutions can learn the behavior of SaaS applications and users, helping detect unusual activities and potential security risks. Integrating SSPM with existing customer identity and access management systems strengthens overall security and compliance measures for businesses.
As part of a broader security and compliance strategy that includes CASB and CSPM, SSPM plays a crucial role in controlling SaaS configurations, access management, and compliance adherence. By automating security processes and leveraging AI technologies, SSPM helps organizations maintain a secure SaaS ecosystem while reducing the burden on security and administrative personnel. The effective implementation of SSPM not only protects against attacks but also helps companies stay compliant with regulations and safeguard their reputations in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats.
