In recent years, Software as a Service (SaaS) has become the backbone of corporate IT, transforming the way organizations operate. From service-oriented businesses to manufacturers and retailers, the reliance on SaaS applications is widespread. However, this shift has not gone unnoticed by threat actors who actively target these applications to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Here are key trends shaping the state of SaaS Security in 2024 and actionable insights on how organizations can address these challenges:

1. Democratization of SaaS

The democratization of SaaS, where business units independently choose and implement SaaS tools, poses new challenges for security teams. With limited visibility and access to application settings, security teams must collaborate with business units. Tools offering visibility and guidance for each application setting become essential for informed decision-making.

2. ITDR as a Critical Safety Net

Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR) emerges as a critical approach to combat threats. As identity becomes the de facto perimeter for SaaS applications, ITDR can detect and respond to common tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by threat actors who compromise high-privilege accounts.

3. Cross-Border Compliance and Segmented Tenants

Global companies face diverse regulatory requirements, leading to an increase in geo-specific tenants to comply with regulations. While this doesn’t significantly impact costs, it poses a security challenge. Security solutions that allow benchmarking, tenant comparison, and secure configuration across different regulations become essential.

4. Misconfigured Settings and Exploits

Misconfigurations, as witnessed in ServiceNow and Salesforce Community, can lead to data leaks and breaches. Preventing these exploits requires a focus on securing misconfigurations, which is crucial for maintaining trust with stakeholders and avoiding potential fines.

5. Third-Party Applications Introduce Risks

The use of third-party applications, often integrated without security team consultation, introduces risks. Security teams must gain visibility into integrated apps, understand permissions, assess their value, and evaluate associated risks.

6. Multiple Devices in the Remote Work Era

With a significant portion of employees working remotely, the use of personal devices poses security challenges. Security teams need tools to identify and secure devices accessing SaaS applications, especially when used by high-privileged users.

7. Rise of SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM)

Organizations are turning to SSPM tools, such as Adaptive Shield, to fully secure their SaaS stack. SSPMs automate monitoring of configurations, detect drifts, baseline multiple tenants, and provide tools for establishing best practices and improving overall SaaS security posture.

As SaaS continues to be a fundamental aspect of modern IT, organizations need proactive measures and advanced tools to navigate and mitigate evolving security challenges. Embracing SSPMs and collaborating across business units and security teams are critical steps toward robust SaaS security in 2024.