The software world is evolving at a fast pace and Software as a Service (SaaS) is witnessed to have impressive growth. SaaS was a small player in the software market some six years ago and now it has become the primary choice for businesses. The impressive growth was with the rise of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SaaS usage has raised the concern of cybersecurity and measures are required. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lately has released its updated Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 and it seems to have been tailored to address the SaaS security concerns.
The new framework emphasizes the importance of preventing from such threats by detecting in the SaaS environment. It highlights tools are required for threat detection. One such tool is SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) and it successfully prevents threat.
Recent breaches in SaaS systems highlight the important of such measures. Two best examples to mention here are Microsoft Azure environments and a US telecom operator’s HR software. These breaches could have been prevented if organizations had adhered to NIST standards.
Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) is believed to have thwarted the phishing attacks that led to the Microsoft Azure breach. Moreover, effective threat detection could have alerted security teams to suspicious activities in the breached HR software.
NIST’s CSF 2.0 aligns well with SaaS security practices and particularly while utilizing SSPM and Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR) capabilities. The framework’s functions map closely to the key aspects of SaaS security.
It is suggested to align with the NIST guidelines if organizations are using SaaS applications to ensure comprehensive protection against emerging threats.