The importance of SaaS apps is growing, which is why many companies are developing their own. However, this also means that the risks to SaaS apps are increasing as cybercriminals look for ways of exploiting the most popular systems. Here are six SaaS security threats to be aware of in 2023.
Misconfiguration Vulnerabilities
One of the biggest problems that SaaS companies face is misconfiguration. When a SaaS product is developed, the developers have to set it up in a way that lets the product work with systems without creating security vulnerabilities.
Over time, configurations need to change to match changes in the underlying systems. If a SaaS product's configuration falls out of alignment with its underlying systems, it becomes more vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for configurations to go unadjusted for a long time, as security teams may have trouble keeping up with the changes.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to lock a user out of a system until they pay a ransom to whoever deployed the ransomware. In short, a single cybercriminal can lock an entire company out of its IT infrastructure and extort that company for money.
Ransomware is becoming more popular as security vulnerabilities increase. The simplest way to avoid ransomware is to minimize your risk by having better security practices. That way, ransomware has no way to get onto your company’s systems.
SaaS Within SaaS Vulnerability
SaaS systems are becoming more prevalent, which is presenting a unique problem. Customers want their apps and IT resources to work together so that they can build an entire ecosystem of technology for their needs. This means that SaaS systems are being used to integrate with other third-party SaaS systems.
This connectivity becomes a problem when a SaaS system with weak security is integrated with another system. If the weaker SaaS platform is hacked, it can give hackers access to any third-party system that they are connected with.
Specific steps must be taken to make sure that third-party apps are not creating vulnerabilities in your systems. While you cannot control the security for any other program, you can put security measures in place to prevent incursions from compromised third-party apps.
Data Leaks
The hardest part about IT security is mankind sure that there are no data leaks in the system. Leaks happen when the system is allowed to output data that it should not. It can be difficult to find and plug leaks in a system before cyber criminals do. However, it presents a major problem for companies working with customer data.
The best way to deal with leaks is to conduct comprehensive security reviews on a regular basis. That way, any potential data leaks due to changes in the system can be found before anyone else finds them.
Access Management
SaaS systems are still susceptible to the same threats that other programs face, especially access management problems. Controlling who has access to which resources is especially important for SaaS apps since they can give users access to a wide array of resources.
The biggest threat to access management is usually employees. Most employees are not as knowledgeable about safe communications practices as they should be. As a result, employees often create openings in security systems by letting their credentials be compromised.
Disasters and Disaster Recovery
Finally, SaaS apps need to be prepared to handle disasters with a disaster recovery plan. When part or all of a system goes down and comes back online, it may be vulnerable to cyber threats. Hackers can take advantage of the situation to strike when security systems are down or the staff is focused on other things.
This is a more dynamic problem when part of a system goes down. It could leave holes in the security coverage for the system if not planned properly.
The best way to deal with security during disaster recovery is to include it in the disaster recovery plan. There should be specific considerations as to how security will be handled when the system is down and what steps need to be taken as it comes back online. This will improve your company’s ability to secure its operations, even when exposed do to unforeseen events.
Get Help With Securing Your SaaS Holdings
SaaS apps can do a lot for companies and their customers. Like any other technology, SaaS is only as good as the planning behind them. Make sure that your SaaS holdings are well-secured against any emerging threats by planning ahead and getting help from companies like KitelyTech. We specialize in helping companies create the IT systems that they need, including finding better ways of securing SaaS apps against cyber criminals. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to discuss the security concerns for your next SaaS project.
