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The SaaS attack surface has become an attractive target for attackers, with 50% of breaches involving web applications (SaaS) platforms. Cybersecurity leaders must prioritize SaaS security and implement a comprehensive solution to address the growing concern. Learn more about the four reasons your SaaS attack surface can no longer be ignored and how Nudge Security can help you secure your digital assets.
The average employee creates one new SaaS account every two weeks, resulting in 200 new accounts per month for organizations with 100 employees.Web applications (SaaS platforms) top the list of asset varieties compromised in incidents, according to Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR).80% of breaches involve compromised identities, including cloud and SaaS credentials, as revealed by Crowdstrike.Organizations that fail to centrally manage SaaS life cycles are five times more susceptible to cyber incidents or data loss due to incomplete visibility into SaaS usage and configuration.Nearly 850 unique GenAI apps have been discovered in customer environments, highlighting the need for automated discovery methods.Weak SaaS security can have severe legal and regulatory repercussions, including GDPR and HIPAA compliance requirements.90% of SaaS apps are adopted by individuals outside of IT, making it challenging to detect security breaches impacting these applications.
The world of software as a service (SaaS) has experienced exponential growth over the past decade, transforming the way businesses operate and collaborate. Today, it is estimated that the average employee creates one new SaaS account roughly every two weeks, resulting in an astonishing 200 new SaaS accounts per month for organizations with 100 employees. This proliferation of cloud-based applications has created a sprawling attack surface, making it increasingly challenging for cybersecurity leaders to secure their digital assets.
According to recent data from Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), web applications – or SaaS platforms – top the list of asset varieties compromised in incidents, with approximately 50% of breaches involving these types of applications. This alarming trend is further exacerbated by Crowdstrike's report, which reveals that 80% of breaches today involve compromised identities, including cloud and SaaS credentials.
The consequences of neglecting to address this growing SaaS attack surface are severe. Gartner's Magic Quadrant for SaaS Management Platforms highlights the increased risk organizations face by failing to centrally manage SaaS life cycles. These organizations will remain five times more susceptible to cyber incidents or data loss due to incomplete visibility into SaaS usage and configuration.
To underscore the gravity of this situation, it is essential to recognize that modern work runs predominantly on SaaS platforms. This delivery model has made it easy for knowledge workers to create new accounts for various tools, including the latest generation of AI (GenAI) applications. As ChatGPT continues to make waves in the early 2023 market, Nudge Security has discovered almost 850 unique GenAI apps in customer environments.
This explosion of new tools demands a method of automated discovery that does not require prior knowledge of an app's existence. Nudge Security's approach to AI governance helps you discover and evaluate the security of AI tools in a way that is scalable and sustainable for your organization, allowing you to embrace the productivity benefits generative AI can offer without taking on excessive risk.
Furthermore, weak SaaS security can have severe legal and regulatory repercussions. As organizations store more data within SaaS apps, regulators are paying closer attention. Data stored in SaaS apps may fall under data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, security standards such as ISO 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and industry-specific compliance requirements like HIPAA and PCI DSS.
In addition to these regulatory pressures, SEC rules published in 2023 require public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents within four business days after determining that a cybersecurity incident is material. Detailed information regarding their cybersecurity risk management and governance practices must also be included in their annual 10-K filings.
The reality is that 90% of SaaS apps are adopted by individuals outside of IT, making it challenging for organizations to detect security breaches impacting these applications. Nudge Security provides immediate discovery of all SaaS apps, even those IT has never heard of. Moreover, breach alerts notify customers of security breaches affecting their SaaS providers and those in their digital supply chain.
In conclusion, the SaaS attack surface can no longer be ignored by cybersecurity leaders. The proliferation of cloud-based applications, coupled with the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, demands a proactive approach to securing this ever-growing attack surface.
The four reasons why your SaaS attack surface cannot be ignored are:
1. Modern work runs predominantly on SaaS platforms, making it challenging for knowledge workers to manage their digital assets effectively.
2. The 2024 Verizon DBIR reveals that web applications (SaaS) top the list of asset varieties compromised in incidents.
3. GenAI governance is directly tied to SaaS governance due to the rapid pace of AI adoption and the need for automated discovery methods.
4. Weak SaaS security can have severe legal and regulatory repercussions, making it essential to prioritize SaaS security.
To address this growing concern, organizations must implement a comprehensive SaaS security solution that provides visibility into externally facing apps and evaluates the security of AI tools in a scalable and sustainable manner. Nudge Security is an excellent starting point for businesses seeking to secure their SaaS attack surface.
Related Information:
https://thehackernews.com/2025/01/4-reasons-your-saas-attack-surface-can.html
Published: Tue Jan 14 06:41:48 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
