Insider Threats in the Cloud: Why SSPM is the Best Protection

Cybersecurity concerns often focus on external threats, but what about the danger lurking from within? Insider risks, posed by individuals or users with authorized access, can be equally devastating. This article explores how SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) can protect you against these internal threats in the SaaS and cloud domains.

SaaS: Convenience with Concerns

The popularity of SaaS applications is undeniable. They offer agility, accessibility, and efficient problem-solving, but their decentralized nature creates challenges. Unlike traditional on-premise software with centralized control, SaaS applications exist “out there” in the cloud. Anyone with internet access can connect applications, often bypassing security and IT oversight. 

Understanding Insider Risk

Insider risk stems from authorized individuals who misuse their access privileges. This includes current or former employees, contractors, or even third-party vendors with temporary access. The consequences range from data breaches to sabotage – all posing serious threats.  Imagine a disgruntled employee downloading and leaking confidential customer information. Or a careless contractor accidentally exposing financial data through an insecure file-sharing platform.

Not Just Malicious Intent

While malicious insiders deliberately exploit access for personal gain or revenge, negligent insiders are equally concerned. They lack proper security training, prioritize convenience over security protocols, or share data without considering the consequences. Think of an employee sharing highly sensitive data via a free, consumer-grade file-sharing platform instead of the company-approved secure file transfer system. Perhaps someone from the finance team might share salary or budget information through personal chat applications that are not encrypted or monitored.

SSPM: Your Automated Security Solution

Traditional, manual security measures are tedious, time-consuming, and prone to human error. Enter Wing’s SSPM: a cloud-based, automated security solution designed to safeguard your SaaS environments. It continuously monitors your SaaS applications, analyzes configurations, and identifies potential security weaknesses.

Why SSPM Matters for Insider Risk

With the average employee juggling over 28 SaaS applications according to a study by McAfee [reference the study], shadow IT (unauthorized and unknown app usage) becomes a significant concern.  Employees might unknowingly connect to unapproved applications that lack proper security protocols, creating vulnerabilities in your overall security posture.  SSPM helps in the following ways:

• Discover and Mitigate Shadow IT Risks: SSPM can automatically detect unauthorized or risky applications being used within the organization. It can then alert security teams or prompt users to confirm the legitimacy of the application. By working collaboratively with users, SSPM can help address shadow IT risks before they become major security breaches.
  
• Uncover Insider Threats: SSPM provides granular visibility into user activity across your SaaS applications. It can track who is accessing what data, with whom they are sharing it, and from what devices. This allows security teams to identify suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate data exfiltration attempts or other insider threats, all without being intrusive or impacting user productivity.
  

Prioritizing Security with SSPM

Through automation and proactive threat detection, SSPM not only enhances security but also saves valuable resources and time for IT security teams. Here are 4 specific ways SSPM can be used to combat insider risk:

1. Expose Shadow IT Threats: Gain complete visibility into your entire SaaS stack, identifying unauthorized or risky applications before they become major security concerns.
   
2. Revoke Unnecessary Access: Regularly review and manage user access privileges. SSPM can highlight accounts with excessive permissions or identify inactive users who still have access to sensitive data. This ensures that only authorized personnel have access to the information they need to perform their jobs.
   
3. Monitor for Suspicious Behavior: Continuously monitor user activity for anomalies like unusual data transfers, access attempts from unauthorized locations, or attempts to download large amounts of sensitive data. These activities could be indicators of potential insider threats.
   
4. Securely Offboard Employees: When employees leave the company, it’s crucial to ensure they lose access to all critical data and applications. Manual offboarding processes can be inefficient and leave gaps in security. SSPM can automate the offboarding process, ensuring that departing employees no longer have access to sensitive information, thereby preventing potential insider threats.
   

Embrace SSPM for a Secure SaaS Future

As the SaaS landscape continues to evolve and businesses rely more heavily on cloud applications, robust security becomes even more crucial.  SSPM, with its automated measures and comprehensive visibility into user activity, empowers organizations to combat both negligent and malicious insider threats. It’s no longer a “nice-to-have” but a vital tool for navigating the complexities of cloud security and protecting your organization’s valuable data.