To improve Data Loss Prevention (DLP) abilities and more, organizations need to consider implementing a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) solution as soon as possible. Adding crucial CASB and DLP layers can significantly improve the organization’s overall security posture. Why?
Traditional network security often relies on intricate configurations of various security appliances such as firewalls, proxies, and, more commonly these days, Virtual Private Networks (VPN).
Although many more traditional networks and cyber security methods are effective, cracks still exist. Employees will always find ways to circumvent IT’s best efforts, often leading to disastrous consequences. Therefore, this business blog article looks at the following:
- Cloud Access Security Broker characteristics
- CASB features
CASB Characteristics
Today many organizations with high volumes of sensitive data and big budgets typically utilize security appliances. These security appliances can be configured to govern the ingress and egress of data and connections.
However, controlling access to data has become more complex than ever. All organizations have to contend with the rising demand for remote connections to their infrastructure due to global events that have changed where we work.
Most businesses now have a hybrid working model where staff works from home for part of the work-week. Plus, it’s not just employed staff, but freelancers and consultants that may be accessing networks and systems remotes, and this action create greater security risks.
Single point of access
Cloud Access Security Broker creates a single point of access that internal networks and users need to pass through. CASB not only blocks keywords and suspicious content like proxies do, but it can also apply complex security policies along with real-time monitoring, governing every input and output of data in transit.
CASB’s ability to reduce security cracks spans across cloud environments such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).
Attack surface visibility
CASBs provide crucial attack surface visibility and allow organizations to extend the scope of their security policies from their existing on-premises infrastructure to the cloud and create new custom security policies for cloud-specific contexts. Retaking control over how organizational data is being utilized and migrated by users and systems.
Cloud server or locally hosted
CASBs are hosted either locally or based on a cloud server and can be as scalable as the organization requires. All traffic entering and leaving the organization is passed through the CASB, allowing the CASB to evaluate each transaction and validate whether the action/transmission is sanctioned by the policy.
Main Features provided by CASB
Let’s look at some of the main features of a cloud access security broker, including:
- Authentication and SSO
- Data security
- Threat/malware protection
- Cloud visibility
Authentication and SSO
By governing all authentication into and out of various cloud environments, a CASB can manage Single Sign-On (SSO) propagation throughout an organization’s cloud ecosystem.
Data Security
Applying a zero-trust policy allows access to data to be segregated, thereby improving overall data security.
CASB’s DLP capabilities can help security teams protect sensitive information such as financial and secret strategic data, medical records, and social security numbers. A CASB solution can also enable policies to prevent unauthorized disclosure of such data.
Threat/Malware Protection
CASBs can scan the contents of files traversing the network to identify potential malware. Files containing malware can either be quarantined or disposed of, depending on the organization’s policy.
Possible Threats can be identified by utilizing complex customizable metrics, allowing security teams to be notified of suspicious activity or rouge devices trying to connect to the network.
Cloud Visibility
CASB provides visibility into all cloud applications, whether sanctioned or unsanctioned. Organizations can utilize a CASB to better represent their cloud activity and take appropriate security measures when needed.
In Conclusion
CASB is a powerful and highly customizable cloud ecosystem security solution. Allowing organizations to implement their various data loss prevention and network accessibility policies over the entire umbrella of their organization.
Governing what is accessible and where the data may be migrated to. Providing an organization with clear, comprehensive visibility of their data assets whether employees/ users are working locally or from any remote location.
CASB might be labeled by some as an excessive measure of affecting cyber security and regulatory compliance.
The truth of the matter is that employees often take the shortest, often unsanctioned, route to performing their tasks, including their online file sharing.
Once an employee uploads a controlled file to an external entity, the sensitive information is no longer under the control of the organization and they don’t have exclusive ownership of it either.