Introduction to Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)
As businesses increasingly shift to the cloud, cloud security stands has become a paramount concern. To secure the unprecedented volume of cloud data and services, Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) have emerged. CASBs act as a protective, enforcing layer between a company’s on-premises infrastructure and a cloud provider’s infrastructure to monitor all activity and enforce security policies. As gatekeepers, CASBs make it easy to manage and secure apps, files, and data across the cloud environments.
Ignoring the importance of CASBs can lead to substantial risks. Without an effective CASB, companies are exposed to data breaches, non-compliance with data privacy regulations, and loss of control over their data in the cloud. CASBs provide consistent visibility and control across multiple clouds, therefore mitigating these risks.
What CASBs Do
Cloud Access Security Brokers, commonly known as CASBs, are designed to deliver an in-depth and comprehensive visibility into your organization’s cloud use. Their role is essential in identifying the extent and variety of cloud applications that are currently in use within your operations. These range from applications that have been officially sanctioned by your IT department to the vast majority that have not, a phenomenon commonly referred to as Shadow IT.
In addition to simply identifying these applications, CASBs also perform a vital analysis and risk ranking of each application. This is done with a view to assist organizations in better understanding and navigating the assorted business, data, and legal risks that could potentially be associated with these applications. This analysis is critical in helping businesses make informed decisions about which applications to keep, which to remove, and how to manage the inherent risks each application might pose.
Apart from identifying and analyzing cloud applications, CASBs also play a central role in matters of data security, providing what is known as Data Loss Prevention (DLP). In the context of data security, they are entrusted with identifying sensitive data residing in the cloud, enforcing DLP policies to ensure the organization’s compliance requirements are met and safeguarding the data from potential threats. Notably, a CASB provides security for your data in a three-tiered approach. It protects your data while it’s in transit (moving from one location to another), at rest (stored in databases, file systems, etc.), and in use (during operations such as create, edit, delete, etc.). In total, by employing a CASB, organizations can secure their cloud data across all stages of its lifecycle, significantly minimizing risk and enhancing their overall data protection strategy.
Benefits of CASBs to Organizations
The main advantage of CASBs lies in their ability to provide visibility and control to organizations over their cloud services. They play an essential role in risk reduction, enabling businesses to detect and counteract possible threats within the cloud environment. With the use of CASBs, companies can discover any unsanctioned cloud services, monitor user activity, and enforce security policies.
CASBs also enhance regulatory compliance. They help to ensure that data storage and handling practices adhere to regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and others. Using a CASB allows organizations to avoid hefty fines and protect their reputations by preventing data breaches.
Key Services Provided by CASBs
CASBs provide several key services, including visibility into cloud usage, data security, threat protection, and compliance. With regard to visibility, a CASB can identify all cloud applications being used, assess them for risk, and provide control over their usage. For data security, a CASB offers advanced data loss prevention capabilities, securing data at every stage from transit to rest and in use.
When it comes to threat protection, a CASB can detect and protect against threats to data in the cloud, whether they come from external hackers or insiders. Finally, CASBs provide features to help with compliance, such as identifying sensitive data and enforcing policies to meet compliance requirements.
CASBs play a pivotal role in delivering several critical services, such as ensuring the transparency of cloud usage, fortifying data security, providing robust threat protection, and maintaining regulatory compliance. In terms of visibility into cloud usage, a CASB has the capacity to identify all cloud-based applications that are currently in use across an organization. It assesses each of these applications for potential security risks, and grants the administrators the necessary control over their usage. This comprehensive visibility into cloud activities allows businesses to understand how their cloud resources are being utilized and take appropriate steps to eliminate any risks associated.
In terms of data security, a CASB features advanced data loss prevention capabilities. It ensures security at every stage of data lifecycle–when it’s in transit from one point to another, at rest in storage, and during usage. This means data moving between the cloud and local devices, data stored in the cloud, as well as data being actively used in the cloud environment are all vigilantly protected by CASBs.
With respect to threat protection, a CASB can identify and protect against threats to data stored in the cloud. These threats can originate from various sources, whether they be external hackers with malicious intent or insiders within the organization who pose a security risk due to negligence or malintent.
Lastly, CASBs offer features that assist in maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. They can identify sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, confidential business data, and other sensitive content. Moreover, these tools can enforce strict policies and controls designed to meet specific compliance needs. This ensures that businesses can effectively adhere to various data protection regulations and avoid the severe penalties associated with non-compliance.
Risks of Not Using CASBs
Without a CASB, organizations are vulnerable to several risks. These include a lack of transparency over cloud services, data breaches, non-compliance with regulations, and loss of control over their data. CASBs mitigate these risks by providing visibility and control, data security, and compliance support.
Notably, without a CASB, an organization can be unaware of the extent of Shadow IT within its operations. Employees may use unapproved apps and services that do not adhere to the company’s security and compliance standards, putting sensitive information at risk. With a CASB, an organization can discover and monitor these unsanctioned services.
What to Look for When Selecting a CASB: Key Requirements
CASBs act as a gatekeeper, allowing organizations to extend their security policies from on-premises devices to the cloud. But what should you look for when selecting a CASB? There are several key requirements to consider.
Firstly, a major feature to consider is the cloud security services that are offered. This includes security for data at rest and in transit, threat protection, identity management, and security configuration management. The CASB should be able to secure data across all cloud services and applications, including SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. It should also offer real-time security for cloud-resident data. This is vital for protecting sensitive data.
Secondly, the CASB should have robust compliance capabilities. Businesses must adhere to various regulations, such as the GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. Therefore, the CASB should have features that help to enforce these compliance requirements. This could include data loss prevention (DLP), encryption, tokenization, and audit capabilities. The CASB should also have features that enable identity and access management (IAM).
Another key requirement is visibility. The CASB should provide full visibility into all cloud services and applications, including shadow IT. It should allow businesses to see who is using the cloud, what they are doing, and what data is being stored or shared. It should also allow businesses to control who has access to specific data and applications. This is critical for preventing data breaches.
Flexibility and ease of use are also important factors. The CASB should be easy to deploy and integrate with existing security infrastructure. It should support multiple deployment modes, including API, forward and reverse proxy. It should also offer a user-friendly interface that allows businesses to easily configure and manage security policies.
Lastly, the CASB should offer thorough reporting and analytics capabilities. It should provide detailed reports on cloud usage, data movement, and security incidents. It should also be able to analyze data and detect abnormal behavior or potential threats. This will enable businesses to quickly identify and respond to potential security risks. In conclusion, when selecting a CASB, businesses should consider the security services offered, compliance capabilities, visibility, flexibility, and reporting and analytics capabilities. By considering these key requirements, businesses can ensure that they choose a CASB that effectively secures their cloud environment and aligns with their security needs and objectives.
Best Practices for Onboarding a CASB
Selecting, onboarding, and managing a CASB effectively requires following some best practices. First, identify your organization’s specific needs regarding cloud security and compliance. Understand what cloud applications are being used, the data being stored and shared, and any existing security policies in place. Choose a CASB that fits these needs and offers a healthy balance between security and user experience.
Once onboarded, ensure that your CASB is configured correctly to deliver its full benefits. Regularly review and update your security policies as your cloud use evolves and as new threats emerge. Also, educate your employees about the role of the CASB in protecting data and the responsibility they hold in maintaining cloud security.
CASBs and Shadow IT
Shadow IT, which refers to the usage of applications and services not sanctioned by the IT department, poses a significant risk to organizations. The unregulated nature of Shadow IT can lead to data breaches and non-compliance with regulations. CASBs can help organizations detect and control Shadow IT, hence mitigating these associated risks. By providing visibility into all cloud applications in use, CASBs can help identify unsanctioned applications. They can also enforce policies that restrict the usage of such applications, thereby enhancing cloud security.
The use of CASBs also extends to the personal cloud applications used by employees. These applications can pose similar threats as Shadow IT when they are used to store or share sensitive corporate data. By offering personal app auditing, CASBs allow organizations to monitor and secure data that is stored or shared via personal cloud applications.
The Role of Machine Learning and AI in CASBs
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance the capabilities of a CASB. These technologies enable CASBs to become more proactive in identifying security threats and anomalies. For instance, AI can analyze user behavior and identify patterns that are indicative of a security breach. Likewise, Machine learning can help in identifying new cloud services accessed within the organization and assess their risk level.
With AI and machine learning, CASBs can also automate the enforcement of security policies, thus saving time and resources. Furthermore, they can provide predictive analytics that give organizations insights on potential security vulnerabilities. As such, the use of these advanced technologies makes CASBs a critical component of a robust cloud security strategy.
CASBs and Mobile Security
With the increasing use of mobile devices for work purposes, organizations need to ensure that their cloud data is secure on all platforms. CASBs offer mobile security capabilities to protect sensitive data accessed via mobile devices. They enforce policies that restrict the downloading of data to unsecured devices. In addition, they also provide encryption to secure data on personal devices.
CASBs play a crucial role in the context of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. By monitoring and controlling cloud application usage on personal devices, they can prevent data loss and breaches. Thus, CASBs are essential for organizations implementing BYOD policies to maintain a secure and compliant cloud environment.
Kiteworks Helps Organizations Protect Their Most Sensitive Cloud Content
Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) are vital for organizations to maintain security and compliance in their cloud environments. CASBs provide visibility into cloud usage, secure data, protect against threats, and help with compliance. They play a pivotal role in mitigating the risks associated with Shadow IT and personal cloud applications. With the integration of advanced technologies like AI and machine learning, CASBs can proactively identify and manage security threats. They are also instrumental in securing data accessed via mobile devices, making them critical for organizations implementing BYOD policies. By following best practices for selecting and managing a CASB, organizations can significantly enhance their cloud security posture.
The Kiteworks Private Content Network, a FIPS 140-2 Level validated secure file sharing and file transfer platform, consolidates email, file sharing, web forms, SFTP and managed file transfer, so organizations control, protect, and track every file as it enters and exits the organization.
Kiteworks deployment options include on-premises, hosted, private, hybrid, and FedRAMP virtual private cloud. With Kiteworks: control access to sensitive content; protect it when it’s shared externally using automated end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and security infrastructure integrations; see, track, and report all file activity, namely who sends what to whom, when, and how. Finally, demonstrate compliance with regulations and standards like GDPR, HIPAA, CMMC, Cyber Essentials Plus, IRAP, and many more.
To learn more about Kiteworks, schedule a custom demo today.
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