Cloud Security Management Faces New Scrutiny With Increasing Use Of SaaS
By Tim Burrows, Account Sales Representative
August 11, 2021
The use of Software as a Service (SaaS) has grown dramatically in recent years and the Covid-19 pandemic showed just how important it can be to have access to all your systems from any location, but it can require an extension to your existing processes related to Cloud Security Management. Over the past year, companies with very specific software installations on-site (inside an office) faced a difficult time as lockdowns and stay-at-home orders prevented employees accessing their usual workplace.
The advantage of using a tool like Office 365 instead of local installations of Office have become clear in this new, more flexible, work environment, but at the same time this has led to new questions about Cloud Security Management and the role that security needs to play – not just for data, but also applications.
Security Magazine recently published a feature exploring this issue. In the article they quoted the industry analyst Gartner predicting that through to 2025, 99% of cloud security incidents will be due to issues that are the customer’s fault. Companies like Watserv have worked for years to help clients configure their cloud systems in a way that is optimal, but also secure. However, as we see a much greater use of SaaS there is also a need for the users to be educated about their responsibility to not leak the same data we have been working so hard to protect for several years.
The Security Magazine feature includes some tips on initiating a new Cloud Security Management plan that includes SaaS and they include several pointers, such as:
- Invest in a scalable approach: check that the tools or services you are already using can scale as more – or all – of your business tools move into the cloud
- Recognize that this is not just the same cloud security issue: you may have secured your data, but remote access to applications needs a fresh look to ensure your existing security will work in this environment.
- Take ownership with the IT team: your business team are using the tools and they might not be used to full-on security scrutiny by IT – work with them and make it clear why you need to check the way applications are used.
As we enter further into this post-pandemic environment we will see an expansion in how companies use the cloud and therefore Cloud Security Management will come to the forefront as an area that needs greater focus.
Watserv can help to manage and secure your cloud configuration, but we can also offer advice on best practice once most of your business applications also function in the cloud. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are general practices that can ensure your SaaS applications as safe as your other cloud services.
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About
WatServ is an IT solutions provider that helps organizations digitally transform through cloud technologies and managed services.
Serving clients as a trusted advisor since 2006, WatServ provides experience-tested, strategic solutions across all stages of the digital transformation journey. Clients choose WatServ to migrate infrastructure and applications to the cloud, secure critical data, implement disaster recovery, deploy virtual desktop, enable data-readiness for productivity solutions and manage IT environments.
Our clients span a broad range of industries, and we’re a global supplier of IT services for many Brookfield Portfolio Companies. To help our mid-size clients, we provide scalable offerings that simplify cloud adoption and drive business optimization. For enterprise clients, we co-create cloud solutions that enable stability and efficiency for complex IT tools and processes.
With more than 15 years of experience, WatServ has a track record of delivering quantifiable business results and a superior client experience. Ranked as one of Canada’s Top 100 Solution Providers for the last three years in a row, WatServ is always on.
