SaaS-Based CASB vs DLP: Ensuring Cloud Security in Your Enterprise

TL;DR:

• SaaS-based CASB and DLP are crucial for protecting data in cloud-based services.
• SaaS-based CASB acts as a security control point for SaaS applications, extending security policies beyond the organization's infrastructure.
• SaaS-based DLP ensures sensitive data is not accessed or shared outside the corporate network, particularly in SaaS applications.
• CASB provides comprehensive visibility and control over data in SaaS applications, while DLP safeguards sensitive data wherever it resides in the cloud.
• CASB and DLP work together to ensure cloud data security, similar to how security measures protect an art exhibition.

Introduction

In the fast-paced world of cloud computing, protecting our data's more crucial than ever. As businesses increasingly adopt Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, the need for security measures that can effectively protect these cloud-based services has grown. SaaS-based Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions are two important elements in a company's security toolkit.

Understanding SaaS-Based CASB

In technical parlance, a SaaS-based CASB is a cloud-native software tool that acts as a security control point for cloud services, specifically for SaaS applications. It intermediates traffic between the cloud service user and the cloud application, allowing the organization to extend the reach of their security policies beyond their own infrastructure. They provide several essential security capabilities, including access control, threat protection, data security, and visibility into cloud usage.

Consider an employee trying to access a SaaS application like Salesforce or Google Workspace. The SaaS-based CASB for GDrive would find who has access to what files based on roles and permissions and then implement necessary security measures based on the organization's policies.

For a more straightforward analogy, a SaaS-based CASB is like a security officer at an airport, checking IDs (authentication), scanning bags (ensuring secure usage), and allowing or denying access based on the results.

Understanding SaaS-Based DLP

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a strategy that ensures sensitive or critical information isn't accessed or transmitted outside the corporate network. SaaS-based DLP is explicitly designed to protect data in the cloud, particularly in SaaS applications. It classifies sensitive information, monitors its location, and prevents unauthorized access or sharing. Its importance has surged with increased regulatory compliance requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS.

For instance, if an employee attempts to share a confidential document via a SaaS platform like Dropbox, the SaaS-based DLP would identify this action, evaluate the data based on predefined policies, and block or modify the action if it violates any rule.

Take the below gif as a DLP example. Strac protects employees who use Gmail by automatically detecting sensitive drivers license and w-2 attachments & redacting them so that only authorized employees can access it, if needed.

In layperson's terms, think of SaaS-based DLP as a confidential secretary who identifies and safeguards important documents, keeps an eye on who accesses them, and prevents any unauthorized sharing.

Comparing CASB and DLP: Unveiling the Differences

While they might appear to serve similar purposes, CASB and DLP cater to distinct needs in the cloud security landscape. A SaaS-based CASB extends a company's security perimeter to the cloud, providing comprehensive visibility and control over data in SaaS applications. It protects against threats and controls access to cloud services.

In contrast, SaaS-based DLP safeguards sensitive data wherever it resides in the cloud. It identifies and classifies such data, monitors its movement, and prevents any unauthorized disclosure.

CASB vs DLP: A Real World Analogy

Imagine a high-security art exhibition where the SaaS-based CASB is like the security checkpoint at the entrance. Before anyone can enter the exhibition (access the cloud service), they need to show their invitation (authenticate), go through a metal detector (device security check), and have their bags inspected (evaluate the data they're bringing). Only after passing these checks are they allowed in.

The SaaS-based DLP, on the other hand, is like the gallery curators and security guards inside the exhibition. They know each art piece's value (identify and classify data), are vigilant about who is handling what (track data movements), and ensure that no one can take an artwork out of the gallery without the correct permissions (prevent unauthorized sharing).

In this way, both systems work together to protect the gallery — much like how CASB and DLP collaborate to ensure the security of your cloud data.

Strac: SaaS Based CASB and DLP Solution

Strac provides CASB and DLP solutions across all modern SaaS apps companies use regularly. Strac automatically detects and redacts sensitive data depending on the configuration (DLP). Strac also provides CASB capabilities like Access Control, Threat Detection and Visibility into SaaS usage.

For more information, please book a demo with our team.