Cloud Security

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

What is a Cloud Access Security Broker?

A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is a security solution that sits between cloud service users and cloud applications to monitor, enforce policies, and protect data across cloud platforms. It helps organizations gain visibility, ensure compliance, and secure data in cloud environments.

CASBs act as intermediaries between an organization's on-premises infrastructure and its cloud-based applications and services.

What is the Role of a CASB?

The primary purpose of a CASB is to enhance the security of data and applications that are stored and accessed in cloud environments. CASBs offer visibility not only into which SaaS applications users are accessing but also into users’ activities within those applications.

SonicWall offers frictionless device-trust security layer to existing single-sign-on, eliminating risks associated with phishing attacks and account takeover. As a result, SonicWall’s CASB solution provides a range of security controls and monitoring capabilities to help organizations secure their cloud resources.

Benefits of Using Cloud Access Security Brokers

As organizations increasingly adopt (SaaS) applications, CASBs provide essential visibility and control over cloud usage, addressing security challenges associated with cloud adoption.

Below are five advantages of using a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB):

  • Increased Visibility: Provides detailed insights into user activity, data usage, and shadow IT across cloud applications.
  • Heightened Data Security: Protects sensitive data through encryption, tokenization, and data loss prevention (DLP) policies.
  • Improved Threat Protection: Detects and responds to threats like malware, unauthorized access, and insider threats in real time
  • Provides Compliance Support: Helps organizations meet regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) by enforcing compliance policies
  • Allows for Access Control: Enables granular control over user access based on role, location, device, and behavior patterns.

Challenges and Considerations

While there are many advantages to using CASBs, there are other considerations that organizations should keep in mind. 

CASBs can be deployed via API, proxy, or agent-based methods, each with its own trade-offs. Choosing the wrong deployment model may lead to incomplete visibility or performance issues. Additionally, integrating a CASB with existing security infrastructure (like SIEMs, identity providers, or firewalls) can be complex and time-consuming. 

While CASBs help uncover unsanctioned apps, they may not detect all shadow IT activity, especially if traffic is encrypted or occurs outside monitored networks. 

Creating and maintaining effective policies requires a clear understanding of user roles, business processes, and compliance requirements—misconfigurations can lead to security gaps. 

Lastly, CASBs demand resources that businesses must take into consideration. Licensing, training, and ongoing management can be resource-intensive, especially for smaller IT teams. Cost is a main factor that should be weighed.

Understanding these challenges helps organizations prepare more effectively for CASB implementation and optimize its benefits.

Examples: CASB Use Cases

  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP): CASBs can monitor and control the movement of sensitive data between the organization and cloud services. For instance, if an employee tries to upload a file containing sensitive customer information to a cloud storage service, the CASB can detect this and block the action or encrypt the data before it's uploaded.
  • Access Control & Authentication: CASBs can enforce access policies and multi-factor authentication for cloud applications. For example, if a user tries to access a cloud-based email service from an unfamiliar location or device, the CASB can prompt for additional authentication steps to ensure the user's identity.
  • Shadow IT Discovery: CASBs can identify and report on the use of unsanctioned or "shadow" cloud services within an organization. This helps IT teams gain visibility into potentially risky activities and take appropriate action to secure data and applications.
  • Malware & Threat Detection: CASBs can scan files and data in real-time for malware or suspicious activity. If a document with malware is uploaded to a cloud storage service, the CASB can quarantine or remove the infected file.
  • Encryption & Tokenization: CASBs often offer encryption and tokenization services to protect data at rest and in transit. This ensures that even if a cloud service experiences a security breach, the data remains secure and unintelligible to unauthorized users.
  • Activity Monitoring & Auditing: CASBs provide detailed logs and reports on user activities within cloud applications. This is valuable for compliance purposes and for investigating security incidents.
  • Compliance & Governance: CASBs help organizations enforce regulatory compliance and data governance policies in cloud environments. For example, they can ensure that data stored in the cloud complies with GDPR, HIPAA, or other industry-specific regulations.
  • Threat Intelligence Integration: CASBs often integrate with threat intelligence feeds to identify and respond to emerging threats and vulnerabilities in real-time.
  • Secure Collaboration: CASBs can provide secure collaboration features within cloud applications. For instance, they may enable users to share files securely with external partners or customers while maintaining control over access and permissions.
  • API Integration: CASBs can integrate with cloud service provider APIs to gain deeper visibility and control over cloud environments.

Tips for Evaluating a CASB Vendor

Here are key tips for evaluating a CASB vendor to ensure it meets your organization's security, compliance, and operational needs:

  1. Comprehensive Visibility: Ensure the CASB provides detailed monitoring of all user activity across sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud applications.

  2. Strong Data Protection Capabilities: Look for features like data loss prevention (DLP), encryption, and tokenization to safeguard sensitive information.

  3. Threat Detection and Response: Evaluate the vendor's ability to detect anomalies, malware, and insider threats in real time with automated response actions.

  4. Policy Enforcement: Confirm the CASB supports granular policy creation and enforcement tailored to different users, devices, and applications.

  5. Integration with Existing Security Stack: Choose a CASB that integrates smoothly with your identity providers, SIEM, firewalls, and endpoint protection solutions.

  6. Compliance Management: Ensure the solution supports regulatory compliance reporting and policy templates for standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

  7. Deployment Flexibility: Consider whether the CASB supports multiple deployment modes (API-based, proxy-based, or hybrid) to suit your architecture and scalability needs.

  8. Vendor Reputation and Support: Review the vendor’s track record, customer reviews, and availability of support and professional services.

These tips can help you choose a CASB that aligns with your organization's cloud strategy and security priorities.

SonicWall CASB Solution

SonicWall's Cloud Secure Edge leverages CASB functionalities to offer comprehensive protection for SaaS applications. By integrating with existing infrastructure, it provides automated cloud discovery, real-time threat protection, data loss prevention, and compliance enforcement. This approach ensures organizations can securely adopt and manage cloud services without compromising on security or user experience.

Overall, CASBs play a crucial role in helping organizations securely adopt and manage cloud services by providing enhanced visibility, control, and security for their cloud-based resources and data.

With SonicWall’s CASB solution, organizations can confidently embrace cloud services while maintaining visibility, compliance, and security.

Find out more about SonicWall’s Cloud Secure Edge.

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