CISO Guide to

SaaS Security
In today's digital landscape, the role of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is becoming more 

and more important as the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity threats has come to affect almost all
aspects of business. This guide seeks to give an overview of the current security threat environment 

and introduce the key steps that CISOs can take in selecting an SSPM vendor and creating a
comprehensive security defense plan.

Overview of Current SaaS Security Environment

As the majority of companies use cloud solutions – public, private, or a combination of both – Software as a Service
(SaaS) has become an integral part of modern business operations. Across all industries, SaaS platforms provide
unmatched scalability and flexibility and have quickly become the go-to solutions that enhance collaboration,
productivity, and efficiency. However, as SaaS environments expand in complexity and use, that also means that a
wide array of sensitive information also gets moved to the cloud, which renders critical the importance of securing
these environments.

The year 2023 has seen an increase in attacks of all kinds. The Cloud Security Alliance reports that 55% of the 

1130 organizations surveyed in 2023 reported a breach in the past two years, and another 12% also confirmed the
possibility of having been breached (p. 3).1 Additionally, IBM Security pinpoints the cost of a data breach in 2023 at
USD 4.45M, a 2.3% hike from the 2022 Numbers (p. 5).2 Verizon also signals a concerning upward trend in attacks,
noting that “74% of all breaches include the human element, with people being involved either via Error, Privilege
Misuse, Use of stolen credentials or Social Engineering,” while 83% of 2022-23 breaches involved an external actor
perpetrating an attack from outside the organization (p. 8).3

In this context, for the past few years, Security Service Posture Management (SSPM) has emerged as a cornerstone
of present and future cloud security, strengthening both proactive and reactive security capabilities. A subset of the
broader cloud security framework, SSPM is an API-based solution that connects to a company’s SaaS applications
and investigates misconfigurations, access and account identity, while providing malware and ransomware
protection.

1 State of SaaS Security: 2023 Survey Report. (n.d.). CSA. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/artifacts/state-of-
saas-security-2023-survey-report/

2 Cost of a data breach 2023 | IBM. (n.d.). www.ibm.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?
formid=urx-52258

3 Verizon. (2023). 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report. Verizon Business. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/

www.reco.ai 1
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

While SSPM helps companies analyze data, ensure continuous monitoring, identify patterns, and react to anomalies,
it also helps them be proactive and prepare for future attack scenarios. To reduce the attack surface and minimize
the future possibility of a breach, SSPM also provides an inventory of best practice solutions for regulatory
compliance and a record of tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) to create security policies. In addition, 

to make both proactive and reactive decisions efficiently, the security team has quick access to dashboards and
reports. As a result of all these advantages, SSPM has been constantly growing in importance for the past few years
and has become a must-have for companies that want to have a solid risk-management strategy and a real-time
overview of their SaaS environment and of all their connected applications, including third-party ones.

At its core, SSPM modernizes cloud protection and ensures a future where risk is manageable. SSPM represents 

an investment, but it also represents an insurance policy, where companies are making an investment in their SaaS
applications to decrease their attack surface and reduce the likelihood of future exposure. An SSPM investment is
worth the upfront cost when taking into account long-term breach costs.

In their 2023 report, IBM Security traces a direct correlation between cost and length of days before discovering a
security breach. Automation is part of the offerings of many SSPM solutions. For example, SSPM is most effective
when it includes AI solutions and advanced threat analytics that use deep learning to identify and analyze anomalies,
where people and machines behave in unexpected/atypical ways. Extensive use of AI security solutions has proven
very effective in identifying and containing data breaches. For example, IBM Security estimates that an organization
using AI and automation through several tools that are integrated at the operational level saves about 108 days
experiencing an attack, by discovering it faster (p. 51).4 This translates to savings of approximately USD 1.8M for
these companies, an almost 40% difference when compared with companies that did not use any AI or automation
(p. 52).5

The year 2023 has witnessed an intensified focus on SSPM, not only due to the escalating sophistication of cyber
threats, but also due to increased regulatory scrutiny. As a result, companies are grappling with achieving a delicate
balance between satisfying their users’ requirements for convenience and simplicity, and the implementation of
stringent security protocols, such as the ones related to personally identifiable information (PII) (p. 19).6 Overall,
compliance frameworks and regulations governing data protection are shaping the direction of SSPM strategies. 

In addition, as data sovereignty and privacy concerns become paramount, companies are compelled to tailor their
SSPM practices to align with regional and global regulatory requirements.

4 Cost of a data breach 2023 | IBM. (n.d.). www.ibm.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?
formid=urx-52258

5 Ibid.

6 Verizon. (2023). 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report. Verizon Business. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/

7 Cost of a data breach 2023 | IBM. (n.d.). www.ibm.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?
formid=urx-52258

www.reco.ai 2
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

SaaS Security Questions and Answers for Forward-Looking CISOs

As cloud environments have a complex and constantly-changing threat landscape, CISOs can build SSPM solutions
into their present and future business strategy by drawing on the following lessons learned from past SaaS security.

A few helpful questions and answers to consider are:

Where does a SaaS security journey begin?

The SaaS security journey typically begins with a comprehensive assessment of an organization’s current security
posture and of potential risks associated with adopting or already using SaaS applications. This initial phase
involves identifying the types of SaaS applications in use, understanding data sensitivity, and evaluating existing
security measures.

What is a SaaS security’s end goal?

Due to the dynamic nature of cloud environments, a company’s SaaS security needs to be adaptable and scalable 

to match a company’s current and future needs that are determined by the constantly evolving nature of threats. 

The end goal of SaaS security should significantly decrease a company’s risk exposure and attack surface.

Has SaaS changed or have security priorities changed?

The landscape of SaaS security is continuously evolving. Growing cloud adoption and development of public, 

private or hybrid cloud solutions definitely triggered SaaS security changes, but most importantly, security priorities
have changed as well, especially through and since the pandemic. As the world shut down, the majority of the
workforce became remote. This brought to the forefront the urgency of securing remote connectivity and of
accelerating robust identity and access management solutions, as well as implementing multi-factor authentication.
Remote employees also gave rise to data privacy and compliance concerns, while the exponential adoption of
collaboration tools overnight catapulted security risks associated with these tools to the top of security concerns.

How to align SaaS security strategy with the broader business objectives of a company?
SaaS security used to be relegated to the IT team. However, SaaS security has come to affect many aspects of a
company’s growth, some softer ones, such as influencing customer trust, reputation and brand, or other ones with
direct impact, such as costs associated with disrupting operations or supply chains, raking up insurance costs,
losing intellectual property, or forsaking partner and investor confidence. These aspects make it so that the
responsibility and the benefits of an effective SaaS security is shared, which in turn, requires that CISOs have a seat
at the table when making decisions about business priorities, objectives, and the respective allotted budget.

Should an investment in AI be part of SaaS security strategy?

If a company faces complex threats and operates at scale, investing in AI upfront is the best investment move that
will guarantee a return on investment per the most recent IBM Security report. Their survey revealed that companies
that used AI and automation managed a much faster response to detecting and managing a breach. They were 108
days faster than similar companies, not using AI (p. 53)7, and this translated in significant cost reductions. Hence, 

an upfront investment in AI will pave the way for future savings and a successful, proactive SaaS security.

7Cost of a data breach 2023 | IBM. (n.d.). www.ibm.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023, from https://www.ibm.com/account/reg/us-en/signup?
formid=urx-52258

www.reco.ai 3
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

SSPM Key Features: Selecting the Best SSPM Solution

SSPM stands at the forefront of SaaS security. It offers companies a strategic approach to fortify their security
postures and manage risk effectively. It also ensures the seamless integration of SaaS applications within a
secure and compliant framework. An effective SSPM solution helps a company gain key insights to identify
misconfigurations, control over-permissions, stay alert to anomalous and risky user behavior, quickly pinpoint
compromised accounts, and monitor third-party apps continuously including those connected by both human
interaction and machines. With new market entrants competing with more established providers, selecting the
best SSPM solution involves careful consideration of various factors. An effective solution needs to help
companies establish a discover-control-protect framework. Here are a few must-have characteristics to look for 

in the selection process:

Effective SaaS application discovery

Does every company know every SaaS app being used in their environment? SSPM solutions connect to the SaaS
environment and discover connected applications, including third-party ones. They index sanctioned applications
and reveal unsanctioned ones that have been connected by a human or machine. The key to adequate protection
is continuous monitoring of the posture of SaaS applications at the metadata level to provide alerts to exposure.
So, while human expertise remains invaluable, SSPM solutions allow companies to optimize their security team’s
time and effort in monitoring third-party applications through prioritized alerts and real-time data, so they can
undertake the remediation of threats faster.

Configuration management
SSPM helps the security team keep up to date with monitoring and security updates of SaaS applications,
identities, and data within the Security infrastructure. Once a security baseline is established, SSPM solutions
will help the security team oversee configuration settings and will enable them to get alerts as to any deviations
from the baseline in order to monitor and control configuration drifts and detect any other configuration-related
vulnerabilities. Configuration drifts occur when changes are made to the system outside of the established
processes, and it can occur for various reasons. Manual posture checks across complex systems is slow, takes
a lot of time and is prone to human error. So, possibly the most appealing aspect of SSPM solutions is that it
includes AI and automation for continuous configuration checks. With AI, configuration management can be
automated to correct configurations when deviations are detected, or to revert them back to the baseline.

Identity, permission and SaaS application monitoring

With an SSPM solution, companies can monitor identities to see who has access to what applications. The question
to ask is whether users have the adequate permission level, or whether they benefit from permission privileges
above their level. Overall, SSPM best practices require the implementation of least privileged access, which ensures
that users get the access they need, but not more because uncontrolled access usually exposes the company to
additional and unnecessary risk. Additionally, with SSPM, companies can also identify connected, unsanctioned
third-party applications and remove them, or they can discontinue subscriptions to unused applications, which can
trigger significant cost savings. Finally, anomalous user behavior and patterns are quickly spotted and prioritized
alerts sent to the security team, so they can quickly take steps to remedy various situations, such as an employee
downloading sensitive information because leaving the company.
www.reco.ai 4
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

Ready-to-use policies based on TTPs

Reputable SSPM solutions will have a library of ready-to-use policies created based on real-world cyber attack
scenarios that use various ransomware, account takeover, and insider threats TTPs. Additionally, effective SSPM
solutions will be able to push prioritized alerts to the security team, which will speed up the detection of any threats.

Prioritized alerts provide the ability to develop responses to insider threat, account takeover, or ransomware. They
also facilitate the development of an incident response plan specific to SaaS applications that should outline the
steps to be taken in the event of a security breach, including communication protocols and mitigation strategies.
From there on, continuously updating the plan based on the nature of the prioritized alerts received should be easy.

Integration with an Existing SIEM or SOAR solution

Integration between SSPM, SIEM and SOAR enhances an organization’s ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate
security threats effectively. For example, SIEM systems can use SSPM-generated data to enrich the information
used by security analysts regarding security events. In correlation with data from other events, SSPM data can also
help with establishing risky behavior from various personas and can aid in setting up and triggering automated or
semi-automated alerts. In turn, SOAR platforms can integrate with SSPM to create automated responses to certain
security events for which they can apply set rules according to established policies, and they can also initiate set
remediation processes when SSPMs identify misconfigurations.

Adherence to compliance frameworks

In the aftermath of the pandemic, industry regulations and data protection laws have become even more stringent
than before. In particular, industries, such as healthcare or finance that sometimes have the burden of many legacy
systems, have more than ever come under compliance scrutiny. An SSPM solution can help companies achieve and
maintain compliance with regulatory requirements over time, with a SaaS security program that is automated and
updated regularly. To establish a SaaS governance or assurance plan that implements security measures to reduce
the risk associated with SaaS applications, SSPM solutions can continuously check SaaS security posture against
built-in compliance policies, frameworks, and due diligence best practices, such as HIPAA Security Rule, NIST
Cybersecurity Framework, HITRUST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, or CIS, SOX and SOC 2, FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment
Tool, PCI DSS, SWIFT Customer Security Controls Framework and GLBA.

Data privacy
A state-of the art SSPM solution will not increase your attack surface because it does not get access to your actual,
proprietary data, but only ingests and analyzes your metadata. Examples of metadata are identification data about
your assets and devices and their physical location on the network, user access permissions, or data about the
settings of devices and applications and the infringement of set rules and policies that may indicate high-risk
behavior from various internal or external actors.

www.reco.ai 5
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

Fast connection via API

API-based SSPM solutions offer greater efficiency gains because no integration is required. 

Your security team can do in a few hours what they used to accomplish with manual check-ups in a month.

Automation capabilities
With the persistent evolution of the threat landscape, security professionals are adopting proactive approaches to
SSPM, emphasizing real-time monitoring, adaptive controls, and threat intelligence integration. Automation is key,
where topmost companies leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect anomalous activities and
respond to potential security incidents with utmost expediency. Of vital importance is the automation of the
monitoring of incorrectly configured SaaS-based applications that expose applications and

identities to external parties.

Scalability
Companies need to select an SSPM partner that can grow and evolve with them. Robust SSPM solutions take into
account how a company’s application footprint will grow and they allow the company to scale ahead.

Select a Partner for the Road Ahead

As companies continue to innovate and adapt, the synergy between SaaS adoption and robust SSPM practices
will continue to shape the future of cloud security. Companies need to strive to match the versatility of cyber
attackers by reducing their attack surface with the help of SSPM solutions. With this long-term view in mind,
when selecting an SSPM solution, companies need to look for a partner not only for today, but for the road ahead.
In order to achieve this, there are a few factors to consider beyond technical prowess. While not exclusive, 

here are a few steps to follow.

Start a request for proposal process

Before investing in a new solution, companies typically put out an RFP to evaluate vendors and capabilities.
However, even before getting to this step, CISOs should do a thorough security assessment to understand the
limitations of their infrastructure and security and to set goals for the new tool that they are looking to purchase.

Evaluate reputation
To a certain extent, an SSPM’s vendor reputation directly correlates with their reliability, and as the best SSPM
partnerships are long-term – reliability is one of the key features a company should look for in a vendor. 

As part of the RFP process, companies should research the finalists’ reputation by looking at their experience,
customer reviews, and their commitment to regular updates and improvements.

www.reco.ai 6
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

Rate customer support

A company that puts its customers at the heart of its development, growth and operations is one that will not only
stay ahead of the competition, but also that will be around for a long time. Happy customers equal growth and
reliability. So, a few factors to consider when researching finalist vendors are not only knowledge and expertise, 

but also availability of customer service, open transparency and communication, including service-level agreements
(SLAs) for response times and escalation processes, abundant documentation and training materials that are 

user-friendly, as well as a user-friendly platform, among other things.

Take advantage of demos and trial periods

All vendors will offer free demos. While you can definitely get a feel for a product during a demo, especially when 

it is given by one of the finalists of a rigorous RFP-selection process, nothing beats the hands-on trial of a product.
Testing the solution in their environment allows a company to assess its performance and suitability for their exact
needs. Vendors that offer this option are confident in the strength of their product and can make the top of a
company’s short list.
In conclusion, the process of selecting a Security Posture Management (SSPM) vendor is a serious endeavor 

that requires planning and meticulous evaluation. While the process may seem complicated and even daunting, 

the choice of an SSPM solution that fits a company’s present and future needs will be a worthy investment with a
high return. What is required in the selection process is a holistic assessment of technical capabilities, integration
potential, scalability, and alignment with a company’s unique security objectives. Fit is important beyond
technological capabilities. Vendor reputation is crucial. In this respect what to look for are great customer support
reviews that prove that the vendor is committed to customer success and a track record that indicates that the
vendor has successfully solved similar challenges to the ones the company is experiencing or projecting. 

As companies embark on their unique SaaS security journey, the selected SSPM vendor should not merely meet
current needs but serve as a strategic partner that is able to evolve with the company in a constantly shifting
cybersecurity landscape. After all, this partner will contribute to the long-term resilience and security posture of the
company, and inherently, to its current and future growth and success.

Reco
Reco is a leading SaaS security solution that is redefining the way enterprises secure their SaaS environment by
taking an identity-first approach to SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM). Connecting in minutes via API, Reco
discovers every app, its users, and their actions to seamlessly prioritize and control the risks in the SaaS ecosystem.

Reco can help CISOs to provide the right tools to their security, engineering, and IT teams to prevent the risk 

of exposure to breaches, by understanding their SaaS applications and identities, while controlling access and
permissions. Reco uses advanced analytics around persona, actions, interactions and relationships to other 

users to identify suspicious human behavior patterns. It also enables alerts on exposure from misconfigurations,
over-permission users and compromised accounts. 

With Reco, security teams have the insight they need to take swift action to mitigate risk and the right advisors that
can accompany you on your growth path. 

You can learn more or book a demo at www.reco.ai

www.reco.ai 7
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

Reco SaaS Security Checklist for CISOs

Reco created this checklist to help CISOs establish, implement, and continually improve their SaaS security posture
while staying informed about updates and emerging threats.

Starting point
Asking questions constitutes the foundation of your plan to build out your security strategy. As cloud environments
have a complex and constantly-changing threat landscape, a few helpful questions to consider as you start
investigating an SSPM solution are:
Where does my SaaS security journey begin?
What is my SaaS security’s end goal?
Has SaaS changed or have security priorities changed?
How do I align my SaaS security strategy with the broader business objectives of my company?
Should I invest in AI as part of my SaaS security strategy?

Middle of the Road

Comparing and contrasting SSPM vendors paves the way to finding an effective solution that will help you create
a discover-control-protect security framework for your company. Here are a few must-have characteristics to look
for in the selection process:

Effective SaaS Configuration

application discovery management

Sanctioned connected applications Baseline configuration settings

Unsanctioned connected applications Detection of configuration drifts
Third-party applications Automated detection of misconfigurations
Shadow applications Automated continuous configuration
Installation dates and end user analytics checks and corrections
Authorized apps Measure SaaS security posture and risk
Monitoring of incorrectly configured reporting over time
SaaS-based applications IT audit readiness
24/7 continuous monitoring

Identity, permission and SaaS Ready-to-use policies

application monitoring based on TTPs

Monitor identities Extensive library of ready-to-use, dynamic

Monitor permission privileges policies created and maintained by experts
Discovery of permission access level Prioritized alerts
Advanced analytics for additional context
Implement least-privilege access
Identify anomalous user behavior patterns
www.reco.ai 8
 CISO Guide to SaaS Security

Integration with Adherence to compliance

SIEM or SOAR frameworks
Aggregated and normalized SaaS activity events Establish An industry-specific SaaS governance or
Data-based analysis of risky behavior personas assurance plan
Automated or semi-automated alerts based on Built-in compliance frameworks, and due diligence
personas best practices that support your industry and territory
Automated response to security events requirements
Apply set rules according to event
Guided remediation

Data System Automation

privacy functionality capabilities
Access only to metadata such as: Quick deployment via API Real-time monitoring
Guided onboarding process Adaptive controls
Location
Integrations for secure Threat intelligence integration
Implement least-privilege access onboarding
Analysis of settings of devices Low false positives
and applications
Scalability

The Road Ahead

When selecting an SSPM solution, you need to look for a partner not only for today, but for the road ahead. 

Beyond looking for technical prowess, here are a few other factors to consider and steps to follow:

Start a request for

Evaluate reputation Rate customer support
proposal process
Thorough security assessment Customer reviews Availability of customer service
of needs Experience Open transparency and
Understand limitations of Communications communication
infrastructure and security Frequency of updates and SLAs for response times and
Set security goals for tools improvements escalation processes
needed User-friendly training offerings
User-friendly platform

Take advantage of demos and trial periods

In conclusion, a comprehensive Security and Service Performance Management (SSPM) solution checklist serves as
a vital tool for CISOs in their search to fortify their cybersecurity and optimize service delivery. On this journey, Reco
can serve as your advisor and partner.

www.reco.ai 9