6 SaaS Governance Best Practices to Secure Your Data

SaaS governance is critical in protecting organizational data in the face of increasing cyber threats and SaaS adoption. With hackers launching over 2,200 cyberattacks daily and 81% of companies facing SaaS data exposure risks, organizations must adopt robust governance strategies to mitigate data breaches and improve efficiency. Below are six best practices to strengthen SaaS governance.

The Growing Importance of SaaS Governance

Effective SaaS governance enhances operational performance, data management, security, compliance, and cost optimization while improving vendor relationships.

• Improved Data Management: Structured governance ensures data integrity, accessibility, and accuracy, facilitating better decision-making.
• Ensured Compliance: Adhering to regulatory standards reduces legal risks, protects reputations, and builds trust with stakeholders.
• Increased Security: Strong access controls, encryption, and monitoring safeguard sensitive data from cyber threats.
• Optimized Costs: Governance eliminates redundant SaaS subscriptions, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
• Efficient Vendor Management: Clear vendor selection policies help maintain standards, foster collaboration, and manage risks effectively.

1. Achieve Full Visibility of Your SaaS Landscape

Gaining complete visibility into your SaaS stack is crucial for efficient monitoring and management. Tools like CloudEagle enable organizations to track all SaaS applications, identify inefficiencies, and eliminate shadow IT. This ensures applications are secure and up-to-date, reducing risks.

2. Streamline User Access Management

Effective user access management ensures employees access only the resources necessary for their roles. Implementing role-based access control (RBAC) and strong authentication measures, such as multi-factor authentication, minimizes unauthorized access and protects sensitive data.

3. Encrypt Your Data

Data encryption is a vital security layer, making sensitive information unreadable to unauthorized parties.

• End-to-End Encryption: Secures data in transit between devices or locations.
• Encryption at Rest: Protects stored data from unauthorized access or theft.

4. Manage Vendor Risks

Evaluating and managing SaaS vendor security practices reduces exposure to external risks. Key steps include:

• Security Assessments: Regularly evaluate vendor data protection measures.
• Clear Contracts: Define security responsibilities, ensuring accountability and clarity in addressing data breaches or threats.

5. Rationalize Your SaaS Portfolio

Review your SaaS tools to identify redundant or underused applications. Prioritize essential tools while eliminating unnecessary subscriptions to reduce costs and streamline operations.

6. Focus on Compliance and Training

Adherence to regulations like GDPR and CCPA ensures data privacy and builds customer trust. Regular employee training on secure SaaS usage fosters a culture of security, empowering teams to recognize and address potential threats.

Why CloudEagle?

CloudEagle simplifies SaaS governance with features like comprehensive visibility, user access management, vendor research, risk mitigation, and collaborative tools. Its advanced monitoring capabilities protect sensitive data while promoting cost efficiency and continuous improvement.

By adopting these SaaS governance best practices, organizations can safeguard data, optimize resources, and achieve operational excellence.