Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) have until recently been the go-to solution for securing cloud-hosted applications, including SaaS applications. However, as organizations increasingly rely on a diverse range of SaaS platforms, the limitations of CASB solutions have become apparent, particularly in managing complex SaaS misconfigurations and interconnectivity risks. This is where SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) steps in, offering advanced capabilities to secure and manage today’s complex SaaS environments.
In this comparison, we’ll look at the key differences between CASB and SSPM, helping you determine which solution is best for your organization. We’ll also explain why SSPM capabilities are addressing modern SaaS application challenges and risks far beyond what a CASB offers. This CASB vs. SSPM overview will highlight how each approach fits into a robust SaaS security strategy.
What is CASB?
A Cloud Access Security Broker, or CASB, is a solution designed to protect user access and secure data across cloud applications. CASBs are commonly used to enforce security policies, especially around user access control and data loss prevention (DLP).
User Access Control
Regulates and secures user access to SaaS applications
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Protects sensitive data by monitoring and managing data usage
Threat Protection and Discovery
Identifies unauthorized SaaS usage and potential threats
While these functionalities are valuable, CASBs were primarily developed to address access and data protection, leaving several emerging SaaS-specific security gaps unaddressed. For more detail on primary CASB functions and advantages, visit our What is a CASB? page.
Limitations of CASB in Addressing Modern SaaS Risks
Despite their benefits, CASBs have limitations when it comes to operationalizing SaaS security for today’s business-critical applications. Key limitations include:
- No Monitoring of SaaS Misconfigurations or Configuration Drift: CASBs focus on securing user access, but they don’t monitor each application’s unique configurations. As SaaS applications have individualized permission structures, terminology, and security controls, security teams need configuration-specific visibility to prevent security risks. Without this, many modern SaaS misconfigurations go unnoticed.
- Lack of SaaS-to-SaaS Visibility: In today’s interconnected environments, SaaS applications frequently connect to each other via non-human identities (e.g., OAuth tokens, APIs, and service accounts). CASBs lack visibility into these interconnections, which bypass traditional access controls and remain unmonitored, creating security risks.
- Burdensome Deployment: CASBs often require inline proxies to offer their full capabilities. This adds significant complexity and time to deployment, especially for organizations that need immediate security. The DLP component of CASBs also requires frequent tuning to ensure proper functionality, often leading to many false positives
Limited Coverage Across Applications: CASBs are limited to a few dozen SaaS applications. This narrow scope often means that many essential apps are only partially covered, especially those relying solely on the proxy component for security.
Why SaaS Misconfigurations are a Critical Security Gap
SaaS misconfigurations have become a prominent security risk for organizations. Each SaaS application operates with its own configurations and security controls, demanding specialized knowledge to monitor and secure each platform effectively.
Recent insights from Valence's 2024 State of SaaS Security Report revealed that:
- 43% of security leaders cited SaaS configuration complexity as a primary challenge in their security strategy
- 48% of respondents noted tracking each SaaS application's evolving functionalities and risks as a significant barrier to maintaining security
If misconfigurations are left unresolved, they introduce vulnerabilities that can lead to serious incidents. Additionally, “configuration drift”—when settings deviate from a secure state over time—can go unnoticed without continuous monitoring. For organizations to maintain security, a proactive approach is essential.
What is SSPM?
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) Security Posture Management (SSPM) is a category of security capabilities designed to track security risks within SaaS applications. SSPMs continuously monitor and manage risks across configurations, user roles, and SaaS-to-SaaS integrations. Misconfigurations, unused user accounts and data shares, excessive user privileges, compliance risks, and other cloud security issues are all detected by SSPM security. Unlike CASBs, SSPMs are designed to address SaaS-specific challenges, providing comprehensive security by:
Configuration Management
Continuously monitoring and analyzing security configurations to detect and address misconfigurations, before they lead to incidents.
Non-Human Identity Management
Enabling visibility and control over SaaS-to-SaaS interconnections, particularly for non-human identities like OAuth tokens and APIs.
Compliance Support
Aligning SaaS configurations with security best practices, allowing organizations to detect and address issues quickly.
Unlike CASBs, SSPMs go beyond basic access control, giving organizations a proactive way to manage security posture across all applications and configurations.
Key Reasons Organizations are Shifting from CASB to SSPM
Valence’s report also highlights a major shift in tool adoption. Today, 52% of organizations use CASBs, while 48% have adopted SSPMs. This near-parity is a testament to the increasing recognition of SSPM’s value in addressing SaaS-specific risks.
SSPMs provide a preventive layer of protection by continuously monitoring configurations, detecting deviations from secure states, and enforcing security policies to reduce the risk of misconfiguration-based vulnerabilities. This proactive approach significantly reduces the time to detect and remediate issues.
Choosing Between CASB and SSPM: When to Use Each Solution
Understanding the strengths and limitations of each solution helps organizations make informed choices:
- When CASB is Sufficient: If an organization’s primary focus is user access control, DLP, and monitoring basic app usage, CASB may meet those needs.
- When SSPM is Essential: For organizations that rely on complex SaaS environments, need visibility into configuration-specific risks, or face challenges with SaaS-to-SaaS interconnectivity, SSPM provides the advanced protection required.
In summary, choosing between CASB vs. SSPM depends on your organization's specific needs, but both are essential components of a holistic SaaS security strategy. By understanding these differences, organizations can confidently select SaaS security solutions that align with their unique environments and security requirements.
