Cyberattacks are relentless today, with over 2,200 breaches occurring every day—that’s one every 39 seconds. Aside from the staggering need for cybersecurity to prevent these attacks, there are two other drivers of the growing popularity of SECaaS or Security-as-a-Service Providers.
One is the all-pervading emergence of cloud computing, and the other is the increasing adoption of DevOps environments.
Small companies without huge security teams, faster SDLC, and bootstrapped tech start-ups find it challenging to incorporate solid security practices into their regular functionality.
To make security simpler and more accessible to them, they hire security-as-a-service providers.
Top 5 Security-as-a-Service Providers
Who are Security-as-a-Service Providers?
Security-as-a-Service providers offer a subscription model for delivering cybersecurity solutions through the cloud. The provider has high domain expertise and the infrastructure to provide end-to-end protection. They combine threat intelligence, endpoint protection, cloud security, and identity and access management services.
SECaaS offers various services, from threat detection and incident response to data loss prevention. By outsourcing security management, organizations can focus on core business activities. This is especially useful for smaller companies with small security teams.
Why Astra is the best in pentesting?
- We’re the only company that combines automated & manual pentest to create a one-of-a-kind pentest platform.
- Vetted scans ensure zero false positives.
- Our intelligent vulnerability scanner emulates hacker behavior & evolves with every pentest.
- Astra’s scanner helps you shift left by integrating with your CI/CD.
- Our platform helps you uncover, manage & fix vulnerabilities in one place.
- Trusted by the brands you trust like Agora, Spicejet, Muthoot, Dream11, etc.
7 Risks Security Providers Can Prevent
1. Data Loss
Data breaches can cause financial losses, reputation damage, and regulatory penalties. SECaaS providers implement data protection through encryption, setting up access controls, and data backup provisions to prevent unauthorized access and data loss.
2. Regulatory Compliance Violations
Grappling through several complex cybersecurity regulations can be overwhelming, and achieving compliance is challenging. Hiring a security service provider with expertise in compliance frameworks like GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, SOC 2, and PCI DSS will help you implement the requirements and attain compliance.
3. Compromised Credentials
Security-as-a-Service providers employ advanced authentication techniques, multi-factor authentication, and identity and access management solutions that protect their credentials if they get leaked or stolen.
4. Hacked APIs
APIs have quickly become common cybercrime targets, so you should look for a security provider specializing in API security solutions. They should provide API discovery and protection against common API vulnerabilities such as injection, broken authentication, and sensitive data exposure.
5. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
APTs are highly advanced attacks that can usually bypass traditional security measures. Protection against them involves SECaaS providers identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities using modern threat detection and response capabilities like behavioral analytics and threat intelligence.
6. Hijacked Accounts or Traffic
Account hijacking and traffic re-directions can disrupt operations and lead to data breaches. To combat this risk, SECaaS providers deploy network security solutions like intrusion detection and prevention systems to analyze network traffic for any anomaly that indicates unauthorized access.
7. Denial of Service (DoS)/Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
DoS and DDoS attacks can affect even the most secure online services. By employing DDoS protection services, including mitigation techniques like rate limiting, traffic scrubbing, and load balancing to ensure service availability, DoS attacks can be prevented.
Astra Pentest is built by the team of experts that helped secure Microsoft, Adobe, Facebook, and Buffer
5 Security-as-a-Service Providers in Different Categories
Feature | Astra Security | Qualys | Proofpoint |
---|---|---|---|
Core Focus | Web Application Security | Network Security, Vulnerability Management | Email Security, Threat Protection |
VAPT | Yes | No | No |
CI/CD Integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Zero False Positives | Yes (with vetted scans) | No | No |
Remediation Assistance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Compliance Specific Scans | Yes | Yes | Yes |
1. Web Application Security Testing
Web application security testing can involve a combination of continuous vulnerability scanning and penetration testing.
The goals are simple: find the vulnerabilities in a web application’s security, assess the risk associated with each vulnerability, prioritize them according to the threat level, and fix them.
It’s complex to track every new vulnerability that emerges, every software that needs an update, every third-party vendor that might pose a risk, or every API that behaves oddly. Use a security testing company that can analyze your security posture, create a detailed report, and help you fix the issues quickly.
Our Top Pick: Astra Security
Key Features:
- Platform: SaaS
- Pentest Capabilities: Continuous automated scans with 9300+ tests and manual pentests
- Accuracy: Zero false positives (with vetted scans)
- Compliance Scanning: OWASP, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, ISO27001, and SOC2
- Expert Remediation Assistance: Yes
- Publicly Verifiable Pentest Certification: Yes
- Workflow Integration: Slack, JIRA, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, and more
- Price: Starting at $1999/yr
Astra Security is a web app security testing provider that offers vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) services. We incorporate automated scanning and pentesting to identify even the most hidden vulnerabilities. We also provide VAPT for networks, mobile apps, APIs, and cloud infrastructures.
Astra’s vulnerability scanner runs over 9,300 tests to detect zero-day vulnerabilities, including security control checks, static and dynamic code analysis, configuration tests, server infrastructure testing, DevOps, and business logic testing.
We update this list of tests fortnightly to stay on top of emerging vulnerabilities. Additionally, our CXO-friendly dashboard allows direct platform interaction with development teams and provides continuous vulnerability tracking.
2. Cloud Access Security Brokerage
Cloud access security brokerages (CASBs) are vendors that sit between cloud providers and cloud users to ensure that each side is upholding its end of the shared responsibility model.
CASBs ensure that the infrastructure and operating systems are adequately protected by the cloud service provider and help the cloud users secure their data in the cloud.
They also ensure that both parties maintain compliance with industry standards and government-enforced regulations.
Our Top Pick: Oracle CASB
Key Features:
- Platform: SaaS
- Core Function: Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)
- Key Capabilities: Visibility into cloud environments (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), threat detection with user behavior analytics (UBA), automated incident response, etc.
Oracle CASB offers comprehensive cloud security by providing visibility into cloud environments, advanced threat detection using UBA and threat intelligence, and automated incident response.
It simplifies compliance management through configuration management and seeding while also integrating with existing security tools for enhanced protection.
3. Email Security
Many important data travels through your cloud-based email servers, the common target of several cyberattacks. Email can be the primary medium for phishing attacks, social engineering attacks, and clickjacking, so protecting your email servers is imperative.
Some security-as-a-service providers offer email security as a standalone service, while others offer it as part of a complete security package. You can choose the one that best suits you.
Our Top Pick: Proofpoint
Key Features:
- Platform: SaaS
- Core Function: Email Security, Threat Protection
- Key Capabilities: Advanced threat detection (machine learning, behavioral analysis), multi-layered email protection, data loss prevention (DLP), user education, threat intelligence, incident response, identity defense, and account takeover protection.
Proofpoint is a software that protects organizations from sophisticated email-borne threats. Their platform combines advanced threat detection, machine learning, and behavioral analysis with a multi-layered approach to email security.
In addition to traditional email filtering, Proofpoint offers DLP, user education, and identity defense capabilities. Focusing on preventing account takeover and stopping lateral movement, Proofpoint provides comprehensive protection against various email-based threats.
4. Network Security
Network security secures the entire network, including all the software and services running on the network. It requires a more unique and comprehensive suite of services than testing for a single application does.
SECaaS providers help you monitor the traffic in and out of your network and detect open ports, outdated software, or vulnerable services running on the network.
Our Top Pick: Qualys
Key Features:
- Platform: SaaS
- Core Function: Vulnerability Management, Detection, and Response (VMDR), Cloud Security, Compliance
- Key Capabilities: Asset discovery, vulnerability assessment, risk-based prioritization, remediation automation, compliance management, cloud workload protection, container security, and DevOps integration.
Qualys’ expertise lies in vulnerability management, detection, and response (VMDR). Its platform offers security services like asset discovery, vulnerability assessment, and risk-based prioritization.
They offer various network security services, including vulnerability management, continuous monitoring, threat protection, and compliance monitoring.
Vulnerability management helps identify and fix weaknesses in systems that attackers could exploit. Continuously monitoring your network can help detect and respond to threats in real-time, and threat protection helps defend your organization against attacks.
5. Single Sign-on
Single sign-on, or SSO, allows your organization’s members to access any cloud app owned by the organization with a single set of credentials. Google’s SSO is an example of this, and it is used by many people on several platforms; however, it isn’t a secure solution.
Companies like Okta allow IT administrators to control and manage access easily, set policies and exceptions quickly, and build a more secure environment for everyone.
Our Top Pick: Okta
Key Features:
- Platform: SaaS
- Core Function: Identity and Access Management (IAM), Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Key Capabilities: User authentication and authorization, identity governance and administration, multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on, identity provisioning, integration with various applications and identity providers.
Okta specializes in identity and access management (IAM) solutions, focusing strongly on single sign-on (SSO). Its platform enables organizations to manage user identities securely and provides easy access to applications and resources.
Okta offers many features, including user provisioning, de-provisioning, and lifecycle management, as well as advanced security capabilities like multi-factor authentication and adaptive authentication.
Final Thoughts
SECaaS providers have become vital for cloud-based apps and technology-based companies across industries. They make it easier and cheaper to manage and monitor the security of organizations of all shapes and sizes.
Outsourcing security functions allows organizations to focus on core competencies while benefiting from advanced threat protection and compliance support. When choosing your provider, consider the scope of services, expertise, compliance certifications, and customer support.
It is imperative that you choose the right security-as-a-service provider for your needs. Choose a service that integrates easily with your processes and secures your organization without reducing functionality.
It is one small security loophole v/s your entire website or web application.
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FAQs
1. What does a security service provider do?
A security service provider (SSP) offers outsourced cybersecurity solutions. They protect businesses from cyber threats by managing IT security, monitoring networks, and responding to incidents.
2. What is the difference between SECaaS and MSSP?
SECaaS (Security as a Service) is a broad term for cloud-based security solutions. MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) is a type of SECaaS that offers ongoing security management and monitoring services.
3. What is an ISP in security?
In security, an ISP (Internet Service Provider) typically refers to a company that offers internet connectivity with built-in security features like firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
4. What is the meaning of security as a service?
Security as a Service (SECaaS) is a cloud-based model in which a third-party provider delivers security solutions on a subscription basis. It offers services such as threat protection, data loss prevention, and more.