Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

Meta Commentary:

CASB providers are starting to bundle up their services into SASE solutions. While this is an understandable evolution, practitioners and decisionmakers are encouraged to read our Buyer’s Guide to better evaluate vendors selling SASE.

Definition:

A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is a security solution that provides security and compliance enforcement for cloud services. CASBs are designed to address the security challenges posed by the increasing use of cloud services, such as SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.

CASBs sit between cloud service users and the cloud service provider, acting as an intermediary that monitors and controls access to cloud services. They provide visibility into cloud usage, enforce security policies, and protect sensitive data in the cloud.

CASBs provide a range of security and compliance features, such as data loss prevention (DLP), threat protection, encryption, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). They also provide reporting and analytics capabilities, making it easier for organizations to track and manage their cloud usage.

Pros:

1. Improved security: CASBs provide an additional layer of security for cloud-based applications, helping to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
2. Increased visibility: CASBs provide real-time visibility into cloud-based application usage, making it easier to detect and respond to security incidents.
3. Compliance enforcement: CASBs can enforce compliance with security policies and regulations, helping organizations to maintain a high level of security in the cloud.
4. Improved data protection: CASBs can help to protect sensitive data in the cloud, reducing the risk of data breaches and loss.
5. Centralized management: CASBs provide a centralized point of control for cloud-based application security, simplifying management and reducing complexity.

Cons:

1. Performance overhead: CASBs can add latency to cloud-based application access, reducing performance and user experience.
2. Increased cost: CASBs can add additional costs to cloud-based application usage, especially for organizations with large numbers of users or applications.
3. Complexity: CASBs can be complex to deploy and manage, requiring specialized skills and expertise to implement and maintain.
4. Interoperability issues: CASBs may not be compatible with all existing systems and infrastructure, requiring significant effort and resources to integrate.
5. False positives: CASBs may generate false positive security alerts, leading to unnecessary remediation efforts and disruption to cloud-based application usage.