Software as a Service (SaaS) is one of the most popular business models in the world. Developers host these applications, you sign up for them, and then you can perform any task that the software offers.
For example, Mint.com, Microsoft One Drive and Google Docs are all SaaS solutions.
Since SaaS products are hosted on the developer's own hosting environment, there’s a good chance you won’t need a cybersecurity company in Miami to review your network. However, if you’re not safe when using these solutions, you can be involved in a data breach.
Discuss Access Management with Your SaaS Provider
Your SaaS provider has an obligation to provide you with a security-centric environment. However, there are thousands of solutions, and some providers are less reputable than others.
One of the questions to ask the provider is how they deal with access management.
Ask the provider:
- What form of access management exists?
- Is anyone in the company allowed to access your data?
If you’re the only one able to access the data, it will be more secure.
Use a Unique Password
When signing up for the platform, be sure to use a 100% unique password. If the SaaS provider is hacked or there is a data breach, they may steal your password. Additionally, if you reuse a password that you use on multiple platforms, a hacker may try to see if the password works on the SaaS site.
It's always best to use a unique password that you change every three months when using a SaaS provider.
Reusing passwords is one of the easiest ways to become a victim of identity theft or provide hackers with access to your SaaS account, email, financial institutions and more.
Enable Two-factor Authentication
If two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, exists, you should enable it. This form of authentication protects your data in ways that a password cannot. If someone does gain access to your password, 2FA may send a text message to your phone to verify that it is you trying to log into the account.
Adding this extra layer of protection is one of the most important security measures that you can follow.
However, if there’s a data breach involving the SaaS provider, your information may still be accessible if the SaaS provider does not encrypt the data properly.
Choose a Reputable SaaS Provider
Finally, you want to do your due diligence when choosing a SaaS provider. Unfortunately, there is always a risk that the provider is not following security best practices. However, if you choose a well-known SaaS company, there’s a good chance that they:
- Use security best practices
- Run security audits on their systems
- Work to harden their systems and application
Something as simple as a misconfiguration or failing to encrypt data can cause you to become a victim of a cyberattack or data breach. Data should be stored on secure servers, best practices ought to be followed and your service agreement should include information on data backups, disaster recovery and uptime guarantees.
If your system does need to be analyzed, contact us to speak to an expert in cybersecurity in Miami.