SDx Central: Cloud Security Alliance releases SaaS and AI-Risk report for mid-market organizations

Source URL: https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/cloud-security-alliance-releases-saas-and-ai-risk-report-for-mid-market-organizations/
Source: SDx Central
Title: Cloud Security Alliance releases SaaS and AI-Risk report for mid-market organizations

Feedly Summary: Cloud Security Alliance releases SaaS and AI-Risk report for mid-market organizations

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text discusses the challenges mid-market organizations face in securing SaaS applications amidst increasing digital risks, as highlighted by a new report from the Cloud Security Alliance. The report indicates a gap in security prioritization and suggests a need for improved visibility and automated processes to close vulnerabilities.

Detailed Description: The report from the Cloud Security Alliance, created in collaboration with Wing Security, emphasizes the evolving SaaS security landscape for mid-market organizations. These companies often struggle with expanding SaaS applications and limited resources, leading to gaps in security and visibility.

– Key Issues Identified:
– **Limited Security Prioritization**: Only 44% of organizations prioritize security for all sanctioned SaaS applications and only 17% for unsanctioned ones, signifying a visibility gap.
– **Challenges in Resource Allocation**: Mid-market organizations face constraints in financial and personnel resources, impacting their ability to manage security effectively.
– **Need for Enhanced Visibility**: Hillary Baron from CSA stresses the importance of technologies that improve visibility, automation, and vulnerability management.
– **Automation and Configuration Management**: About 28% of organizations are looking to automate configuration management across all applications.
– **AI-Related Threats Concerns**: Despite rising concerns regarding AI-related threats, only half of the organizations have dedicated teams to mitigate these risks, indicating an accountability gap.
– **Budget Allocation**: Nearly 90% of organizations intend to increase their IT security budgets, yet only 3% of companies have pointed budget lines for SaaS security in their financial planning.

– **Implications for Security Professionals**:
– Organizations need to better align IT, security, and business priorities to fortify defenses against threats.
– Investments in specialized technologies for visibility and automation are critical.
– There is a pressing need for mid-market companies to develop comprehensive security budgets that allocate funds specifically for SaaS security.

This report highlights significant gaps and opportunities for mid-market organizations in prioritizing SaaS security, underscoring the necessity for strategic investments and enhanced operational practices in managing digital risks effectively. The full report is accessible via the CSA’s website for those looking to delve deeper into the findings.