Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is transforming the way organizations access, manage, and secure cloud applications and services. It’s a technology that provides security and governance to cloud-based applications and infrastructure. However, some confusion still exists about how CASB works, what it does, and what it cannot do. In this blog, we will discuss CASB from a technical point of view, explaining what it is, and importantly, what it is not.

CASB is an advanced cloud security solution that acts as a gatekeeper between an organization’s network and cloud-based infrastructure. It operates by enforcing security policies and user controls, such as access and authentication policies. For example, if an employee tries to access a cloud-based application from an unsecured network, CASB can deny the access and restricts the user to launch the app until they connect to a secure network. CASB ensures that users meet the security requirements before accessing the cloud application, creating an extra layer of security on top of the application.

CASB is not a replacement for cloud provider security. Rather, it ensures that cloud application security is up to standard and meets relevant industry regulations and compliance standards. CASBs work by integrating with multiple cloud services such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office365, and Salesforce to provide visibility, governance, and control over cloud services. CASBs are designed to automatically inspect all traffic between the cloud provider and the user, solving any issues related to data usage policy, compliance, and data leakage prevention.

It’s important to note that CASB is also not a silver bullet. It does not provide full protection against all cyber threats, and human error is still a significant risk factor. CASB offers an extra layer of security, but users could still engage in activities that make them more susceptible to phishing attacks, malware, or data breach. Additionally, CASB doesn’t guarantee network security, which means that the user still needs to implement a multi-level defense strategy that covers the full spectrum of cyber threats.

We hope that this blog has provided insight into what a CASB is and what it isn’t. Remember, it’s an innovative solution that provides security control and visibility over cloud applications. It’s not the only security solution, and it doesn’t guarantee network security. Therefore, organizations should develop a comprehensive security strategy that combines CASB with other security solutions to protect against the latest cyber threats. Overall, it’s important to keep up to date with the latest industry trends and take security measures to safeguard your cloud infrastructure from attackers.

In 2023, some of the top CASB solutions available on the market are Microsoft Cloud App Security, Bitglass, Zscaler, and Trend Micro Cloud App Security. These solutions offer comprehensive cloud security features, such as cloud application control, data encryption and loss prevention, user and entity behavior analytics, and automated policy enforcement and compliance monitoring. They provide businesses with granular visibility and control over their cloud environments and support multiple cloud services, including SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, and hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.