What is Cloud Access Security Broker? All You Need To Know

The promise of flexibility and productivity draw people to cloud services, but the extra security risks they bring make it tricky for organizations to transition from on-premises applications.

Companies that care deeply about compliance and security encounter friction when migrating to the cloud. Some see it as losing control over data on their on-premise servers, adding more security risks. Cloud access security brokers (CASB) help companies like this protect their data and ensure security when employees use cloud applications. Cloud access security brokers become a bridge between the company’s network and the cloud by enforcing the organization’s security policies and monitoring all interactions. 

But what is CASB? Let's learn more about cloud access security broker, CASB benefits, challenges, and more. 

Organizations use CASBs to make certain that only authorized people can access cloud resources, sending out alerts whenever they observe a potential threat. Many cloud access security broker solutions include features like data encryption and malware detection to further empower organizations to improve their security posture, gain better control over their cloud resources, and comply with security policies and regulations. 

What are the 4 pillars of CASB? 

By understanding these four pillars of CASB, organizations can effectively secure their cloud environments, protect sensitive data, and mitigate risks. Below are the four pillars of a cloud access security broker. 

1. Visibility

You have to go beyond allowing or blocking access to resources when it comes to managing cloud services . Your CASB solution should monitor all activities and data, and permit your team to access important services. For example, a proper CASB gives access to G Suite services on an organization’s devices, but limits email access on devices it doesn’t manage. 

The value of CASB offers more than protection against security threats; it also guarantees financial safety. The solution makes it easy to discover all cloud services, helping companies manage their cloud spend. It assists you with: 

• Recognizing the indispensable resources for your team. If they’re software, you can proceed with a multi-year contract, reducing costs. 
• Determining which tools are in daily use. Then, you can work with your team to understand their day-to-day benefits. If they benefit from it, increase their use to maximize your investments' value. 
• Finding ideal licenses in your system. If your team doesn’t use them or has migrated to a new system, you can remove these licenses to cut costs.

2. Compliance

Compliance remains a concern in data migration decisions. You must meet certain data storage and processing standards to stay on the up-and-up with industry regulations. Even though compliance standards might feel restrictive sometimes, they exist to stop you from falling victim to costly data breaches.  Cloud access security brokers can help monitor user behavior and detect deviations from established norms, alerting security teams to potential threats. 

Cloud access security brokers have relevant controls and checks to avoid security risks that might prevent you from following regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or adhering to payment card industry (PCI) compliance. 

3. Data security

When a cloud access security broker detects sensitive content, any suspected violations can be moved to an organization’s on-premises systems for analysis. The CASB acts like a gatekeeper by preventing malicious activities from escalating to the cloud. The solution adds data loss prevention (DLP) mechanisms like document fingerprinting and reduces the detection surface area using context such as user, location, activity, etc. 

CASBs enforce granular access controls, limiting who can access data and what actions they can perform.

4. Threat protection

Malware and threats can propagate through cloud storage services. CASBs allow you to scan and remediate problems in real time. They combine prioritized static and dynamic malware analysis for advanced threat protection. They employ advanced threat detection techniques like User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to identify anomalous behavior. CASBs also leverage threat intelligence feeds to stay updated on the latest threats and implement measures to mitigate them.

CASB use cases

CASBs offer a wide range of use cases to enhance cloud security and compliance. Here are some of the CASB use cases. 

• Governing usage. A CASB adds granular visibility about how people and systems use cloud resources. It gives you more control to govern usage based on your chosen parameters. You’ll be able to define policies based on service category or risk and take appropriate action according to those guidelines. 
• Data protection. CASBs secure sensitive data across your cloud environment, sanctioned or unsanctioned, with users accessing it remotely, through a mobile device, or through a web browser. 
• Protection against threats. CASBs safeguard your organization's cloud resources against threats like malware and ransomware. They take into account several threat intelligence sources, and use a malware detection layer and machine learning to detect different types of cyber attacks on your site. 

CASB benefits

CASB helps organizations enforce security policies in their cloud environment. The benefits of these solutions include: 

• Shadow IT assessment and management. CASBs allow your IT department to identify unapproved IT assets. They limit shadow IT usage and protect you against its security risks. 

• Data loss prevention (DLP). CASBs enforce security policies that prevent users or systems from sharing sensitive data like credit cards or social security numbers. 

• Risk assessment. You can see unsanctioned applications and identify the risks so you can take steps to avert them. 

• Threat prevention. It lets you know about unusual behavior across cloud applications to quickly spot ransomware, compromised users, and rouge applications. 

• URL filtering. CASB solutions recognize websites that attackers use for phishing or malware attacks. 

• Packet inspection. Inspects the data in and out of a network for sketchy activities. 

• Sandboxing. Some solutions come with a sandboxing feature, to allow users to run code and programs in an isolated environment to determine whether they’re dangerous to the system. 

Challenges of cloud access security brokers 

Below are some common challenges organizations face while working with CASBs.

• Integrations. You must ensure your CASB solution integrates seamlessly with all your systems and environments. This gives you complete visibility over authorized and unauthorized IT. 

• Scalability. CASB solutions work with huge volumes of data, so ensure the vendor you’re considering can scale with your business and the systems involved. 

• Risk mitigation. Not every CASB solution on the market can block threats after finding them. You should check with your vendor to see if risk mitigation capabilities are available in their CASB solution. 

How to implement a CASB

Implementing a CASB is a strategic move to enhance your organization's cloud security posture. To effectively implement a CASB, follow these key steps:

• Assess your cloud environment: Conduct a thorough inventory of all cloud services being used. This includes both sanctioned and unsanctioned applications. Evaluate your organization's specific security needs, such as data loss prevention, threat protection, and compliance. Identify potential security risks, including data breaches, unauthorized access, and insider threats.
• Select a CASB solution: Research different CASB vendors and compare their features, pricing, and support. Choose a solution that aligns with your organization's specific needs and can integrate seamlessly with your existing security infrastructure. 
• Plan the deployment: Develop a detailed deployment plan, outlining the steps involved, timelines, and resource allocation. Configure specific policies and rules for data loss prevention, threat protection, and access control.
• Implement the CASB: Install the CASB software and configure it according to your organization's specific requirements. Integrate the CASB with your cloud service providers and set up user access controls, including authentication and authorization policies.

Top 5 CASB software solutions 

At G2, we rank software solutions using a proprietary algorithm that considers customer satisfaction and market presence based on authentic user reviews.

To qualify for inclusion in the Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) software list, a product must:

• Facilitate safe and secure connections between cloud service providers and end users
• Enforce security policies in local networks and infrastructure.
• Safeguard connected devices against cloud-based threats and malware. 

* These are the leading CASB solution providers from G2’s Summer 2024 Grid Report. Some reviews might have been edited for clarity. 

1. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps gives users comprehensive real-time visibility and control over cloud applications. You can monitor how people interact with applications on the cloud, which makes it easier to identify suspicious activity. The tool integrates with other Microsoft security solutions to improve your overall security posture. 

What users like best:

“I like how MDCA protects the sensitive data in all integrated cloud applications from leaving the network. The dashboard's customization is impressive. Using the dashboard templates, we can showcase many granular details.”

- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Review, Arunkumar K. 

What users dislike:

“Microsoft Defender user interface can be challenging to navigate, requiring time to understand its features.”

- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Review, Shashank G.

2. FortiCASB

FortiCASB allows organizations to monitor user activities and manage compliance risks in the cloud. IT teams can use FortiCASB to quickly set up security policies within an easy-to-use user interface. 

What users like best:

“FortiCASB is best for cloud security as a broker service. It helps secure data in the cloud, manages access control, and is easy to manage because it has a handy console.”

- FortiCASB Review, Deendayal G.

What users dislike:

“Customizing whitelisting options has some limitations. Advanced features such as inspection for data stored in software as a service and infrastructure as a service are lacking."

- FortiCASB Review, Max L. 

3. Avast Secure Internet Gateway

Avast Secure Internet Gateway offers reliable threat detection capabilities to combat malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats. The solution quickly delivers updates to help you keep your defense current against new cloud vulnerabilities and security risks. 

What users like best:

“It's everything you can expect out of a solution for secure web filtering. We used it to improve our network cybersecurity efforts by hosting a rather small ecosystem (>75 devices). It's fast and easy to set up and backed up by Avast industry expertise.” 

- Avast Secure Internet Gateway Review, Keylor A. 

What users dislike:

“Like any other security solution out there, some filters might cause the system to slow down. Can be a bit annoying sometimes when in a rush.”

- Avast Secure Internet Gateway Review, Chinmay V. 

4. Citrix Secure Workspace Access

Citrix Secure Workspace Access lets IT teams manage access permissions and consistently track user activity and behavior. The tool integrates with existing infrastructure to make deployment simple. 

What users like best:

“Citrix Secure Access allows me to work everywhere with peace of mind about data security. This platform solution is trusted by all the employers I have worked for. I can connect to my workstation frequently without errors during the day.”

- Citrix Secure Workspace Access, Marcus Joshua S.

What users dislike:

“Integration is a bit challenging, and setting up and configuring Citrix ADC is also daunting. The system's wide range of features and capabilities may pose a more significant challenge for administrators, particularly those unfamiliar with it.”

- Citrix Secure Workspace Access, Sarhan S.

5. Symantec Web Security.cloud

Symantec Web Security.cloud uses advanced filtering techniques to block malware and other threats to your cloud environment. It offers detailed reporting and analytics tools to empower organizations to manage their security posture effectively. The solution protects data and individuals within cloud environments. 

What users like best:

“The Endpoint Manager is a standout feature, letting you manage policies for virus protection, firewall, and exceptions in different areas. The flexibility in deploying clients on servers or standalone packages makes it a good fit for different types of businesses. I also like that you can tweak the settings to turn specific threat notifications on or off. The support is also responsive, and they do the job.”

- Symantec Web Security.cloud Review, Karanveer S.

What users dislike:

“I think it causes a lot of battery drain because it is active continuously in the background. I have to force a shutdown to stop it from taking up a lot of battery and RAM.”

- Symantec Web Security.cloud Review, Abhijeet G.

Keep your cloud environments secure

You already understand that you have to take the right measures to secure and safeguard your resources as you transition your business to the cloud. Adopting a CASB solution will show you a comprehensive overview of sanctioned and unsanctioned IT assets, detect unusual employee behavior, and help you comply with relevant regulations. You’ll have eyes on what everyone is up to in the cloud to guarantee the strength of your cyber security.. 

Learn more about cloud security posture management (CSPM) and how it differs from other cloud solutions.