CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) and SSPM (SaaS Security Posture Management) are two distinct security solutions that are often confused due to their similar acronyms and the fact that they both focus on securing data in the cloud. CSPM is designed to secure data in cloud infrastructures such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, while SSPM is focused on securing SaaS applications like Salesforce, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace. While the two solutions have some overlapping features, they address different security concerns and complement each other to provide a comprehensive cloud security posture. In this context, it is essential for decision-makers to understand the differences between CSPM and SSPM, the value derived from each solution, and how they can work together to protect critical business components in the cloud.

What is CSPM?

CSPM stands for Cloud Security Posture Management, which is a security approach that enables organizations to identify and remediate security risks and compliance issues across their cloud environments. CSPM solutions typically provide automated tools for monitoring cloud resources, identifying misconfigurations and vulnerabilities, and enforcing security policies.

What is SSPM?

SSPM stands for Serverless Security Posture Management, which is a security approach that focuses on identifying and mitigating risks in serverless computing environments. SSPM solutions typically provide automated tools for monitoring serverless functions and APIs, identifying vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, and enforcing security policies.

 Both CSPM and SSPM are important security measures for organizations that operate in the cloud, as they help ensure that cloud-based systems and applications are secure and compliant with industry standards and regulations. However, while CSPM is a more general approach to cloud security, SSPM is specifically focused on serverless computing environments.

 Background:

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) are two different security solutions that focus on securing data in the cloud. While they may seem similar, they have different functions and purposes.

 CSPM is a security tool that monitors the security posture of cloud services hosted in Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) environments, such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. CSPMs scan cloud settings to identify any misconfigurations that could introduce elements of risk to the service. CSPMs are designed to provide compliance monitoring, DevOps, and dynamic cloud integration functionality.

 On the other hand, SSPM solutions like Adaptive Shield integrate with a company's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, such as Salesforce, Jira, and Microsoft 365, to provide visibility and control to the security teams and app managers for their SaaS stack. SSPMs deliver visibility into the settings of each application, providing a security score and alerting security teams and app owners when there are high-risk misconfigurations. SSPMs also provide a user inventory and device inventory to help manage risk from users and devices.

 It's important for organizations to understand the difference between CSPM and SSPM and how they complement each other. While CSPM focuses on securing cloud services in IaaS environments, SSPM focuses on securing SaaS applications. Together, CSPM and SSPM are essential components of a robust cloud security platform, helping organizations identify and remediate misconfigurations, manage third-party applications, detect configuration drifts, manage users, and comply with universal or industry standards.

Key Points:

CSPM:

• Focuses on securing data within public cloud environments like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure
• Monitors cloud settings and identifies misconfigurations that could introduce risk to the cloud service
• Provides compliance monitoring, DevOps, and dynamic cloud integration functionality
• Helps organizations identify vulnerable cloud configuration settings, assess data risk, and continually monitor cloud events in their cloud environment

SSPM:

• Focuses on securing data within SaaS applications like Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Jira, Zoom, Slack, etc.
• Provides visibility into the settings of each application and alerts security teams and app owners when there are high-risk misconfigurations
• Delivers compliance reports from the entire stack, rather than individual applications, and can help IT teams optimize their SaaS license spending
• Manages risk from users and devices, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the SaaS data
• Helps security teams monitor SaaS-to-SaaS access and manage third-party applications

Both CSPM and SSPM are important pieces of a robust cloud security platform and complement each other. Companies using multiple SaaS applications with multiple users need an SSPM solution to protect their data, while companies using cloud services like Azure, GCP, or AWS would be putting their operations at risk without a CSPM solution.

Examples and Evidence:

Examples of CSPM:

1. CloudFormation in AWS provides a tool to manage infrastructure as code. CSPMs like Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks, Dome9 by Check Point, and CloudCheckr offer an additional layer of security, enabling the identification of misconfigurations and compliance violations.
2. Azure Security Center provides a CSPM solution for the Azure cloud platform, with capabilities like threat detection and vulnerability assessment.

Evidence for CSPM:

1. According to a report by Gartner, CSPMs are a growing market, with a projected growth of 33.3% in 2021. This indicates that many organizations are recognizing the need for CSPMs to secure their cloud infrastructures.
2. Another report by Forrester indicates that CSPMs are effective at mitigating risks in cloud environments, reducing the attack surface, and helping organizations achieve compliance.

Examples of SSPM:

1. Adaptive Shield is an SSPM solution that integrates with SaaS applications like Salesforce, Jira, and Microsoft 365 to provide visibility and control over security settings.
2. Zscaler Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) is another example of an SSPM that offers comprehensive visibility and control over SaaS applications, enabling organizations to identify and remediate misconfigurations, manage third-party applications, and detect configuration drifts.

Evidence for SSPM:

1. According to a report by Gartner, the SSPM market is also growing, with a projected growth rate of 47.3% in 2021. This indicates that organizations are recognizing the importance of securing their SaaS applications.
2. Another report by Forrester states that SSPMs are essential for managing the security of SaaS applications, providing visibility, compliance, and risk management. The report also notes that SSPMs can help organizations optimize their SaaS spending by identifying unused licenses and monitoring usage patterns.

Conclusion: