Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is control access and overlaying security to SaaS applications. CASB acts as an intermediary between an organization’s on-premises infrastructure and its cloud-based applications and services. The primary purpose of a CASB is to enhance the security of data and applications that are stored and accessed in cloud environments.

CASBs provide visibility to not only what SaaS applications users are accessing but can also what users are doing within the SaaS application.

Banyan offers frictionless device-trust security layer to existing single-sign-on, eliminating risks associated with phishing attacks and account takeover. As a result, our CASB provides a range of security controls and monitoring capabilities to help organizations secure their cloud resources.

Here are some examples of how CASBs are used:

1. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): CASBs can monitor and control the movement of sensitive data between the organization and cloud services. For instance, if an employee tries to upload a file containing sensitive customer information to a cloud storage service, the CASB can detect this and block the action or encrypt the data before it’s uploaded.
2. Access Control and Authentication: CASBs can enforce access policies and multi-factor authentication for cloud applications. For example, if a user tries to access a cloud-based email service from an unfamiliar location or device, the CASB can prompt for additional authentication steps to ensure the user’s identity.
3. Shadow IT Discovery: CASBs can identify and report on the use of unsanctioned or “shadow” cloud services within an organization. This helps IT teams gain visibility into potentially risky activities and take appropriate action to secure data and applications.
4. Malware and Threat Detection: CASBs can scan files and data in real-time for malware or suspicious activity. If a document with malware is uploaded to a cloud storage service, the CASB can quarantine or remove the infected file.
5. Encryption and Tokenization: CASBs often offer encryption and tokenization services to protect data at rest and in transit. This ensures that even if a cloud service experiences a security breach, the data remains secure and unintelligible to unauthorized users.
6. Activity Monitoring and Auditing: CASBs provide detailed logs and reports on user activities within cloud applications. This is valuable for compliance purposes and for investigating security incidents.
7. Compliance and Governance: CASBs help organizations enforce regulatory compliance and data governance policies in cloud environments. For example, they can ensure that data stored in the cloud complies with GDPR, HIPAA, or other industry-specific regulations.
8. Threat Intelligence Integration: CASBs often integrate with threat intelligence feeds to identify and respond to emerging threats and vulnerabilities in real-time.
9. Secure Collaboration: CASBs can provide secure collaboration features within cloud applications. For instance, they may enable users to share files securely with external partners or customers while maintaining control over access and permissions.
10. API Integration: CASBs can integrate with cloud service provider APIs to gain deeper visibility and control over cloud environments.

Overall, CASBs play a crucial role in helping organizations securely adopt and manage cloud services by providing enhanced visibility, control, and security for their cloud-based resources and data.