The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sector is rapidly expanding. Experts also predict that the business will be worth more than $60.36 billion by 2023. The majority of businesses have embraced or plan to use a SaaS model. SaaS can easily save costs and enhance scalability.
If you are running a SaaS business, you must know how to secure your SaaS application. Nowadays we can see so many different cyberattacks. Many SaaS businesses struggle to secure their organization and are at risk of a cyber-attack.
Why is SaaS Security Important?
- Cloud Service Protocols: SaaS security will assist you in complying with cloud service requirements such as ISO-27001 or GDPR. Various organizations establish these to protect sensitive information. This will help you gain customer/user confidence while also lowering the risk of a cyber attack.
- Shared Responsibility: SaaS security is the responsibility of both the provider and the user. As a result, the user must ensure the security of their data, operating systems, and software stacks. The SaaS provider, on the other hand, is responsible for the infrastructure, physical security, virtual machines, and so on.
- Access: SaaS apps are designed to be accessible from any place. This includes using public WiFi and using infected devices. You must conduct web application security testing to disclose vulnerabilities in your SaaS app.
5 Security Plugins For SaaS
Security plugins are very useful software add-ons that either contain some or all of the functions of a security tool or service. Plugins can be extremely handy as they can even alert you when a threat is found on your system. The following are some of the best security plugins you need to have:
1. Burp Suite Plugin
Burp Suite is a set of tools that are developed by Portswigger. It provides a range of functions that are useful in securing your SaaS application. With over 55,000 active users, Burp Suite is one of the most popular security services. The add-ons provided by Burp Suite are called BApps.
Burp Suite performs quick and efficient scans with fewer requests. It also identifies vulnerabilities, uploads and tests new payloads, finds unkeyed inputs, etc. The plugins also add content renderers to the HTTP message viewer.
It is also very easy to install. Just go to the BApp Store, browse and find the extension you like, and click install.
2. Nessus Plugin
Nessus is a very popular vulnerability assessment tool that is created by Tenable. It has the least false positivity rate in comparison to other similar tools. Nessus Plugins are written in Nessus Attack Scripting Language(NASL).
Nessus plugins can test for attacks and vulnerabilities. It is also programmed with some remediation steps. Every 24 hours, Nessus upgrades its plugins automatically. You may, however, manually update it as well. It also releases new plugins with new and improved functionalities very frequently.
You can manually install the plugins by using the following command:
nessuscli fetch —register
3. Metasploit Plugin
Metasploit is one of the best to identify systematic vulnerabilities. It is developed by a company called Rapid7. Metasploit can help you with planning and reconnaissance while pentesting. It can also prioritize attacks and help in remediation.
Metasploit plugins work with API to extend functionalities. They automate specific tasks like vulnerability scanning and make it less tedious.
At the moment, the most popular Metasploit plugin is Pentest Plugin. It is very helpful during pentesting as it collects information and keeps a log of the actions completed on the system. It also helps in creating the analysis report.
4. Astra Security
Astra security plugin is just perfect for SaaS businesses. It follows the OWASP standards for security to the T. It is known for good quality service and increased customer satisfaction.
To improve functionalities, Astra security also has plugins. Astra protects your website from SQL injections, XSS, bad bots, DoS attacks, file intrusion, and pentesting so much more.
5. Arachni Plugin
Arachni is a free, Ruby-based web application vulnerability scanner. It scores really high on the WIVETv3 coverage benchmark. Its main functionality is scanning for web application vulnerabilities. It scans for vulnerabilities like SQLi, XSS, file intrusion, unvalidated redirects, etc.
Arachni plugins make it easy to add arbitrary functionalities to the existing system. The plugins can analyze the response and requests of the web application and browser. They can also send notifications when any scan is complete or if anything suspicious is found.
Arachni also has default and meta plugins. The default plugins will start working automatically during scans. Meta plugins scan the results of other processes and determine their trustworthiness.
Final Thoughts
Security is incredibly important for a SaaS business owner. There are so many things you can do to strengthen security in your SaaS application. One of those things is installing a good security plugin. Plugins provide some or all of the functions of a security suite. This article introduces you to some popular SaaS security plugins.