As businesses increasingly integrate Software as a Service (SaaS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into their operations, several security challenges have emerged that demand immediate attention and innovative solutions. Grip Security’s “2025 SaaS Security Risks” report, released on October 23, 2024, sheds light on these complexities, particularly emphasizing the critical vulnerabilities posed by unmanaged applications and user accounts. The study presents a daunting picture where traditional security measures fall short in coping with the rise of unmanaged SaaS applications and AI tools, a trend that shows no sign of slowing down.
A remarkable theme in the report is the escalating “SaaS risk creep,” where the surge in unmanaged applications incrementally heightens overall vulnerability. Over two years, enterprises have seen a 40% uptick in SaaS applications, coupled with an alarming 85% increase in SaaS accounts per employee. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that 73% of provisioned users fail to utilize their SaaS licenses, indicating not just wastage but a potential security hazard. AI tools such as ChatGPT are also widely used, with a presence in 96% of analyzed organizations. However, while 42% of popular AI applications possess SAML capabilities, 80% of these are neither managed nor federated with the SAML protocol, raising substantial security risks.
Understanding SaaS and AI Risks
The report highlights the burgeoning issue of Shadow SaaS and Shadow AI, denoting applications and tools that operate beyond the purview of IT departments. This lack of oversight is not just a minor inconvenience but a significant risk vector for data breaches, non-compliance, operational inefficiencies, and unintentional information leaks. According to Gartner, by 2027, 75% of employees will be utilizing technology not supervised by IT, underlining the urgent need for innovative security strategies. Current investments in solutions like Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) have proven insufficient, often generating excessive data noise and false positives that obscure genuine threats rather than illuminate them.
Grip Security advocates for a shift towards an identity-driven security strategy to manage SaaS risks effectively. By involving multiple departments beyond just IT and security teams, organizations can foster a more cohesive and robust security framework. This approach aligns with the vast benefits and widespread adoption of SaaS and AI tools in modern enterprises, emphasizing an identity-centric strategy that offers both empowerment and risk management. Real-time visibility and comprehensive risk governance go hand-in-hand to create a secure and productive enterprise environment.
Implementing Comprehensive Security Solutions
Grip Security’s findings stem from anonymized data collected via their SaaS Security Control Plane (SSCP) solution, involving over 29 million SaaS user accounts, 1.7 million identities, and 23,987 SaaS applications. The risks outlined in their report are neither theoretical nor isolated incidents but reflect actual challenges faced by large enterprises, including notable breaches in companies like Snowflake and Microsoft. The research underscores the necessity for businesses to evolve their security measures to mirror the rapid evolution and adoption of SaaS technologies. By doing so, they can better safeguard sensitive data, ensure regulatory compliance, optimize resources, and drive innovation while mitigating associated risks.
The call to action within the report is clear: organizations must revise their SaaS security strategies to keep pace with modern threats. This includes adopting real-time visibility tools to monitor applications actively and implementing comprehensive risk governance practices. Such measures should be deeply integrated into the organizational structure, facilitating cross-departmental collaboration that ensures no aspect of SaaS or AI usage goes unmonitored or unmanaged. This proactive stance is instrumental in maintaining security without stifling the innovative potential that these technologies bring to modern business operations.
A Collaborative Approach for the Future
The growing reliance on SaaS and AI tools necessitates a collaborative approach to security that transcends traditional organizational silos. Involving departments beyond IT and security, such as human resources, finance, and legal, is critical for developing a holistic security framework. This collaborative effort ensures that security risks are identified and managed from multiple angles, mitigating the chances of oversight. By fostering a culture where security is viewed as a shared responsibility, organizations can more effectively combat the evolving threats posed by unmanaged applications.
Organizations must also remain agile, adapting their security strategies as new risks emerge and technology evolves. This agility is crucial for maintaining a strong security posture in an environment where threats are continually changing. The integration of real-time monitoring tools and advanced analytics can provide the necessary insights to stay ahead of potential security risks. As technologies like AI and SaaS continue to evolve, so too must the strategies employed to protect them. Embracing this continuous cycle of improvement is essential for ensuring long-term security and compliance.
Conclusion
As businesses increasingly adopt Software as a Service (SaaS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, they face new security challenges that require urgent and innovative solutions. Grip Security’s “2025 SaaS Security Risks” report, released on October 23, 2024, highlights these issues, focusing on vulnerabilities from unmanaged applications and user accounts. Traditional security measures are proving inadequate as the number of unmanaged SaaS applications and AI tools continues to rise.
A key theme in the report is the growing “SaaS risk creep,” where an increase in unmanaged applications gradually escalates overall vulnerability. Over the past two years, companies have experienced a 40% rise in SaaS applications and an 85% surge in SaaS accounts per employee. Alarmingly, 73% of provisioned users do not use their SaaS licenses, not only wasting resources but also posing security risks. AI tools like ChatGPT are prevalent in 96% of the organizations studied. However, while 42% of popular AI applications have SAML capabilities, 80% lack management or federation with the SAML protocol, creating significant security concerns.