Meeting Modern Security Standards with Cloud-Native SaaS

August 20, 2024

When a software application is natively built as a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution from inception, security is embedded into its architecture and development processes from the ground up. This foundational approach to security ensures that the application can meet modern security standards and adapt to evolving threats effectively. 


Key Points to Know: 


  • Security by Design: A SaaS application developed with cloud-first principles incorporates security measures into every layer of its architecture. This includes data encryption, access controls, identity management, and secure coding practices. The security design is not an afterthought but a core component of the application’s infrastructure. 
  • Data Encryption : SaaS solutions designed for the cloud typically include robust encryption protocols for data both at rest (stored data) and in transit (data being transferred). This ensures that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access or breaches. Encryption methods are usually compliant with industry standards, such as AES-256 for data encryption and TLS for data transmission. 


With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, it’s crucial to shift the focus from merely preventing breaches to minimizing the damage they can cause. This means implementing robust security measures that limit the exposure of sensitive data, ensuring that when an attack does happen, the footprint hackers leave behind is as small as possible. By constantly evolving security strategies and using advanced technologies, companies can stay resilient, protecting both their assets and their reputation in an increasingly hostile environment. 


  • Identity and Access Management (IAM): From the outset, SaaS applications often integrate with modern identity and access management systems, allowing for fine-grained control over who has access to specific data and functionalities. This includes features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control (RBAC), which are crucial for maintaining security in a multi-tenant environment. 
  • Compliance with Regulatory Standards: SaaS applications are often designed with compliance in mind, adhering to regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, GDPR, or SOC 2 from the beginning. This proactive approach ensures that the application can serve industries with strict compliance needs, like healthcare or finance, without needing extensive modifications. 


  • Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: A native SaaS application built for the cloud is usually equipped with continuous monitoring and automated threat detection capabilities. These features are integrated into the cloud infrastructure, providing real-time visibility into potential security threats and vulnerabilities. Cloud-native SaaS solutions often leverage advanced tools like AI and machine learning for threat detection, anomaly detection, and automated responses. 

 

  • Resilience to Attacks: Because security is a fundamental part of the design, SaaS applications are generally more resilient to attacks. This includes distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, where the application can leverage cloud-native defenses such as traffic filtering, load balancing, and autoscaling to mitigate the impact. 

 

  • Incident Response and Recovery: Cloud-native SaaS applications are designed with robust incident response and recovery mechanisms. This includes automated backups, disaster recovery plans, and failover systems that ensure minimal downtime and data loss in the event of a security breach or failure. 


Contrast with Converted Applications 


  • Retrofitted Security: When an on-premise application is converted to a cloud-based model, its security features are often retrofitted. This means that the original application may not have been designed with cloud-specific security threats in mind, leading to potential vulnerabilities. Adding security features after the fact can be complex and may not fully integrate with the application’s existing architecture. 

 

  • Legacy Vulnerabilities: Converted applications may carry over vulnerabilities from their on-premise versions. These vulnerabilities can be more challenging to address in a cloud environment, where the application is exposed to different kinds of threats. For example, an on-premise application might have relied on perimeter security (e.g., firewalls) that doesn’t translate well to the cloud, where the security model is more distributed. 

 

  • Compliance Gaps: Applications that were not originally designed for the cloud may struggle to meet modern compliance requirements. Retrofitting compliance features can be difficult and might require significant re-engineering, leading to delays and increased costs. Additionally, ensuring ongoing compliance might be more challenging in a cloud environment if the application was not designed with these requirements in mind. 

 

  • Limited Monitoring and Detection: On-premise applications that have been moved to the cloud may not have the same level of monitoring and threat detection as cloud-native SaaS applications. Implementing continuous monitoring, automated threat detection, and response systems can be more difficult and may not integrate as seamlessly with the converted application. 

 

  • Increased Attack Surface: When an on-premise application is moved to the cloud, its attack surface can increase due to the broader accessibility of cloud environments. Without cloud-native security measures in place, the application may be more susceptible to attacks, such as data breaches, unauthorized access, or DDoS attacks. 


In summary, a native SaaS application built from the beginning with cloud security in mind is designed to protect data, ensure compliance, and adapt to evolving threats. This proactive approach results in a more secure, resilient, and compliant solution compared to applications that have been converted from on-premise systems, where security might need to be retrofitted, leading to potential vulnerabilities and challenges. 


Nymbl is committed to elevating its security standards by pursuing HITRUST certification, with the goal of achieving this significant milestone within the next two years. HITRUST is recognized as one of the most stringent security frameworks, ensuring that organizations meet the highest levels of information protection. Achieving HITRUST certification places Nymbl in the company of industry leaders like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Epic Systems, all of whom have earned this prestigious certification. This initiative underscores our dedication to safeguarding our clients’ data and maintaining the trust they place in us. 


For more information about Nymbl’s powerful approach to keeping your practice and your patients’ data secure, visit www.nymblsystems.com or schedule a call with one of our Nymbl experts today. 

 



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