CASB Decoder: Don’t Confuse CASB with These 4 Security Solutions

This blog is part of a series on CASBs, exploring their types, core functionalities, benefits, and crucial role in modern cybersecurity strategies. If you missed them, click to read Part 1 and Part 2.

Now that we’ve developed a solid understanding of CASBs, it’s important to delve deeper and clarify what CASBs should not be confused with. While CASBs play a critical role in cloud security, they are often mistakenly equated with other security technologies. Let's explore the key differences and ensure that CASBs are correctly distinguished from similar tools in the cybersecurity landscape.

How CASB Differs

1. CASBs vs. Secure Web Gateways (SWGs)

While both CASBs and Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) focus on securing user traffic, they operate in different contexts and serve distinct purposes. SWGs are designed to protect users from web-based threats by filtering and monitoring internet-bound traffic. They block access to malicious websites, enforce web usage policies and prevent data leakage over the internet.

On the other hand, CASBs specifically focus on cloud services. They provide visibility, control, and protection for data in cloud applications, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and regulations. Unlike SWGs, CASBs are tailored to manage interactions with cloud apps, offering capabilities like data loss prevention (DLP), encryption, and real-time access control within cloud environments.

2. CASBs vs. Access Management (IAM)

Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions are essential for controlling user access to IT resources. IAM systems manage identities, authenticate users, and enforce access policies across on-premises and cloud environments. They ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information and systems.

CASBs, while they do offer some access to control features, should not be seen as a replacement for IAM solutions. CASBs complement IAM by enforcing security policies at the cloud application level, providing additional layers of security, such as real-time activity monitoring, data encryption, and anomaly detection. In essence, IAM governs who can access resources, while CASBs manage what they can do once inside cloud applications.

3. CASBs vs Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools are designed to prevent sensitive data from being leaked, whether through email, SaaS apps, web traffic, or other channels. They monitor and control data transfer to protect against accidental or malicious data breaches.

CASBs extend DLP functionality to cloud applications, ensuring that data stored, shared, or processed in the cloud adheres to security policies. Additionally, CASBs offer additional cloud security features, such as visibility into cloud usage, threat protection, and compliance monitoring.

 4. CASBs vs. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solutions are designed to help organizations maintain a secure cloud infrastructure. They identify and remediate misconfigurations, enforce best practices, and ensure compliance with industry standards across cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

While CSPM tools focus on the security of cloud infrastructure, CASBs are more concerned with securing data and user interactions within cloud applications. CASBs provide controls at the application layer, enforcing security policies on data as it moves in and out of cloud apps. In contrast, CSPM tools work at the infrastructure level, securing the underlying cloud environment. Both tools are essential, but they address different aspects of cloud security.

Understanding the distinct roles of CASBs and other security technologies serve is crucial for building a comprehensive cloud security strategy. While CASBs provide essential security controls for cloud applications, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. By recognizing that CASBs should not be confused with solutions like SWGs, IAM, DLP and CSPM, you can better appreciate the unique value they provide and ensure they are effectively integrated with other security tools to protect your cloud environment.