The enterprise SaaS layer is where attackers go to find identities, weak and duplicate credentials, launch phishing and smishing campaigns and expand compromise to dozens of SaaS and cloud services. Additionally, business-led IT strategy has only accelerated SaaS-generated identity sprawl causing more security issues and data breaches.

Experts estimate that by the year 2030, 80% of enterprise SaaS services will be business-led SaaS, characterized by business teams identifying and sourcing technology outside of an organization’s IT selection, procurement, or security oversight.

This leaves security teams with the challenge of protecting sensitive data, business operations, and untamed identity sprawl within a technical environment they do not own, control, or even know exists.

These factors reinforce one another in an ever-increasing escalator of risk as organizations surrender more of the digital enterprise to SaaS services and users spread credentials across the hidden enterprise SaaS layer.

Today, the distributed identity fabric is how, when, and where the enterprise makes contact with SaaS services and apps. To solve the SaaS security challenge, security leaders must focus on identity security measures —the point at which SaaS services enter your environment.

This guide explains SaaS security and offers a framework to secure SaaS —even SaaS outside of IT control.