A cloud access security broker (CASB) is a security solution that acts as an intermediary between users and cloud service providers and enforces security policies across all cloud-based resources, ensuring consistent security measures are applied throughout an enterprise's cloud environment. A CASB enforces cloud security policies between cloud service providers and users.
A CASB serves as a centralized security enforcement point between cloud service consumers and providers, applying an organization's security policies as cloud-based resources are accessed.
Deployment Methods
CASBs can be deployed using different architectures
API-Based CASB: Integrates directly with cloud service providers via APIs, allowing for comprehensive monitoring and control over data without affecting user experience.
Proxy-Based CASB: Acts as an intermediary for traffic between the user and the cloud service, providing real-time security enforcement for data in motion.
Multimode CASB: Combines both API and proxy approaches to offer comprehensive security for both data at rest and in transit.
Key Functions
Once an organization defines its security policies, a CASB enforces them across all cloud services, users, and devices, providing consistent security and compliance.
Key CASB capabilities include visibility into cloud application usage (Shadow IT discovery), data loss prevention (DLP) for cloud-stored data, threat protection against malware and compromised accounts, and compliance enforcement for regulatory requirements.
Use Cases
CASBs are particularly valuable for organizations that have adopted cloud services like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce, as they provide centralized visibility and control over data that would otherwise be difficult to monitor across distributed cloud environments.