8 Best Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Solutions

Cloud access security brokers (CASBs) have become an essential tool for securing cloud applications and data. According to Gartner, by 2023, 70% of enterprises will use CASBs, up from less than 25% in 2020. This rise in adoption is being driven by digital transformation and the growth of cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications.

CASBs act as a policy enforcement point between cloud service users and cloud applications. They provide organizations with visibility into cloud usage, data security, threat protection, and compliance across sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud services.

What is a CASB?

A cloud access security broker is a software solution that sits between cloud service users and cloud applications to monitor all activity and enforce security policies. CASBs typically provide the following core capabilities:

• Visibility – Discover shadow IT, monitor user activities, and detect threats across sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud services.

• Data Security – Protect sensitive data in the cloud through encryption, tokenization, rights management, and data loss prevention.

• Threat Protection – Block malware, unauthorized access, compromised accounts, and other attacks targeting cloud apps and data.

• Compliance – Enforce regulatory and internal policies for data residency, retention, privacy and confidentiality.

• Access Control – Manage access to cloud applications based on user, group, device, and context using adaptive access controls.

Key Benefits of CASBs

The main benefits of deploying a CASB include:

• Increased visibility into cloud usage, including shadow IT detection
• Protection against data leakage, unauthorized access, and threats in the cloud
• Ability to enforce security, compliance and governance policies consistently
• Context-aware access controls for cloud applications
• Consolidated view of security across hybrid and multi-cloud environments

Leading CASB Vendors and Solutions

There are over 30 vendors offering CASB solutions. Here we will highlight 8 of the top CASB tools:

1. Zscaler

Zscaler Internet Access with CASB combines a secure web gateway with cloud access security broker capabilities.

Key Features

• Discovers shadow IT and monitors sanctioned cloud app usage
• Protects against malware, ransomware, and phishing in the cloud
• Prevents unauthorized data exfiltration with DLP and encryption
• Single pane of glass for security across network, endpoints and cloud
• Easy to implement inline proxy architecture

Use Cases – Large enterprises with distributed users and multi-cloud environments.

2. Netskope

Netskope Security Cloud offers a cloud-native CASB with advanced threat protection and granular controls.

Key Features

• Identifies high risk cloud services and anomalous user behavior
• Advanced threat detection using ML and sandboxing
• Granular access and data security controls for IaaS and SaaS
• Unified policies across sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud apps
• Integrated with leading SWG, ZTNA, and SIEM solutions

Use Cases – Mid to large size companies prioritizing cloud security and data protection.

3. Symantec CloudSOC

Symantec CloudSOC serves both as a CASB and cloud workload protection platform (CWPP).

Key Features:

• Discovers shadow IT across cloud apps, IaaS and PaaS
• Automated response and remediation of threats
• Controls for data loss prevention and compliance
• Unified policy management for hybrid infrastructure
• Integrated with Symantec Endpoint Protection and SIEM

Use Cases – Heavily regulated organizations that need broad cloud visibility and control.

4. McAfee MVISION Cloud

McAfee MVISION Cloud offers a multi-mode CASB that can be deployed across all cloud environments.

Key Features:

• Agent, API and reverse proxy modes for flexibility
• Automates cloud security best practices and compliance
• Advanced machine learning for anomaly detection
• Integrates with other McAfee network and endpoint solutions
• Simplified licensing and management

Use Cases – Organizations that value flexibility in CASB implementation and integrations.

5. Microsoft Cloud App Security

Microsoft Cloud App Security provides visibility, threat protection and controls across Microsoft and third party cloud services.

Key Features:

• Tight integration with Microsoft Azure, 365 and Graph Security
• Behavioral analytics models that leverage Microsoft threat intelligence
• Granular session-level controls for Office 365
• Agentless log collector for rapid deployment
• Unified policies across cloud apps and on-prem resources

Use Cases – Microsoft-centric organizations looking to extend security policies to the cloud.

6. Proofpoint CASB

Proofpoint CASB uses a proxy architecture to deliver real-time visibility, threat prevention and data security for leading SaaS apps.

Key Features:

• Real-time visibility into user activities across cloud apps
• Stops threats like malware, compromised accounts and data exfiltration
• Automates DLP and identifies risky data using ML
• Simplified policy management through end-user profiles
• Fast deployment as an out-of-band network proxy

Use Cases – Organization looking for an easy to manage CASB focused on threat prevention.

7. Forcepoint CASB

Forcepoint CASB integrates web gateway security, advanced threat prevention and granular CASB controls in one SaaS solution.

Key Features:

• Unified suite for SWG, CASB and Browser Isolation
• Behavioral analytics to detect insiders and compromised accounts
• Granular data and access controls for leading SaaS apps
• Bi-directional integration with Forcepoint NGFW
• Cloud-native solution for rapid deployment

Use Cases – Organizations seeking an integrated suite spanning SWG, CASB and zero trust.

8. CipherCloud CASB+

CipherCloud CASB+ provides a comprehensive cloud security platform with integrated data protection.

Key Features:

• Unified visibility across sanctioned and shadow cloud apps
• Defines sensitive data types and automates DLP policies
• Adaptive access and risk-based authentication controls
• End-to-end encryption with customer-owned keys
• Tight integration with CipherCloud for Salesforce

Use Cases – Companies that want robust data security embedded in their CASB.

Key Capabilities to Look for in a CASB

When evaluating CASB solutions, key criteria to consider include:

• Breadth of cloud app coverage – Support for popular SaaS apps like Office 365, G Suite, Salesforce as well as IaaS platforms.

• Deployment flexibility – API, proxy, and agent-based modes to meet your needs.

• Data security controls – Encryption, tokenization, rights management and activity monitoring.

• Threat prevention capabilities – Anti-malware, sandboxing, bhavioral analysis and zero-day detection.

• Access control options – Context-aware policies based on users, groups, devices, locations, and risk.

• Cloud security posture management – Identification of misconfigurations, compliance gaps, and security recommendations.

• Actionable insights – Risk-based monitoring, prioritized alerts and one-click remediation.

When to Deploy a CASB

Organizations should consider deploying a CASB solution if they:

• Have limited visibility into cloud usage and shadow IT
• Need to enforce consistent security policies and compliance for cloud apps
• Identify gaps in data protection for cloud-based information
• Want to reduce business risk associated with cloud adoption
• Need centralized protection and governance across hybrid and multi-cloud

Conclusion

CASB solutions provide indispensable visibility, security policy enforcement and data protection capabilities for organizations embracing cloud applications. Leading CASB vendors offer robust features for discovering shadow IT, monitoring user activities, stopping threats, managing sensitive data and maintaining compliance across cloud environments. Organizations should evaluate their cloud security requirements and risk tolerance to determine if and when deploying a CASB makes sense.