Cloud Security Access Brokers TL;DR Takeaway

The cloud is awesome, but it’s not perfect. This is where Cloud Security Access Brokers or CASBs for short, come in.

In this article, we will explain what CASBs are, how they work, what they can do, and why you need them for cloud security in 2023.


What are Cloud Security Access Brokers and How Do They Work?

CASB stands for Cloud Access Security Broker. It’s a fancy name for a security solution that acts as a broker between you and your cloud service providers. 

A CASB sits between you and the cloud, monitoring and controlling the traffic that goes back and forth. 

CASBs can cover different types of cloud services, such as software-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS). 

They can also extend the reach of your existing on-premises security infrastructure to the cloud and create new policies for cloud-specific contexts.

CASBs work by intercepting the traffic between you and the cloud services, either through proxies or APIs. After all, Proxies are agents that sit between you and the cloud services, inspecting and modifying the traffic in real-time. 

APIs are interfaces that allow CASBs to communicate with cloud services, retrieving and analyzing data and events.

CASBs can perform various functions depending on the type of traffic they intercept and the policies they enforce. Some of the common functions of CASBs are:


Cloud Security Access Brokers (CASBs) 2
Source: Photo by Growtika on Unsplash

What Can Cloud Security Access Brokers Do for You?

CASBs are not just security solutions. They are also business enablers. They allow you to use the cloud without compromising your security or compliance. They enable you to:

Cloud Security Access Brokers (CASBs) 3
Source: Photo by Growtika on Unsplash


Why Do You Need CASBs for Cloud Security in 2023?

CASBs are not just nice to have. They are essential for cloud security in 2023. Here are some of the reasons why you need CASBs for cloud security in 2023: