The SaaS explosion comes with a largely misunderstood set of security risks. Traditional cybersecurity strategies, built around networks, endpoints, and cloud infrastructure, are not touching your SaaS stack. And that’s where serious exposure lies.
That’s where SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) comes in to help organizations secure the sprawling, decentralized, and dynamic world of SaaS.
Let’s explore what SSPM is, how it differs from other security tools, what risks it addresses, and why ignoring it puts organizations at serious risk of data breaches.
The SaaS Explosion is a blessing and a burden
The average company now uses over 275 SaaS applications, often without centralized oversight. Some are IT-sanctioned. Most are not.
SaaS adoption has become bottom-up: business units, and even individual employees, can adopt and integrate new tools without ever requesting permission from the security team. This is often referred to as Shadow SaaS, in which security teams are left blind to what tools are being used, how data flows between them, and where vulnerabilities could exist.
This decentralization has created an expanded attack surface that’s difficult if not impossible to secure using traditional tools. SaaS has changed the game, giving security teams a way to get back in control.
What Is SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM)?
SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) is a security solution designed specifically to monitor, assess, and improve the security posture of an organization’s SaaS application ecosystem.
Unlike Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), which focuses on infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) environments like AWS, GCP, and Azure, SSPM zeroes in on the unique security challenges of SaaS: unmanaged apps, configuration drift, over-privileged users, risky integrations, and a complete lack of visibility.
Core functions of SSPM include:
- Discovery of SaaS applications (including Shadow SaaS)
- Risk-based assessment of each app’s security posture
- Monitoring configurations and detecting misconfigurations
- Permission analysis for users and integrations
- Alerting and remediation workflows to address risks in real-time
In short, SSPM gives security teams the visibility and control they need to manage their SaaS footprint securely.
The hidden risks SSPM helps uncover
Let’s look at the key threats that SSPM is built to solve.
1. SaaS misconfigurations
Even the most popular apps like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Zoom can be configured in insecure ways. Public sharing links, open calendar access, lack of MFA enforcement—these misconfigurations are often the result of user error or default settings, and they pose a serious threat to data security.
SSPM continuously monitors for these misconfigurations and flags them before they’re exploited.
2. Over-privileged access
Many SaaS apps operate on OAuth-based integrations, which can request full access to sensitive data. Once granted, these permissions are rarely reviewed or revoked—even when the app is no longer in use.
Worse, many users are given admin-level access they don’t need. SSPM solutions identify these over-privileged accounts and help enforce the principle of least privilege.
3. Shadow SaaS and unvetted apps
Employees connect unauthorized apps to their work environment every day. A productivity Chrome extension here, an AI assistant there—it adds up fast. These tools often have poor security practices, and some may even be malicious.
SSPM surfaces all connected apps, even those added by individual employees, so security teams can take appropriate action.
4. Risky third-party integrations
SaaS apps don’t exist in isolation. They integrate with each other, often through API keys and OAuth tokens. SSPM shines a light on these connections, mapping out how data flows across apps and identifying weak links in the chain.
5. Compliance violations
Industries bound by regulations like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR must maintain strict control over data access and storage. SaaS sprawl threatens compliance by introducing uncontrolled variables.
SSPM helps maintain audit-readiness by tracking app access, configuration states, and changes over time.
Why SSPM is crucial right now
SaaS is here to stay—and it’s growing fast. Organizations can’t afford to rely on outdated security models that assume everything lives inside a firewall or in a tightly controlled cloud environment. The perimeter is gone. The apps are everywhere. The data is fluid.
Here’s why SSPM is not just important, but is essential:
- You can’t protect what you can’t see. SSPM restores visibility across hundreds (or thousands) of SaaS apps.
- Human error is unavoidable. With so many users and apps, misconfigurations are inevitable. SSPM provides automated detection and correction.
- Attackers are exploiting SaaS. OAuth token abuse, misconfigured permissions, and third-party integrations are now common attack vectors.
- Compliance is getting stricter. Regulators increasingly expect continuous monitoring and proactive security—not periodic audits.
The cost of inaction isn’t theoretical. High-profile breaches—including those involving misconfigured SaaS platforms—show how easily data can be exposed, and how costly the fallout can be.
What does a great SSPM solution look like?
The reality is simple: traditional tools can’t keep up with the dynamic, decentralized world of SaaS. A great SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) solution should go beyond basic discovery or one-time scans. It needs to provide real-time visibility, actionable intelligence, and effortless control.
Not that we’re biased, but the Wing Security SSPM has these capabilities that you can’t live without:
See everything
Security starts with visibility. Wing uses agentless, API-based discovery to reveal every SaaS app and integration across your environment—whether they’re IT-sanctioned or employee-adopted. This includes:
- Shadow IT and browser-based SaaS apps
- AI tools and extensions
- Third-party integrations and service accounts
- Human and non-human identities with app access
You can’t secure what you don’t know exists. Wing ensures you see everything—without deploying a single agent.
Cut the noise
Modern SaaS environments generate an overwhelming amount of security data. Wing solves this by applying risk-based scoring powered by CWSS and MITRE ATT&CK. We evaluate misconfigurations, permissions, and integration risks based on exploitability, impact, and severity—so your team focuses on what’s most urgent.
No more alert fatigue. Just the insights that help prevent breaches.
Automated fixes
Wing doesn’t just alert you to problems—it empowers you to solve them fast:
- Instantly revoke OAuth tokens or suspend risky users
- Remove excessive permissions in a click
- Automate policy enforcement across your SaaS stack
Our platform supports both real-time remediation and scalable, proactive security through customizable policies.
SaaS discovery is step one to security
SaaS has redefined the way we work, but it has also redefined the way we need to think about security. The days of relying solely on network-based defenses or infrastructure-focused tools are over. If your organization uses SaaS (and it does), you need SaaS Security Posture Management.
It empowers security teams to address the risks that matter most in today’s decentralized, user-driven tech environment. And it does so without getting in the way of innovation. The sooner your organization embraces SSPM, the sooner you can move from reactive firefighting to proactive, scalable, SaaS-native security.
Ready to see how Wing Security can help you secure your SaaS environment? Start here.