To best meet security requirements when leveraging a SaaS provider for back-office services, what solution should a cloud engineer deploy?

Deploying a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is an effective solution for meeting security requirements when utilizing a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider for back-office services. A CASB acts as an intermediary between cloud service users and the cloud applications they are accessing. It provides a layer of security, visibility, and compliance enforcement for sensitive data in the cloud.

By implementing a CASB, organizations can gain better control over user activities, enforce security policies, and enhance data protection for their SaaS environments. This includes functionalities such as data loss prevention (DLP), encryption of data in transit and at rest, and security monitoring for unusual activities, which are critical when dealing with sensitive information in cloud applications.

A CASB also helps address the challenges associated with shadow IT by enabling organizations to discover and manage unsanctioned applications. This ensures that any integration with SaaS solutions is conducted securely and aligns with internal security policies.

In contrast, while firewalls, Intrusion Prevention/Detection Systems (IPS/IDS), and proxy gateways provide valuable security controls, they typically do not focus specifically on the nuances of cloud service interactions. Firewalls protect network perimeters rather than cloud applications. IPS/IDS monitor for unwanted intrusions or attacks