The 3 non-negociables of Trust in SaaS cybersecurity

Doing security is not enough. Your customers want to see it with their eyes.

We live in the software economy.

Products we use daily are built on software.

The reason: creating a SaaS has never been so easy.

Even non-technical people can now build their own apps.

This fast pace creates a lot of opportunities, but there are also risks:

Cyberthreats are evolving fast. Do you think products built in a couple of weeks can't resist to experienced hackers?

In this context, customers expect increasingly stronger information security measures to protect their data. And they're right.

So, software companies's top security priority should be having a robust security programme, with key controls protecting key applications.

But this is not enough.

I sometimes see some business websites and I'm telling myself no way I would a service from them. They don't even have a privacy policy.

Do you know what's lacking?

Trust.

And there's not many ways to create trust on security:

Prove that you're doing the right things to protect your customer's data.

Showcase your certifications.

Explain on your website what's your overall security programme.

This is basic communication.

We can't read your mind if you don't say it.

The biggest barrier to companies sharing their data protection measures with customers is that they sometimes barely document them.

So of course they don't have anything to show.

I believe this era is about to end because no company taking security seriously will want to buy from software companies being mysterious about how they handle and protect data.

So, to recap.

I believe we're entering in an era where 3 dimensions become non-negociables for SaaS information security management:

1. Do security. By all means protect your apps.
2. Document it. Keep record, write down what's been implemented.
3. Display it with your customers. Share non-sensitive information that will create trust in your ability to manage cyber threats.

PS: these are not just nice words.

I'm building SaaS, securing them, documenting what I do, and sharing implemented measures.

If you’re interested in building trust for your Saas, I can help you. My next SaaS will be dedicated to solving this problem. If you’re interested and want to be updated, here’s the waiting list.

Thanks,

Tristan