In the grand scheme of IT, SaaS security and governance is a market in its early infancy—so new  there’s not even an official name on the birth certificate yet. (Obviously, I like this one.)

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For those of us entrenched this space, however, the past few years have felt like a whirlwind, with new technologies (hello, GenAI) and players and acronyms all swirling around and colliding into each other.

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It can be confusing for IT and security leaders to sift through as well, and this is where the market research and advisory firms who track the space can help. Through research and conversations, they provide clarity, context, and foresight for technology buyers and builders alike.

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Gartner is one firm covering the emerging SaaS security and governance space and the various acronymic categories that comprise it, namely SaaS security posture management (SSPM) and SaaS management platforms (SMPs). Here’s a list of research and other resources published recently on this space. Note that you’ll need a Gartner subscription to access these documents.

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Strategic Roadmap for SaaS Security

Link: https://www.gartner.com/document-reader/document/5738583

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Emerging Tech: SaaS Ecosystem Security Products Transform SaaS Security

Link: https://www.gartner.com/document-reader/document/5602259

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Hype Cycle for Cyber-Risk Management, 2024

Link: https://www.gartner.com/interactive/hc/5598859

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Gartner Magic Quadrant for SaaS Management Platforms

Link: https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/5605991

*Fun fact: Nudge Security was included as an Honorable Mention

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Gartner Critical Capabilities for SaaS Management Platforms

Link: https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/5621791

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The upcoming Gartner IT Symposium in Orlando, Florida will also be a good opportunity to hear more from industry analysts on how they are viewing the market, and ask questions around what to think about as you consider SaaS security and governance solutions. Here are two presentations that I’m looking forward to attending at that conference:

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If you’re planning to attend IT Symposium, let’s meet up! You can book a meeting with me here →

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SaaS Sprawl: How to Turn Shadow IT Into Democratized Delivery (and Save Money)

Tom Cipolla, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner

SaaS spend and demand for new solutions from business units continues to grow. IT typically is aware of only a third of applications used due to decentralized ownership and sourcing. Gartner estimates that as many as 25% — and vendors report that up to 50% — of licenses are not regularly used. In this session, we will discuss strategies to turn shadow IT into cost-effective business empowerment.

Thursday, October 24, 2024 / 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM EDT

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Magic Quadrant for SaaS Management Platforms

Tom Cipolla, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner

SaaS management platforms empower organizations to address the compounding challenges of SaaS application usage across the business that lead to overspend, elevated risk, lack of visibility and contract sprawl. This session highlights the market and vendors featured in the inaugural Magic Quadrant for SaaS Management Platforms.

Thursday, October 24, 2024 / 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM EDT

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I'd also encourage you to check out this blog post by yours truly, covering our human-centric perspective on SaaS security and governance. Enjoy the read and I hope to see you at the Gartner IT Symposium!