What is the primary purpose of a Cloud Access Security Broker?

The primary purpose of a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) is to mediate access to cloud services. CASBs function as an intermediary layer between users and cloud service providers, allowing organizations to enforce security policies and ensure compliance as they interact with cloud applications.

By doing this, CASBs provide essential features such as authentication, access control, encryption, and threat protection, enabling organizations to securely connect to cloud resources while maintaining visibility and control over their data. This mediation role not only enhances security posture but also ensures proper governance and management of data as it moves to and from the cloud.

In contrast, managing cloud service costs, enhancing bandwidth performance, and auditing cloud software compliance, while important tasks in an IT environment, do not directly align with the core functionality and intent of a CASB. This focused role within the cloud security ecosystem is critical for organizations that aim to protect sensitive information and maintain robust security measures in the increasingly complex cloud landscape.