Zygon Helps Startups Avoid Costly Data Breaches Caused by Unreliable SaaS Providers
Last week, cloud computing company Shadow confirmed a data breach involving customers’ personal information. The hacker claims to have accessed the data of more than 530,000 customers. According to an email from Shadow CEO Eric Sèle, the hacker managed to download this data from a software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider’s API.
This is just a recent example in a long list of data breaches that have affected companies of all sizes. And if you’re a tech CEO, you probably don’t want to be in that position. In the current regulatory landscape, you often have to notify privacy watchdogs and navigate regulatory obligations. More importantly, you risk losing the trust of your clients when you notify them of the breach.
The Problem with Shadow IT
That’s the reason Zygon caught my attention. This new French startup reviews all the SaaS applications used by your team — and it doesn’t just focus on official services. It can identify shadow SaaS services that some teams have been quietly using without telling the IT department.
At first, I thought Zygon could be particularly useful as a cost-saving service. As many VC firms are still passing on deals that would have made sense a few years ago, some startups are actively reviewing their SaaS contracts to see if they can cancel a few subscriptions and extend their runway. But the startup wants to go beyond this initial usage and build a security startup for your SaaS services.
Zygon’s Solution
Zygon recently raised a $3 million seed round with Axeleo Capital leading the round, and Kima Ventures and several business angels also participating. Visibility on shadow IT is one of the key features of Zygon. After the initial inventory process, Zygon customers get a dashboard with all the SaaS applications, along with the number of users per application.
"We are using the metadata of employee emails, we go through the entire email history to identify which SaaS apps are being used," said Pierre-Olivier Louis, co-founder and CEO of Zygon. "This way, our customers can see exactly what’s going on in their organization."
How Zygon Works
Zygon uses a combination of APIs and machine learning algorithms to identify shadow IT. The company has developed a proprietary algorithm that analyzes the metadata of employee emails to determine which SaaS apps are being used.
"We’re not just looking at who is using what app, but also how they’re using it," said Louis. "This way, our customers can see exactly what’s going on in their organization and make informed decisions about which apps to keep or cancel."
The Benefits of Zygon
So why should you care about shadow IT? Well, for one thing, it can be a major security risk. When employees use unauthorized SaaS apps, they may not be following the same security protocols as your official apps.
Moreover, shadow IT can also lead to wasted resources and money. If teams are using multiple versions of the same app, or different apps that serve the same purpose, it can be costly and confusing for both the team and the IT department.
With Zygon, you can get visibility into your SaaS usage and make informed decisions about which apps to keep or cancel. This can help you save money, improve security, and streamline your operations.
Conclusion
Data breaches are becoming more common, and as a tech CEO, it’s essential to take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place. By using Zygon, you can get visibility into your SaaS usage and make informed decisions about which apps to keep or cancel. This can help you save money, improve security, and streamline your operations.
Whether you’re a startup or an established company, shadow IT is a reality that you need to confront head-on. With Zygon, you can take the first step towards transparency and control over your SaaS usage.
About the Author
Romain Dillet is a tech journalist based in Paris. He’s been covering the tech industry for over 10 years and has written for top publications such as TechCrunch, The Verge, and Forbes. He’s also a developer and has a deep understanding of the tech behind the tech.
You can follow Romain on Twitter at @romaindillet or connect with him on LinkedIn.