Computerworld recently took an in-depth look at the 3 main challenges that organizations must tackle head-on in order to transition smoothly to SaaS. They outline them as (1) the need for strong management and cost control as companies quickly bring on high numbers of SaaS applications, (2) security, privacy, and regulatory compliance concerns, and (3) the issues that may arise when organizations integrate different cloud-based applications. These challenges are interconnected – issues with one topic can instigate problems with another. Likewise, directly addressing these issues can ensure that companies come out on top through SaaS transitions.

With hundreds, if not thousands, of SaaS applications available, it isn’t surprising that IT executives may be unaware of all the applications used across their organization. If companies fail to keep their IT teams abreast of applications in use, IT may not only struggle to provide proper support, but the company may also be more vulnerable to data leaks, cyberattacks, and compliance risks.

Experts recommend that organizations first explore automated tools to identify applications in use. Companies may need to determine which applications are most vital, and have IT only deploy those. This approach should be paired with a risk assessment, through which organizations can decide which applications to maintain and which to replace.

Sufficient employee training on these issues is equally important, so employees can be comfortable in their roles in ensuring SaaS safety. Organizations have a responsibility to communicate policies and ensure that their employees are well-equipped to be the first line of defense in proper SaaS solution utilization.

Kyle Davis, vice president and analyst at Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, also advises businesses to make sure they understand how any SaaS provider they work with “publishes and discloses breaches, how they handle physical security, and how they protect your data in transit and at rest.”

Finally, organizations may face difficulty in attempting to integrate multiple cloud-based applications, especially alongside applications housed in on-premises servers. As companies move toward primarily using SaaS applications, they may need to rethink their business protocol and even seek out customized solutions to their organization’s needs.