Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Software RFP Template

Request for Proposal: Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Software Solution

Table of Contents

1. Introduction and Background
2. Project Objectives
3. Scope of Work
4. Technical Requirements
5. Functional Requirements
6. Non-Functional Requirements
7. Implementation Requirements
8. Operational Requirements
9. Vendor Qualifications
10. Evaluation Criteria
11. Submission Guidelines
12. Timeline
13. Total Cost of Ownership
14. Future Considerations

1. Introduction and Background

Our organization is seeking proposals for a comprehensive Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) solution to enhance our cloud security posture and ensure protection of our cloud-based resources. The selected CASB solution will serve as a critical security control point between our cloud service consumers and cloud service providers.

1.1 Market Context

• The CASB market is growing at CAGR of approximately 17.6% (2021-2026)
• Implementation costs typically range from $15,000 to $100,000+ annually
• The solution should align with current market leaders’ capabilities while providing innovative features

1.2 Business Value Expectations

• Enhanced cloud security posture through unified control
• Improved visibility into cloud service usage
• Strengthened regulatory compliance capabilities
• Significant risk mitigation for cloud operations
• Optimized costs through controlled cloud usage

2. Project Objectives

2.1 Primary Objectives

1. Deploy a comprehensive CASB solution that provides visibility and control over cloud services
2. Implement robust data protection measures for cloud-hosted information
3. Establish real-time monitoring and threat detection capabilities
4. Enable granular policy management across cloud services
5. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
6. Optimize cloud service usage and associated costs

2.2 Strategic Goals

1. Reduce security incidents related to cloud service usage by 75%
2. Achieve 100% visibility into cloud application usage
3. Establish automated policy enforcement across all cloud services
4. Implement consistent data protection measures across cloud platforms
5. Enable proactive threat detection and response
6. Streamline security operations through automation

3. Scope of Work

3.1 Technical Architecture Requirements

1. Deployment Models
   • Forward proxy deployment capability
   • Reverse proxy deployment option
   • API-based connectivity for cloud services
   • Multi-mode deployment flexibility
   • Support for hybrid architecture
2. Integration Points
   • Identity and Access Management (IAM) Systems
   • Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
   • Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Systems
   • Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)
   • Security Orchestration and Response (SOAR)
   • Existing security infrastructure
3. Core Components
   • Cloud Security Gateway
   • Policy Engine
   • Data Protection Module
   • Threat Prevention System
   • Analytics Engine
   • Management Console

4. Technical Requirements

4.1 Architecture and Infrastructure

1. Deployment Flexibility
   • Cloud-based deployment support
   • On-premises deployment capability
   • Hybrid deployment options
   • Multi-tenant architecture
   • High availability configuration
2. Performance Specifications
   • Maximum latency: 50ms for inline operations
   • Minimum throughput: 10Gbps
   • Support for 100,000+ concurrent users
   • 99% uptime guarantee
   • Real-time policy enforcement
3. Security Architecture
   • End-to-end encryption (TLS 1.3)
   • Hardware Security Module (HSM) support
   • Secure key management
   • Certificate lifecycle management
   • Security hardening capabilities

5. Functional Requirements

5.1 User and Access Management

Tip: Robust user and access management is fundamental to cloud security. Ensure the solution provides comprehensive authentication methods, granular access controls, and detailed activity monitoring to maintain security while enabling productivity.

5.2 Data Protection

Tip: Comprehensive data protection capabilities should cover the entire data lifecycle in cloud environments. Focus on solutions that provide deep visibility into data movement, robust controls, and flexible encryption options.

5.3 Cloud Application Control

Tip: Cloud application control is crucial for maintaining security in cloud environments. Focus on capabilities that provide comprehensive visibility into cloud app usage, risk assessment, and granular control over access and data sharing.

5.4 Threat Protection

Tip: Modern threat protection requires multi-layered defense mechanisms that can detect and respond to both known and unknown threats. Evaluate solutions based on their ability to provide real-time protection, advanced analytics, and automated response capabilities.

5.5 Policy Management

Tip: Effective policy management is the foundation of CASB implementation. Look for solutions that offer flexible policy creation, granular controls, and automated enforcement capabilities.

5.6 AI and Machine Learning Capabilities

Tip: Advanced AI and ML capabilities should provide practical security benefits while maintaining transparency in decision-making. Focus on solutions that offer explainable AI and demonstrable security improvements.

5.7 Integration Capabilities

Tip: Integration capabilities determine how well the CASB solution will work with your existing security infrastructure. Prioritize solutions that offer robust APIs and pre-built integrations.

6. Non-Functional Requirements

6.1 Performance Requirements

1. System Performance
   • Maximum latency of 50ms for inline operations
   • Minimum throughput of 10 Gbps
   • Support for 100,000+ concurrent users
   • Real-time policy enforcement
   • 99% uptime guarantee
2. Scalability
   • Horizontal scaling capability
   • Automatic load balancing
   • Dynamic resource allocation
   • Multi-region support
   • Elastic capacity management
3. Availability
   • High availability architecture
   • Automated failover
   • Disaster recovery capabilities
   • Geographic redundancy
   • No single point of failure

6.2 Security Requirements

1. Data Security
   • AES-256 encryption for data at rest
   • TLS 1.3 for data in transit
   • FIPS 140-2 compliance
   • Secure key management
   • Data sovereignty compliance
2. Access Security
   • Role-based access control
   • Multi-factor authentication
   • Privileged access management
   • Session management
   • Access audit logging
3. Compliance
   • SOC 2 Type II certification
   • ISO 27001 certification
   • GDPR compliance
   • HIPAA compliance
   • PCI DSS compliance

7. Implementation Requirements

7.1 Project Phases

1. Planning Phase (4-6 weeks)
   • Requirements gathering
   • Architecture design
   • Integration planning
   • Resource allocation
   • Timeline development
2. Deployment Phase (8-12 weeks)
   • Initial setup
   • Core configuration
   • Integration implementation
   • Policy development
   • Testing and validation
3. Optimization Phase (4-6 weeks)
   • Performance tuning
   • Policy refinement
   • User acceptance testing
   • Documentation completion
   • Knowledge transfer

7.2 Implementation Services

1. Professional Services
   • Architecture consultation
   • Deployment assistance
   • Integration support
   • Policy development
   • Performance optimization
2. Training Services
   • Administrator training
   • Security team training
   • End-user training
   • Custom documentation
   • Knowledge base access

8. Operational Requirements

8.1 Support Services

1. Technical Support
   • 24/7 support availability
   • Maximum 1-hour response for critical issues
   • Multi-channel support options
   • Dedicated support team
   • Regular service reviews
2. Maintenance
   • Regular updates and patches
   • Scheduled maintenance windows
   • Change management process
   • Version control
   • Rollback capabilities
3. Monitoring
   • Real-time system monitoring
   • Performance metrics tracking
   • Capacity planning
   • Trend analysis
   • Proactive issue detection

9. Vendor Qualifications

9.1 Company Profile

1. Market Position
   • Minimum 5 years in CASB market
   • Recognized industry leader
   • Strong financial stability
   • Global presence
   • Proven track record
2. Customer Base
   • Enterprise customer references
   • Industry-specific experience
   • Similar-scale implementations
   • Customer satisfaction metrics
   • Case studies

9.2 Technical Expertise

1. Product Development
   • Dedicated R&D team
   • Regular release cycle
   • Innovation track record
   • Technology partnerships
   • Product roadmap
2. Support Capabilities
   • Global support presence
   • Technical expertise
   • Implementation experience
   • Training capabilities
   • Resource availability

10. Evaluation Criteria

10.1 Technical Evaluation (40%)

1. Feature Completeness
   • Core functionality coverage
   • Advanced feature availability
   • Integration capabilities
   • Scalability options
   • Performance metrics
2. Architecture
   • Design principles
   • Scalability
   • Reliability
   • Security
   • Innovation

10.2 Vendor Evaluation (30%)

1. Company Stability
   • Financial health
   • Market position
   • Growth trajectory
   • Customer base
   • Industry recognition
2. Support Capabilities
   • Global presence
   • Technical expertise
   • Response times
   • Resource availability
   • Training programs

10.3 Cost Evaluation (30%)

1. Total Cost of Ownership
   • License costs
   • Implementation costs
   • Maintenance costs
   • Support costs
   • Training costs

11. Submission Guidelines

11.1 Proposal Requirements

1. Technical Proposal
   • Solution overview
   • Technical specifications
   • Implementation approach
   • Support model
   • Sample deliverables
2. Commercial Proposal
   • Pricing structure
   • Payment terms
   • Service level agreements
   • Additional services
   • Optional features

11.2 Submission Format

• Electronic submission required
• PDF format
• Maximum 100 pages
• Executive summary required
• Supporting documentation as appendices

12. Timeline

• RFP Release Date: [Date]
• Questions Deadline: [Date]
• Proposal Due Date: [Date]
• Vendor Presentations: [Date Range]
• Selection Date: [Date]
• Project Start Date: [Date]

13. Total Cost of Ownership

13.1 Direct Costs

1. Software Licensing
   • Per-user licensing fees
   • Module-based costs
   • Additional feature costs
   • Volume discounts
   • Term commitments
2. Implementation Costs
   • Professional services
   • Integration services
   • Customization costs
   • Training expenses
   • Project management

13.2 Indirect Costs

1. Operational Costs
   • Internal resource allocation
   • Infrastructure requirements
   • Ongoing maintenance
   • Regular updates
   • Support renewals
2. Additional Considerations
   • Performance impact
   • Productivity effects
   • Training requirements
   • Process changes
   • Integration maintenance

14. Future Considerations

14.1 Technology Trends

1. Emerging Technologies
   • Zero Trust integration
   • SASE convergence
   • Edge computing support
   • Quantum computing readiness
   • 5G security capabilities
2. Market Evolution
   • Vendor consolidation
   • Feature standardization
   • Pricing model changes
   • Integration standards
   • Regulatory requirements

14.2 Success Metrics

1. Security Metrics
   • Threat detection rate
   • Policy violation resolution time
   • Shadow IT discovery
   • Data protection effectiveness
   • Access control efficiency
2. Operational Metrics
   • System uptime
   • Response time
   • Issue resolution time
   • User satisfaction
   • Cost savings

15. Contact Information

Please submit proposals and questions to: [Contact Name] [Email Address] [Phone Number]