Why ITDR Alone Isn’t Enough: The Case for SaaS Discovery

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) is one of the fastest-growing areas in cybersecurity—and it’s not hard to see why. Today’s attackers don’t just target networks or endpoints; they go after the most valuable asset in your environment: identity.

By monitoring user behavior, detecting anomalies, and responding to suspicious activity, ITDR helps security teams combat threats like credential misuse, privilege escalation, and lateral movement. Tools like Microsoft Defender for Identity and CrowdStrike Falcon Identity Protection are great examples of ITDR in action.

But for organizations that rely heavily on SaaS, there's a growing issue:

How do you protect identities in apps you don’t even know exist?

Shadow IT and the SaaS Blind Spot

SaaS adoption has exploded—and with it, so has shadow IT. Employees sign up for apps using corporate credentials without IT approval. Teams deploy third-party tools for productivity, design, marketing, finance—you name it.

Consider this:

• A marketing team uses an AI tool for content creation.

• The finance department signs into a budgeting app with work emails.

• Developers use an API testing platform that’s never been vetted by security.

Each of these SaaS services contains sensitive data. Each one uses corporate identities. And in many cases, nobody in security knows they exist.

This is the core weakness in SaaS-based ITDR: no visibility means no protection.

ITDR Depends on SaaS Discovery

Traditional ITDR tools excel at monitoring identity behavior where they’re installed. But they can’t secure what they can’t see. That’s why SaaS discovery is the missing link in effective identity threat detection.

To close this gap, you need to know:

• What SaaS apps are in use—including unsanctioned and unmanaged ones.

• Who’s using them—and whether they’re employees, contractors, or outsiders.

• What level of access they have—and if they’re using SSO or personal credentials.

• What security controls are in place—such as MFA, activity logs, and access governance.

  
  

This is where specialized SaaS security tools like Waldo Security come into play. These platforms provide continuous SaaS discovery and identity monitoring to extend ITDR coverage across your entire environment—not just the parts you know about.

The New ITDR Playbook: Combine Detection with Discovery

By integrating SaaS discovery with ITDR, security teams can:

• Uncover shadow IT before it turns into an identity breach.

• Detect and respond to suspicious logins across all apps—not just sanctioned ones.

• Enforce policies that restrict access, shut down unauthorized accounts, and require MFA.

• Maintain compliance with frameworks like NIST CSF and ISO 27001 by ensuring full visibility and control.

  
  

This isn’t about replacing ITDR—it’s about completing it.

Final Thoughts: You Can’t Protect What You Don’t Know

Identity threats don’t just happen in your core infrastructure anymore. They happen in rogue SaaS apps, third-party platforms, and forgotten tools that still have access to your data.

ITDR is essential, but on its own, it’s not enough. Without visibility into the SaaS sprawl, you’re leaving your identity perimeter full of blind spots.

Want to reduce your attack surface and pass audits with confidence? Start by answering one question:

What SaaS apps are your employees really using?

Because the worst time to find out… is during a breach.