How do I stop users from installing unapproved SaaS tools?

To stop users from installing unapproved SaaS tools, you need to control OAuth authorizations, restrict risky third-party app permissions, enforce identity-based app policies, and monitor new SaaS connections as they appear. Since most SaaS tools allow employees to self-authorize access with just a single OAuth prompt, controlling shadow IT starts with controlling what employees can connect to their identity provider.

Many security teams use platforms like FrontierZero to automatically detect new SaaS apps, evaluate their permissions, and flag or block high-risk access before it becomes a problem.

Why Blocking Unapproved SaaS Apps Is Hard Across IDPs

Even organizations with strong identity governance struggle to prevent unapproved SaaS installations because modern identity systems are designed for user convenience, not strict control.

Three challenges nearly always show up:

Most SaaS apps allow employees to connect their work account instantly.
Identity providers log these authorizations but don’t necessarily restrict them unless policies are manually configured.

2. Not all SaaS apps use SSO

Even if your company enforces SSO, many SaaS tools authenticate using:

  • OAuth
  • API keys
  • Basic username/password
  • Social login flows

SSO-only controls will miss a large portion of shadow IT.

3. Risky apps stay active long after installation

Once an app gets an OAuth token, it can retain access until the token expires or is revoked — even if:

  • the app is no longer used
  • the user leaves the company
  • permissions are no longer appropriate

This is why platforms like FrontierZero help teams automate detection of new SaaS apps the moment they appear.

How to Reduce or Block Unapproved SaaS Apps (Step-by-Step)

The steps below apply across all major identity providers (Okta, Entra, Google, Ping, OneLogin, JumpCloud).

1. Restrict OAuth Scopes and App Approval Policies

Most identity providers allow you to enforce:

  • domain-wide allow/deny lists
  • admin approval workflows
  • restricted high-risk scopes
  • blocked app categories

You should define:

  • apps that are allowed
  • apps that require admin approval
  • apps that should always be blocked

Tools like FrontierZero help teams surface which apps request high-risk scopes so they can be added to blocklists quickly.

2. Monitor for New OAuth Authorizations in Real Time

You need visibility into:

  • newly installed apps
  • new OAuth grants
  • new privilege requests
  • unusual permission escalations

Identity providers don’t always alert admins when a new app is connected.
FrontierZero gives real-time notifications when new SaaS apps appear or when users authorize unexpected access.

3. Audit and Revoke High-Risk Tokens

Evaluate:

  • long-lived tokens
  • offline access tokens
  • tokens with file/email/calendar/system access
  • tokens authorized by high-risk or departing employees

Revoking unused or excessive tokens reduces the attack surface significantly.

FrontierZero correlates token usage with user activity to surface unused or stale access automatically.

How do I decide which SaaS apps to block and which to allow?

Look at:

  • requested permissions (scopes)
  • vendor reputation and security posture
  • whether the app accesses sensitive data
  • whether it duplicates existing approved tools

FrontierZero scores apps based on risk factors so you can make faster decisions.

What if employees keep using personal accounts to bypass controls?

This is common in environments without app governance.

You can reduce this by:

  • enforcing identity provider login
  • monitoring OAuth-style personal account connections
  • restricting external app access at the directory level
  • monitoring SaaS usage across multiple identity signals

Platforms like FrontierZero correlate identity metadata and SaaS activity to detect unmanaged or personal-account usage.

How do I know if blocking an app will break user workflows?

Check:

  • how many users authorized it
  • what scopes the app relies on
  • whether there is an approved alternative

FrontierZero shows user-level adoption so IT teams can communicate before enforcing blocks.

FAQ

Some identity providers allow it, but most organizations use a hybrid model:
restricted scopes + admin approval workflows.

Is SSO enforcement enough to block unapproved SaaS apps?

No. Many SaaS apps don’t use SSO. OAuth and token-based access must be monitored too.

Do unapproved apps create security risks?

Yes — especially apps with access to email, files, storage, or identity data.
Unapproved SaaS is one of the most common sources of SaaS breaches.