Data Security Posture Management
Explore the essentials of DSPM, including definitions, capabilities, strategies, and best practices.
CORE CONCEPTS & Definitions
For organizations working to thrive in this era defined by continuous innovation and digital transformation, data security posture management (DSPM) is no longer an option, but a critical element of an effective data protection strategy.
3 Key Predictions for DSPM in 2025
As more and more data moves to the public cloud, new data regulations and sophisticated, AI-powered data breaches will drive the urgent need for robust, forward-thinking data security.
Capabilities & Features
DSPM Capabilities & Features
DSPM is an indispensable tool for data security, helping organizations fight sensitive data exposure, automate remediation, and more. An effective DSPM strategy enables:
AI-powered discovery, classification, and risk prioritization
of structured and unstructured data
Data risk assessment and management
to proactively identify and remediate potential risks
Continuous monitoring and threat detection
for near-real-time data security insights
Risk remediation and incident response planning
informed by prioritized, context-rich alerts
Data security, governance, and compliance
to ensure industry and government regulatory rigor
Brian Deitch breaks down how to deliver true zero trust for the cloud, including full east-west segmentation for workloads.
Mapping DSPM to compliance frameworks
The most effective DSPM solutions provide real-time data compliance and governance capabilities to help organizations meet regulations, as well as support auditing and reporting, around the world. Here’s a glance at how DSPM supports a few key frameworks:
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Maps personal data to ensure inventory and transparency compliance
- Identifies unneeded or redundant datasets for data minimization
- Provides real-time risk assessments to support breach notification mandates
- Validates technical and organizational measures for data protection
Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Monitors PHI locations to evaluate Privacy and Security Rules compliance
- Identifies access control weaknesses for authorized PHI handling
- Conducts vulnerability assessments for risk analysis requirements
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
- Locates cardholder data to ensure storage in compliant environments
- Identifies unauthorized data storage to meet access and storage controls
- Provides detailed security posture reporting for logging and monitoring
The Intertwined Journey of Regulatory Compliance and Cloud Data Security
Data security and compliance are tightly bound—breaches can lead to noncompliance penalties, and carefully adhering to regulations can serve as a shield against data security vulnerabilities and threats.
Secure Data in the Public Cloud
Traditional data security tools leave organizations struggling to discover and classify cloud data as well as identify its exposure, compliance, or context. That’s why they need DSPM.
Resource
Level Up Your Public Cloud Data Security with DSPM
Learn seven ways DSPM can help you reduce data security risks in complex public cloud environments, from vulnerable identities to contextual data insights.
Webinar
Dissecting Cloud Data Breaches with DSPM
Although cloud breaches are on the rise, they still follow patterns we can examine to better approach and reduce risk at each stage of a data breach. Join our experts to learn more.
Webinar
Securing Cloud Data in AWS with Unified DSPM
Legacy data protection falls short in AWS, and siloed DSPM solutions integrate poorly with existing data protection programs. Organizations need a unified approach.
DSPM vs. Related Technologies
Navigating related solutions
DSPM strengthens sensitive data security, complementing technologies that focus on managing broader cloud and access-based security domains, including CSPM, SSPM, DLP, IAM, and CNAPP.
Data security posture management (DSPM)
locates and identifies sensitive data, assesses its risk, and ensures its security
Cloud security posture management (CSPM)
ensures strong access configurations and compliance in cloud environments
SaaS security posture management (SSPM)
evaluates and strengthens security settings in SaaS applications
Data loss prevention (DLP)
detects and prevents exfiltration and unauthorized sharing of sensitive data
Identify and access management (IAM)
regulates access to data by managing user identities, roles, and permissions
Cloud native application protection platform (CNAPP)
provides cloud native security for applications, workloads, and configurations
What's the Difference Between DSPM, CSPM, and SSPM?
Securing multicloud environments and data calls for multilayered protection. Understand key differences between these solutions.
7 Key Takeaways from IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report
Dig into recent key insights and lessons learned, and inform strategies on how to develop an effective data protection program.
Use Cases & Benefits
Continuously monitoring and assessing your data security posture with DSPM helps you gain deep insights into your data landscape, identify potential vulnerabilities, and prioritize risks to stay ahead of threats, prevent data breaches, and protect your reputation.
Blog
How DSPM Helps Prevent Data Exposure from Overprivileged Access
Nearly 99% of permissions are unused, and more than half are high-risk. Amid growing data sprawl from new apps, AI and cloud adoption, and digital transformation, enterprises need unified data discovery, access profiling, and risk remediation to control access to sensitive data.
Tools & Vendors
Choosing the right DSPM solution empowers you to protect cloud data, uncover risks, and drive innovation with confidence—laying the groundwork for future-ready security.
Protect cloud data and stop breaches
Effective cloud data security requires a unified approach. Simplify and enhance data security in multicloud environments with an agentless, fully integrated, AI-powered DSPM solution.
Zero Trust Essentials
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