Data security posture management has rightly been hailed as the future of cybersecurity. But before we get into all that, it’s worth defining what DSPM is. And, considering Gartner coined the term in its 2022 Hype Cycle for Data Security, let’s stick with its definition.
Gartner notes that Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) tools offer comprehensive visibility into data residences, access permissions, usage trends, and the security standing of data repositories and applications. By assessing the current data security landscape, DSPM tools detect and categorize potential risks and vulnerabilities, and apply corrective measures to address them. Moreover, they maintain continuous oversight and updates to ensure a robust and adaptive security stance.
Ultimately, DSPM tools help businesses maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data. These tools are typically used by IT departments, security and compliance teams, and executive leadership.
Where Did DSPM Come From?
In recent years, most organizations have adopted and begun storing data in cloud environments. While cloud adoption is undoubtedly a good thing – and even if it wasn’t, there’s no stopping it now – storing data in this way has significantly complicated data security by bringing about the following problems:
- Data Sprawl: Adopting cloud infrastructure means that data is no longer confined to a single data center or on-premises server but rather is stored across diverse cloud environments, complicating the finding and securing of sensitive data..
- Shadow IT: Cloud adoption has led to a rise in shadow IT – where departments or employees use unapproved applications or store data in unsanctioned locations – making it harder for security teams to monitor data and enforce security policies.
- Complex Access Controls: In the cloud, permissions constantly change as teams, applications, and processes interact across different environments. Overlooking misconfigured access controls or mismanaged permissions can result in sensitive data becoming exposed to unauthorized users.
- Compliance Complexity: Cloud adoption can complicate regulatory compliance, as data may reside in different geographic regions, each with its own data protection laws. Managing compliance requirements like GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA across various cloud platforms is challenging.
- Increased Data Sharing: Cloud environments enable easy sharing of data, which, while beneficial, increases the risk of unintentional data exposure. Data in motion – being transferred between cloud services, regions, or external parties – can be vulnerable to interception or leakage if not properly secured.
DSPM arose from the need to solve these problems, providing organizations with a way to find, classify, and protect sensitive information, manage their security posture, and comply with relevant regulatory requirements.
What are DSPM’s Key Capabilities?
Now we better understand the landscape that gave rise to DSPM tools, we can look at the capabilities that make it the future of cybersecurity.
Unified Visibility
DSPM platforms provide a centralized view of an organization’s entire data landscape, including data stored in cloud platforms, on-premises servers, and hybrid environments. Unified visibility allows security teams to discover, classify, and monitor sensitive data in real-time across all locations, be they public or private cloud, or on premises.
Continuous Monitoring and Risk Mitigation
Rather than relying on static rules, DSPM solutions continuously monitor data across environments, looking for signs of vulnerability or improper access. They can identify risky data movement, excessive user permissions, or misconfigurations that could expose sensitive data. By regularly assessing data security posture, DSPM can also recommend or automatically enforce mitigations to reduce these risks.
Compliance Automation
DSPM solutions simplify compliance by automatically identifying sensitive data and ensuring it is handled according to relevant regulatory requirements. They help track data movement and access patterns, ensuring data handling aligns with global regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA to make it easier for organizations to demonstrate compliance during audits or reporting periods.
Protection for Data in Motion
By monitoring data flows and user activities, DSPM tools protect data stored at rest and in transit. This is crucial in cloud environments where data is frequently shared between applications, users, and external partners. DSPM ensures that sensitive data remains secure, regardless of where or how it is being transferred.
Improved Access Controls
DSPM controls who can access sensitive data by continuously assessing user permissions and roles. By integrating with identity and access management (IAM) systems, DSPM tools can detect when excessive permissions are granted, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and ensuring that users only have access to the data they need.
The DSPM Market
The strength of the DSPM market is further proof of DSPM’s place as the future of cybersecurity. Gartner’s Voice of the Customer for DSPM is perhaps the most compelling argument, as it showcases the exceptional customer satisfaction ratings the industry’s leading DSPM solutions have achieved. Moreover, when DSPM was first introduced, less than one percent of companies used DSPM, but Gartner predicts that more than 20% of organizations will use the product by the end of 2026.
All in all, it’s clear that DSPM is here to stay. In fact, it’s set to flourish. DSPM will soon be a household name, just like its peers and predecessors.
