With more businesses and individuals migrating their data to the cloud than ever before, security has never been more vital. As technology advances in sophistication, so too do the methods used by cybercriminals. And this leads to breaches in AI and cloud-driven data as well as the infringement of privacy regulations. This is where frameworks such as DSPM can help.
What is DSPM ?
DSPM (
Data Security Posture Management) is a framework designed to fight the ever-increasing risks of storing data in the cloud. Unlike traditional frameworks, DSPM classifies and prioritizes data according to its sensitivity and its ultimate value to organizations.
The difference here is that traditional frameworks use machine learning algorithms to first identify important data and then determine the level of security needed to protect it. Within this model, information stored in the cloud is replicated and moved across a number of environments. This can unfortunately result in security gaps as well as an inconsistent position which poses a risk to integrity.
Another way
Well, DSPM does things a little differently. These frameworks get the job done in the following ways:
- Classifying data
- Assessing its encryption status
- Implementing strict access control
- Detecting abnormal activity
- Implementing data loss prevention strategies
Fighting fire with fire
Modern problems need modern solutions and, for many companies, the risk of a data breach is right up there at the top of the list of major headaches. Today, more and more people are recognizing the risks posed by inadequate data storage and security. The fact is that, in many cases, updates are happening too slowly to ensure an adequate level of security across multiple environments. This can lead to gaps and all the vulnerabilities that those gaps open up.
The first line of defense
These days, data security has more than its fair share of enemies and these include:
- Storage across different clouds
- Storage across numerous platforms
- Remote and hybrid work models
Needless to say, this means that a data security superhero is crucial - and this is where the need to understand
what is DSPM comes in. Well, DSPM provides your data - and your business - with a whole suite of versatile tools that seek out, identify and secure sensitive information wherever it may be.
The Key Benefits of DSPM
We've talked about DSPM and what it does and, it's now time to look at the key benefits of this comprehensive system:
Advanced security posture insights and visibility
While DSPM is ostensibly designed to classify and protect data in the cloud, there's much more to it than that. It also provides real insights on your data and translates these into recommendations that allow you to match the security posture of each data class to its original environment.
As well as tackling vulnerabilities in security infrastructure, DSPM is also a valuable tool for protecting against a wide and varied range of other risks. These include vulnerable information like Personally Identifiable Information (PII), under-secured privileged data and developer's secrets (a term used to describe sensitive information used during development).
So what does this mean for the security of your data ?
Firstly, it means that, thanks to the advanced capabilities of DSPM, the availability of any potential gaps will be effectively limited. Secondly, risks are further reduced by the safeguarding of all valuable and high-risk information by reducing or eliminating potential attack routes and storing data in high-security locations for an extra layer of protection.
DSPM can, essentially, replace CSPMs (
Cloud Security Posture Management Systems) by handling large volumes of data. This is achieved through the use of intelligent metadata clustering. All of this means improved visibility and transparency and a more cost-effective solution.
Robust incident response
It goes without saying that, in the case of an incident or breach, you need to act fast. Unfortunately, standard incident responses often fall woefully short due to being hampered by incomplete and / or inconsistent protocols. DSPM, on the other hand, is able to provide immediate incident alerts through centralization of the process and streamlining of the incident response. Not only that but this response also includes detailed analytics of each breach.
All of this is designed to ensure that compromised data is identified as fast as possible. This, in turn, allows you to quickly contain the threat, minimize damage and begin remediation through easy-to-follow recommendations. This means that your downtime is significantly reduced and your operation is up and running securely again as quickly as possible.
Enhanced risk management and compliance
We probably don't need to tell you that keeping up with today's extensive and increasingly complex regulations can be tricky. For many companies, manual compliance checks can be frustratingly time-consuming, leading to challenges and bottlenecks. DSPM is able to tackle this through next-level automation.
Automation gets smart
DSPM tools use smart automation to constantly monitor and assess data storage environments. Some will also track and compare security posture with industry regulations and standards. This allows for real-time identification and rectification of compliance issues as well as deep insights for eliminating risk and maintaining compliance.
Automation is key when it comes to freeing up your time and resources but it's also vital for compliance. At a time when few businesses can afford non-compliance penalties, DSPMs are essential for improving security and operational efficiency.
The Bottom Line
DSPMs offer next-level security for your business through a number of tools including:
- Compliance automation
- Rapid incident response
- Enhanced visibility
- Data protection across a wide range of cloud environments
You need to consider data as one of your most valued assets and, as such, needs to be robustly safeguarded. And because of this, DSPM can be considered by many to be an essential investment for any organization whose future depends on data stored in the cloud.
