DSPM, or Data Security Posture Management addresses the evolving challenges of securing data in the cloud. Unlike traditional Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), DSPM recognizes that not all data requires the same level of protection. It focuses on understanding the value and sensitivity of data, employing Machine Learning to determine appropriate security measures. 

Data in the cloud is dynamic, constantly moving, and getting replicated across various environments, which can lead to inconsistencies in security posture. DSPM classifies data’s security and tracks it as it moves across environments. Its key capabilities include data classification, if data is encrypted, access control, data loss prevention (DLP), and anomaly detection. 

DSPM provides actionable insights by sending alerts, suggesting how to match the security posture of the original environment, and identifying data owners. 

Unlike CSPM, which primarily focuses on infrastructure vulnerabilities, DSPM identifies data vulnerabilities such as exposed Personally Identifiable Information (PII), developer secrets, or privileged data with inadequate security measures. 

In reducing the attack surface, DSPM works differently from CSPM. While CSPM focuses on the remediation of misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in infrastructure, DSPM reduces risk by safeguarding vulnerable and valuable data. It achieves this by ensuring data stays in designated secure locations and reducing attack paths, even in infrastructure breaches. 

DSPMs offer broader visibility than CSPMs, extending to various data stores or cloud-native databases. Despite the need to handle vast amounts of data, DSPMs utilize smart metadata clustering to provide comprehensive security without significantly increasing cloud costs. 

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) strengthens cloud security by allowing organizations to monitor specific resources, like AWS S3 buckets, without needing full access to all services. This focused access lets organizations track data access patterns while keeping exposure low and staying compliant.

A best practice is to provide DSPM with limited, read-only access to specific resources to maintain security.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) also performs agentless scanning, i.e., without requiring separate software "agents" to be installed on each resource that allows it to check cloud storage, such as Azure Blob Storage etc.

This approach simplifies deployment, reduces security risks, and avoids unnecessary strain on cloud resources, enabling organizations to maintain efficient, uninterrupted operations.

DSPM identifies misconfigurations and enforces security policies, flagging issues like publicly accessible sensitive data or unencrypted databases—common sources of data breaches.

Reviewing DSPM reports and following recommendations can help organizations fix vulnerabilities quickly. With analytics and reporting features,Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) highlightstrends in unauthorized access, helping teams manage risks before they escalate.

Quick action on these insights is essential for upholding security standards and meeting compliance requirements likeGDPRorHIPAA.

While Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools address some challenges, they do not focus on Enterprise Key Management (EKM) nor provide comprehensive solutions for discovering, assessing, and remediating data encryption risks across a hybrid, multicloud environment.

Here's a breakdown of how Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) features:

• Data Discovery and Classification: Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) provides visibility into where sensitive data is, who has access to it, how it has been used, and the security posture of the data store or application.
• Automation includes deploying advanced scanning tools that monitor databases, cloud storage, emails, file systems, and other data repositories. The algorithms identify data types and patterns that indicate sensitive information, such as social security numbers, credit card details, personal health information (PHI), and other personally identifiable information (PII).
• Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions classify data into predefined categories and sensitivity levels. For example, data encrypted with a strong algorithm and stricter access controls is categorized as highly sensitive. The automated process ensures that new data is continuously monitored and classified in real-time, adapting to the dynamic nature of data flows within an organization.
• Anomaly Detection: Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) establishes a baseline of normal data activity. It continuously compares real-time data flow against this established baseline and identifies deviations that signify potential threats or unauthorized activity. DSPM systems alert security teams when an anomaly is detected, enabling them to investigate and mitigate the risk. Anomalies can include unusual access patterns, unexpected data transfers, or deviations in user behavior that may indicate a compromised account.
• Data Risks Assessment: When a Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solution detects an account compromise, it implements corrective actions such as reconfiguring access controls, applying patches, and revoking unauthorized access. DSPM maintains detailed logs and audit trails of all data audits conducted. The DSPM system will automatically update its data management policies to ensure compliance if new regulatory requirements emerge.

Despite having Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions, organizations still need a platform for Security Control Evaluation that can flag any gaps or insufficiencies in encryption, like Fortanix Key Insight.

The rapid adoption of cloud computing, agile development practices, AI, and ML has redefined data security.

Cloud computing offers scalability and flexibility but brings challenges like data sovereignty, multi-tenant vulnerabilities, and shared responsibility. Agile practices speed up software delivery but may lead to insufficient security testing. AI and ML are revolutionary but can be exploited for cyber-attacks if not well-secured.

Traditional data security technologies, designed for static on-premises environments, struggle to adapt to these dynamic infrastructures. This misalignment increases the risk of breaches and complicates regulatory compliance.

One of the data risks today is data visibility. In cloud and hybrid environments, data is often dispersed across various platforms, applications, and geographies. This dispersion can lead to blind spots where data exists but is not adequately monitored or protected.

DevOps teams frequently create numerous data stores for testing purposes. These secondary data stores, created quickly to meet development deadlines, may bypass standard security protocols and audits, leaving critical data vulnerable.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is more important than ever because it is a part of a multi-layered data security approach. This approach protects data at various levels and stages, combining preventive, detective, and corrective controls.

DSPM provides visibility into an organization’s data security status for real-time risk assessment and management. It monitors data assets, identifies misconfigurations, and complies with security policies. Each security layer functions effectively and cohesively because DSPM identifies vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

However, DSPM is not enough to control your cryptographic security posture. It helps organizations identify their data location, but they need something beyond this basic necessity. They need to know how well their data is encrypted and if there are any discrepancies with your policies or security best practices. Fortanix Key Insight offers this solution. Read more here.

Here's a breakdown of how Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) features:

• Data Discovery and Classification: Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) provides visibility into where sensitive data is, who has access to it, how it has been used, and the security posture of the data store or application.
• Automation includes deploying advanced scanning tools that monitor databases, cloud storage, emails, file systems, and other data repositories. The algorithms identify data types and patterns that indicate sensitive information, such as social security numbers, credit card details, personal health information (PHI), and other personally identifiable information (PII).
• Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions classify data into predefined categories and sensitivity levels. For example, data encrypted with a strong algorithm and stricter access controls is categorized as highly sensitive. The automated process ensures that new data is continuously monitored and classified in real-time, adapting to the dynamic nature of data flows within an organization.
• Anomaly Detection: Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) establishes a baseline of normal data activity. It continuously compares real-time data flow against this established baseline and identifies deviations that signify potential threats or unauthorized activity. DSPM systems alert security teams when an anomaly is detected, enabling them to investigate and mitigate the risk. Anomalies can include unusual access patterns, unexpected data transfers, or deviations in user behavior that may indicate a compromised account.
• Data Risks Assessment: When a Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solution detects an account compromise, it implements corrective actions such as reconfiguring access controls, applying patches, and revoking unauthorized access. DSPM maintains detailed logs and audit trails of all data audits conducted. The DSPM system will automatically update its data management policies to ensure compliance if new regulatory requirements emerge.

Despite having Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions, organizations still need a platform for Security Control Evaluation that can flag any gaps or insufficiencies in encryption, like Fortanix Key Insight.

Although Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) complements traditional security, it cannot replace it. Even with DPSM, security is not enough, and Fortanix Key Insight explains why. But for now, let's compare Data Security Posture Management (DPSM) with traditional security from different viewpoints.

Data-Centric Approach: Traditional security strengthens the perimeter, i.e., networks, firewalls, and endpoints from external threats. This includes intrusion detection systems, anti-malware solutions, and network monitoring. While DSPM focuses on the data itself rather than just the systems. It identifies, classifies, and monitors sensitive data wherever it resides. DSPM cannot evaluate data encryption levels.

Visibility: Traditional measures often focus on specific areas or silos. For instance, focusing solely on network security might overlook vulnerabilities at the endpoint level or within specific applications. DSPM provides a comprehensive, unified view of the entire data environment, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid systems. This includes the primary data storage locations and secondary or fragmented data repositories.

Automation and AI: Traditional security measures rely heavily on manual processes and rule-based systems, which can be slower and less adaptive to evolving threats. DSPM leverages advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to automate data identification and classification.

Risk Identification: Traditional measures tend to be more reactive, addressing threats as they are detected. DSPM continuously monitors and assesses data security postures in real-time, identifying vulnerable data that is located or classified before it can be exploited. DSPM does not identify and remediate the encryption standards that are applied. For this added security, refer to Fortanix Key Insight.

Risk Reduction: Data assessment helps organizations prioritize which data to secure first. When organizations clearly understand their data landscape, they can identify sensitive and high-risk data that requires immediate attention.

Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces manual intervention, saving time and minimizing human error. Centralization simplifies management and coordination, making it easier for security teams to maintain oversight and control. Real-time reports help organizations minimize decision-making time duration. Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) tools often include features that facilitate team collaboration (e.g., IT, security, compliance).

Cost Savings: Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) eliminates the need for extensive manual data identification and classification audits, reducing costs. Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions are designed to scale with the organization, accommodating growth without affecting security management complexity.

However, the benefits are still limited until organizations take the next step to Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), i.e., evaluate how well the data is encrypted. The answer is Fortanix Key Insight.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) distinguishes itself by focusing on the data rather than solely on the systems. It excels in identifying, classifying, and monitoring sensitive data regardless of its location within an organization's infrastructure.

The role of Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) ends here. It is important to note that DSPM cannot assess data encryption levels, leaving a potential blind spot in evaluating encryption vulnerabilities.

Organizations often require insights into the security of their encryption practices to uncover any weaknesses in how their data is secured that Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) might overlook. Without assessing encryption standards, organizations may unknowingly rely on outdated or inadequate encryption methods that can be easily compromised.

Secondly, regulatory compliance often mandates certain encryption protocols to protect consumer data.

This is where Fortanix Key Insight emerges as a valuable solution. It specializes in discovering, assessing, and remediating encryption gaps in real-time, providing organizations with an all-around approach to strengthening their data security posture.

Some of the key compliance standards Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) supports include:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Ensures the protection of personal data and privacy for individuals within the European Union.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Protects sensitive patient health information in the healthcare sector.
• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS): Secures credit card transactions against data theft and fraud.
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX): Ensures accuracy and security of financial data and reporting for publicly traded companies. Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA): Ensures the protection of information and information systems for federal agencies.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: Provides guidelines and best practices for managing and reducing cybersecurity risks.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Protects the privacy rights and personal data of residents of California.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001: Specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an information security management system (ISMS).
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA): Requires financial institutions to explain how they share and protect their customers' private information.
• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA): Imposes certain requirements on services directed to children under 13 years old regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information.

• AI and Machine Learning Integration: AI and machine learning are increasingly used to analyze large volumes of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies that may indicate vulnerabilities.
• Zero Trust Architecture: The adoption of Zero Trust principles, which require verification of every user and device attempting to access data, is becoming more prevalent.
• Automation and Orchestration: Automating repetitive data identification and classification tasks to improve efficiency and reduce the likelihood of human error.

Including the Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions, organizations must also look out for the next step, such as following:

• Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs): These technologies, such as homomorphic encryption and differential privacy, allow data to be processed and analyzed without exposing sensitive information.
• Integration with DevSecOps: This will implement security at every stage of the software development lifecycle, which helps identify and mitigate security risks early in the development process.
• User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA): UEBA solutions monitor and analyze the behavior of users and entities within an organization to detect unusual activities that may indicate security threats.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) serve distinct but complementary purposes in protecting data. DSPM is designed to secure data by identifying, classifying, and monitoring it, with features like data discovery, classification, access control, and compliance monitoring.

In contrast, CSPM primarily secures cloud environments, continuously assesses cloud configurations, audits compliance, and manages risks to prevent vulnerabilities.

The key difference between DSPM and CSPM lies in their focus and application areas. DSPM is more suited for organizations managing regulated data, ensuring it remains secure and meets regulatory compliance for data protection standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

CSPM is ideal for businesses reliant on cloud infrastructure, as it addresses risks specific to cloud resources, ensuring compliance with standards like CIS Benchmarks, NIST, and ISO 27001. This makes DSPM essential for data security and regulatory compliance, while CSPM is critical for cloud-specific security posture and governance.

In a side-by-side comparison, DSPM (Data Security Posture Management) concentrates on locating data that needs to be secured, while CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) focuses on cloud infrastructure and services. In terms of threat detection, DSPM handles data-centric risks, like unauthorized access, while CSPM mitigates cloud infrastructure threats, such as misconfigurations.

However, DSPM and CSPM are limited in evaluating where, how, and how well encryption standards are applied across the infrastructure. 

Organizations must evaluate how well their data is encrypted and ensure compliance with policies and best practices. A real-time inventory and regular assessments help maintain strong encryption methods against emerging threats. Fortanix Key Insight offers such solutions to solve data security challenges and simplify key management across on-premises and cloud environments.

Here are some common challenges:

• Data Discovery Across Hybrid Environments:The variation in data storage setups, such as public clouds, private clouds, and traditional on-premises databases, creates a complicated matrix for Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solutions to navigate. Each platform may have different architectures, access controls, and security protocols, requiring DSPM tools to adopt diverse detection and cataloguing mechanisms.
• Data Classification Complexity:Accurate classification is challenging because data sensitivity varies by context, industry, and regulatory requirements. Misclassification can lead to either overprotection, which impacts performance and cost, or under protection, which increases security risks. Misclassification occurs from inadequate data management practices, such as inconsistent data input, lack of a centralized classification policy, outdated systems, insufficient staff training, and reliance on manual processes.
• Scalability and Performance:Scaling DSPM tools in hybrid environments is challenging due to varying technical infrastructures, unique security protocols, and the dynamic nature of data movement. These factors complicate continuous monitoring and necessitate customized governance policies to meet diverse regulatory requirements. New data storage technologies require DSPM tools to upgrade, leading to substantial resource investments for effective deployment.

Because of thelimitations of Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) tools, organizations must also prioritize strategies for securing the actual data. They must assess if their data is encrypted and ensure compliance with policies and best practices. Learn about FortanixKey Insightsolutions that can overcome DSPM challenges.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) should be regarded as the foundational step in securing your data. It enables organizations to identify where critical information is stored, ensure compliance with regulations, and identify vulnerabilities.

By implementing Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) first, organizations establish a robust framework for subsequent protective measures, such as data encryption, key management, risk assessment, and data tokenization.

Once DSPM provides a comprehensive overview of the data landscape, integrating encryption becomes more straightforward, protecting data both in transit, at rest and in use. Understanding the location of sensitive information will help improve encryption practices. Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) improves risk assessments by revealing potential security weaknesses.

With a clear understanding of data movement and existing vulnerabilities, you can effectively utilize data tokenization to replace sensitive data with safer alternatives. Collectively, these strategies work in sync to ensure data remains protected throughout its lifecycle.