In a cloud-first world, businesses rely on cloud infrastructure to innovate and support their digital transformation efforts. However, this dependence on multi-cloud environments comes with a host of data security challenges. Entities need to manage complex data flows, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect proprietary data, all of which can be difficult in fragmented cloud ecosystems.
Gartner’s latest report on Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) gives readers an in-depth view into how DSPM solutions are being seen as the answer to these challenges. These solutions give visibility, automation, and streamlined compliance to businesses that are struggling to secure data in their cloud environments.
Key Data Security Challenges in the Cloud
- Shadow Data: One of the most common and dangerous risks in multi-cloud environments is “shadow data”—unmonitored or forgotten data repositories that exist outside the purview of security teams. As companies bring new cloud services and applications on board, data proliferates across diverse locations, leading to sensitive information being stored in unsuitable or unsecured areas. Shadow data could include test environments, temporary data backups, or infrastructure created by users with high-level access, leading to major security blind spots.
- Fragmented Security Tools: In the past, data security within cloud environments relied on a slew of standalone tools, such as data loss prevention (DLP) and endpoint security. However, these don’t always communicate effectively with each other, leaving chinks in the data protection armor. Security policies also sometimes lack consistency across clouds and on-premises, making it hard to implement unified protection and guarantee all data assets are covered.
- Regulatory Compliance and Data Residency: Globally, data protection rules are tightening, and regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA mandate that businesses must maintain stringent data residency and compliance standards. Affirming compliance with data privacy regulations can be highly challenging in multi-cloud environments, in which data constantly moves across regions and jurisdictions. Entities must track where sensitive data lives and see that the proper access controls are in place to prevent unsanctioned access and potential regulatory violations.
How DSPM Solutions Address These Challenges
DSPM is fast becoming the answer for entities wanting to tackle the inevitable data security challenges that arise in multi-cloud environments. Gartner’s report describes DSPM as a suite of tools designed to give organizations the visibility, control, and automation needed to maintain a robust data security posture.
These tools help businesses discover, monitor, and secure their data across cloud service providers (CSPs), hyperscalers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as within SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS applications. Unlike Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), which zones in on infrastructure security, DSPM is all about data security, offering a bottom-up approach to managing and protecting data assets.
The analyst believes DSPM is rapidly gaining traction within organizations with sensitive data assets. By 2026, it is estimated that over 20% of businesses will adopt DSPM tools to detect, secure, and manage known and unknown data repositories. These tools’ capabilities, such as shadow data discovery, real-time compliance monitoring, and risk assessment, allow firms to secure data assets across complex, multi-cloud ecosystems.
The Key Benefits of DSPM Tools
DSPM tools offer several compelling benefits.
Comprehensive Data Discovery
These tools feature advanced capabilities to identify hidden or shadow data across cloud environments. This means that all data assets, irrespective of their location, are accounted for and safeguarded, mitigating the risks posed by unknown data stores and reducing security blind spots.
Automated Risk Management
Manual oversight is impractical with such a high volume of data traffic in multi-cloud environments. DSPM tools offer automated risk assessments, data flow mapping, and vulnerability identification. This helps entities proactively address potential (and hidden) security risks, like misconfigurations and data exposures, strengthening their overall data security posture.
Streamlined Compliance and Data Governance
These solutions provide critical support for regulatory compliance by arming companies with insights into data residency, access controls, and data movement. This is vital for organizations operating in highly regulated industries, as DSPM solutions monitor access patterns and detect potential compliance violations. Hence, businesses are able to act before any issues escalate.
Integration with Existing Security Investments
DSPM solutions are designed to integrate easily with identity and access management (IAM) systems, DLP, and other existing security tools. This compatibility enhances a company’s data security posture and helps it get the most from its existing security infrastructure, creating a unified approach to data protection.
Evaluating DSPM Solutions: Key Features for Businesses
When considering DSPM tools, security leaders should weigh up specific features that align with their data security needs:
- Data Discovery and Mapping: Tools should offer robust capabilities for discovering hidden data across all cloud environments, giving businesses a complete view of their data landscape.
- Risk Assessment and Mitigation: A solution’s ability to map data flows, identify vulnerabilities, and recommend mitigation actions is critical for effective data security management.
- Compliance Monitoring: Real-time compliance monitoring and reporting features help businesses comply with evolving data protection regulations, maintain data privacy, and limit legal risks.
- Automation: Automated processes for data discovery, classification, and risk assessment can dramatically lessen the burden on security teams, allowing them to focus on high-priority tasks.
- Seamless Integration: The top DSPM solutions integrate with existing security tools and workflows, facilitating a unified approach to data protection across cloud and on-premises environments.
The Rising Importance of DSPM
As data security risks increase in multi-cloud environments, organizations must begin prioritizing DSPM as a core element of their cloud security strategy. DSPM tools offer businesses the means to safeguard sensitive information, reduce security risks, and maintain a resilient security posture by addressing the challenges of shadow data, fragmented tools, and regulatory compliance.
