Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is emerging as a must-have solution for organizations dealing with sprawling hybrid and cloud environments. This blog explores what DSPM is, how it differs from other security approaches, why shadow data is a growing threat, and how Netwrix delivers proactive visibility, risk context, and integrated compliance features to strengthen your data security posture. If you’re looking to reduce risk and simplify audits while enhancing cloud data protection, this guide is for you.
Introduction: The Urgency of Modern Data Security
Data is often called “digital gold”—and that’s exactly why attackers want it. Unlike physical assets stored in vaults, sensitive data is scattered across cloud platforms, devices, and applications. That complexity makes protecting it a serious challenge for today’s security teams.
To further complicate things, the shift towards remote work, cloud-first strategies, and increasingly complex network architectures has shattered security controls that focused on a fortified perimeter. Today’s distributed digital landscape demands a fundamentally different approach to data protection.
That is where Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) comes into play. DPSM is a proactive data security strategy that discovers, classifies, and protects sensitive data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It provides a combination of full visibility, risk assessment, and continuous monitoring across your enterprise environment.
What Is DSPM? Clarifying Definitions and Scope
According to Gartner, data security posture management (DSPM) provides visibility and insights into:
- where sensitive data is
- who has access to that data
- how it’s been used
- the security posture of the stored data or application
DSPM solutions continuously assess the state of data security to identify risks and vulnerabilities so that organizations can implement the proper controls for mitigation.. Unlike traditional security approaches that focus on protecting infrastructure or devices, DSPM prioritizes the security of the data itself. It’s important not to confuse DSPM with other data security methodologies:
- DSPM vs. DSP: DSPM emphasizes visibility, discovery of sensitive data, access, and misconfiguration, while DSP includes DSPM-like visibility but adds real-time enforcement, such as policy controls, threat detection, and automated remediation.
- DSPM vs. CSPM is data-centric, tracking sensitive data across cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments, while CSPM is infrastructure-centric and monitors cloud configurations to detect misconfigurations.
- DSPM vs. DLP: DSPM takes a proactive, risk-based approach, while DLP remains reactive and policy-based, designed to flag or block data exfiltration based on predefined rules.
Evolution of the Data Security Platform
The demand for data security surged as organizations embraced digital transformation. This resulted in security platforms evolving far beyond their original scope. In the past, security solutions focused on isolated functions such as encryption, access control, or basic monitoring. Today, security strategies are driven by AI-powered analytics and the increasing pressure to meet evolving compliance requirements.
Protecting sensitive data now means combining multiple layers: visibility, control, and context into a single security strategy. It starts with discovery and classification tools because you can’t begin protecting your data without first knowing what data you have and where it resides. Access control mechanisms are essential for enforcing least privilege and automating policy enforcement. With the risk of data leakage always present, Data Loss Prevention tools play a key role in monitoring and blocking unauthorized activity. These controls are strengthened further by continuous monitoring and advanced analytics, which deliver insights into data usage, anomalies, and compliance posture..
Shadow Data: The Hidden Threat Undermining Security Posture
Most security teams are familiar with shadow IT—but shadow data poses an equally serious risk. Shadow data includes sensitive or business-critical information that lives outside sanctioned systems or governance frameworks. It often surfaces in unmanaged locations such as personal cloud drives, email attachments, or spreadsheets created by employees without oversight. Because traditional security tools are designed to monitor known assets, this unmanaged data remains invisible—and therefore unprotected.
That is where DSPM enters the picture. These solutions automate the discovery and classification of sensitive data across all environments, including the cloud, on prem and third-party applications. DSPM unearths unknown shadow data that is distributed across your enterprise. Once identified, it assesses the risk posture of that data so that security teams can prioritize remediation, enforce access controls, and implement targeted protections to mitigate the risks.
Gartner’s Strategic Perspective on DSPM
Gartner’s Innovation Insight: Data Security Posture Management report published in 2023, outlines the growing role of DSPM as a data security platform that can address the challenges of securing data in today’s expansive hybrid cloud environments. The data security posture management Gartner report highlights several key takeaways:
- DSPM technologies excel at discovering and categorizing data, both structured and unstructured, across cloud service platforms.
- DSPM solutions help organizations close critical security gaps by providing visibility into sensitive data residing in unknown repositories.
- DSPM tools can identify exposure risks and recommend remediation actions
The report predicts that more than 20% of organizations will deploy DSPM technology by 2026. While the need for greater data security is real, Gartner advises organizations to carefully assess available products and their features and integration options as vendor offerings vary in maturity and integration capabilities. Unfortunately, there is not yet a DSPM Magic Quadrant available for guidance.
Key Capabilities to Expect from DSPM Tools
Perhaps the most powerful feature of DSPM is automated data discovery. It scans through cloud storage, databases, file systems, SaaS apps, or anywhere data may be hiding. Once data is discovered, DSPM tools provide risk scoring and contextual analysis to assess the potential impact and likelihood of exposure or misuse, allowing you to prioritize risks and focus on the most pressing threats.
Real-time monitoring and alerting are core to DSPM platforms as well, enabling continuous oversight of data access, movement, and usage. Any anomalies, policy violations, or suspicious activities are flagged immediately so that security teams can respond quickly and minimize potential impact to your business. Finally, DSPM tools offer extensive reporting capabilities for regulatory compliance so that you can demonstrate adherence in audits.
Evaluating DSPM Vendors: What CISOs Should Look For
The more your data volume grows, the more important it is to ensure you select the right DSPM tool. Here are some things to look for when shopping for a modern DSPM solution.
- Scalability is a must, so look for vendors with proven performance in large enterprise environments.
- Identify solutions that integrate well with your IAM, SIEM, SOAR, and DLP tools.
- Make sure that your proposed DSPM solution provides comprehensive coverage across all major cloud providers, SaaS applications, and on-prem data stores.
- Prioritize solutions with accurate, in-depth data discovery, classification, and risk assessment.
- Select a DSPM platform that automates as many functions as possible, including alerting and remediation workflows.
- Ensure built-in privacy features like anonymization and least-privilege enforcement are part of your DSPM strategy.
- Choose tools that offer advanced privacy controls, such as data anonymization, encryption, and least privilege access enforcement.
- And finally, make sure you make your job easier by selecting a DSPM product that easily integrates with your existing security tool investments.
Integrating DSPM into Your Security Ecosystem
Implementing a DSPM solution isn’t about replacing your existing tools. It’s about enhancing them. DSPM acts as a force multiplier that brings deeper, contextual visibility into the places where unknown sensitive data lives. It can determine who has access to all your data, how it is accessed, and whether that access is justified. DSPM is ideally suited for the cloud with its ability to identify exposed data in cloud object storage, overprivileged settings, and misconfigured SaaS instances.
If your organization has an existing SIEM, a DSPM will enrich its capabilities by providing active context about sensitive data to properly secure it. DSPM automates compliance tracking and reporting, helping teams simplify audits and meet regulatory expectations. When woven into the fabric of your security stack, DSPM helps teams move from reactive control to proactive governance.
Industry Trends Driving DSPM Adoption
Finance and healthcare are two obvious industry examples when we talk about sensitive data. The explosion of mobile banking and fintech partnerships has expanded the attack surface of banks and other financial institutions. DSPM is being used in the financial sector to proactively track sensitive financial records, ensure least-privilege access models, and to detect data leakage before it escalates into a breach. With the surge in telehealth and digital patient records, DSPM is helping healthcare providers map and monitor protected health information (PHI) across hybrid environments. It is also aiding in the enforcement of HIPAA-aligned policies that are expanding in 2025. In fact, the regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving with frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA imposing strict requirements for data protection, transparency, and accountability. DSPM is proving critical for organizations striving to keep pace.
Netwrix Perspective: A Smarter Approach to Data Security
Netwrix DSPM helps uncover shadow data and automate security actions to move organizations beyond basic discovery toward full visibility, control, and compliance readiness. Rather than offering a single-point tool, Netwrix embeds DSPM capabilities into a broader, data-centric strategy that enhances both operational security and regulatory alignment. This approach enables organizations to assess, prioritize, and mitigate risks to sensitive data—while identifying threats early enough to prevent breaches.
Here are a few of the ways Netwrix DSPM strengthens your data security posture:
- Discover and classify data across your environment, categorizing it by sensitivity.
- Gain visibility into data access to optimize controls and enforce least privilege.
- Tag data based on content and context, enabling informed risk decisions and more effective downstream controls.
- Identify excessive permissions, stale data, and access anomalies along with providing clear, actionable insights into where data may be overexposed or mismanaged.
- Evaluate vulnerabilities, such as overexposed data or loose permissions, and strategically prioritize protective measures to address them.
Netwrix’s unified approach brings together visibility, classification, auditing, and alerting in a way that aligns perfectly with DSPM objectives.
Expert Recommendations for Strengthening Data Security Posture
To get the most out of your DSPM implementation, follow these best practices:
- Define your data classification standards. Start by establishing clear criteria for what qualifies as sensitive data.
- Form a cross-functional oversight team. Include stakeholders from IT, security, legal, compliance, and business units to drive your DSPM strategy.
- Leverage automation with AI-powered tools. Use DSPM solutions that can accurately identify sensitive data and intellectual property across structured and unstructured environments.
- Set retention and disposal policies. Define how long data should be retained and how it will be securely deleted when no longer needed.
- Enforce least privilege. Ensure users and applications only access the data necessary for their roles, and regularly audit permissions to remove excess access.
- Conduct regular reviews. Perform quarterly assessments of your data security policies to stay ahead of evolving threats and new compliance requirements.
- Promote data literacy. Educate teams on how to handle sensitive information and recognize security risks, such as phishing.
These steps help ensure that your DSPM strategy supports proactive governance and long-term resilience.
Preparing for the Future of Data Security
Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is no longer optional. It is a strategic necessity to safeguard digital information regardless of where it is stored. DSPM reduces risk, enables trustworthy data practices, and eases the burden of the compliance process. Not only does DSPM offer a great value to your security efforts, but it also strengthens customer and stakeholder trust in our increasingly data-driven world.
How Netwrix Can Help
Netwrix takes DSPM further by embedding visibility and governance into a broader data security platform that connects data and identity risk. With Netwrix, you get more than discovery—you get context. Our solution continuously uncovers shadow data, maps access permissions, detects risks like overexposure, and automates the application of controls to help teams respond faster and stay compliant.
Our DSPM capabilities include:
- Automated discovery and classification of sensitive data across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments.
- Continuous evaluation of access rights to reduce over-permissioning and upholding least-privilege principles.
- Real-time monitoring to detect abnormal behaviors and policy violations before they escalate.
- Integration with your existing stack—SIEMs, IAMs, DLPs—to unify security and reduce operational friction.
- Prebuilt compliance reporting aligned with HIPAA, GDPR, and other frameworks to streamline audits.
With Netwrix, organizations can simplify compliance, regain control over their sensitive data, and reduce breach risks—without layering on more complexity.
FAQs
What is the DSPM Magic Quadrant?
As of yet, Gartner has not published a Magic Quadrant specifically for Data Security Posture Management (DSPM). That may change at some point due to the increasing importance of this technology, so you may see a Gartner DSPM magic quadrant in the near future.
Is there a Gartner Magic Quadrant for DLP?
Gartner discontinued the Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Data Loss Prevention (DLP) in 2018. The decision was based on the technology’s maturity and stability in the market.
What are data security platforms?
Data security platforms are comprehensive suites of tools and technologies designed to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, theft, loss, and other security threats. Today these platforms provide protection across all types of environments including on prem, cloud, and hybrid systems.
What are the three types of data security?
The three main types of data security are confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to authorized individuals while integrity guarantees that data remains accurate, complete, and unaltered. Availability ensures that the data is accessible and usable by authorized users whenever needed.
What are the five pillars of data security?
In addition to the three types of data security, confidentiality, integrity, and availability, there are two more types that round out the four pillars of data security. The first is authenticity, which confirms the identity of users, systems, and data sources. The second is non-repudiation, which prevents parties from denying their actions. This is achieved using audit logs, digital signatures, and time stamps.
What is the best cybersecurity platform?
It would be nice if there were a “best” security platform, but the best solution is relative to your organization’s needs regarding its size, infrastructure, and risk profile. Many organizations find that Netwrix offers the best security platform for unifying data, identity, and infrastructure security. Its AI-powered automation and identity-centric approach make it a standout choice today.
Meta Title: Insights on DSPM Trends – Data Security Platform Guide
Meta Description: Gain clarity on DSPM tools, Gartner trends, and how a modern data security platform helps uncover risk and protect cloud environments at scale.
