Organizations looking to implement security tools and solutions are often faced with the challenge of choosing between many options that appear very similar on the surface. It takes research to decide which measures will be best for your organization. This is why Gartner, a leading authority in technology research, works to help organizations understand the market and make informed decisions. Gartner’s recent report on Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) offers insight into the growing popularity of DSPM solutions and the importance of cloud data security measures. The report explores the landscape that has brought about the rise of DSPM, the capabilities of DSPM tools, and recommendations for effective and secure implementation of DSPM strategies. Understanding DSPM Most organizations today rely heavily on cloud infrastructure for a wide range of functions, including Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms. The growing popularity of cloud solutions has created a digital landscape where many business operations and sensitive data stores are located off-premises, spread out in the cloud. This makes a large and complex attack surface ripe for cybercriminals to take advantage of. DSPM is an approach to cloud security that focuses on the data itself in order to effectively protect it and maintain compliance with data privacy and security regulations. According to Gartner, DSPM “provides visibility as to where sensitive data is, who has access to that data, how it has been used, and what the security posture of the data stored or application is.” DSPM tools are designed to account for data security across an organization’s entire cloud environment. Organizations that manage large and complex multi-cloud environments containing sensitive and valuable data may benefit from implementing DSPM strategies and solutions. These organizations can take advantage of DSPM tools that automate and streamline certain security processes, protect data against emerging and evolving threats, and help align data security with relevant regulations and standards. Key Takeaways from Gartner’s DSPM Report The Gartner report provides insight into the digital trends and challenges that have led to the growing need for DSPM tools. It notes that data has been increasingly proliferating across a complex attack surface that transcends boundaries between cloud service platforms (CSPs) as well as geographical boundaries. In this landscape, DSPM is becoming essential to many organizations, especially as DSPM tools evolve to meet modern threats. Other takeaways from the report include: • DSPM tools have the ability to discover, identify, classify, and protect data with the use of data lineage, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. They can also integrate with identity and access management (IAM) tools and generate security alerts. • The challenge of “shadow data,” undiscovered or unidentified data repositories, is one major driver for organizations adopting DSPM. Shadow data can leave an organization vulnerable to a variety of risks, and DSPM tools are built to discover hidden data that traditional data security products miss. • In general, legacy data security measures are not equipped to handle the security threats associated with sprawling cloud environments. DSPM is a far more effective approach to securing data in the cloud, as it comprehensively discovers data across all cloud platforms. • Integration with third-party security tools is a challenge for organizations that can lead to security gaps and data protection inconsistencies. DSPM helps organizations achieve a more consistent data security posture by discovering data from many different sources. Choosing a DSPM Solution It is crucial for organizations to take appropriate steps to effectively and securely research, choose, and deploy DSPM tools. This includes having an understanding of data governance and data privacy policies that will impact the security rules that the DSPM tools will follow. The Gartner report provides several recommendations for organizations looking to invest in DSPM measures. Security leaders and decision-makers are encouraged to begin from the perspective of data security governance in order to effectively establish the baseline security posture and data security policies required for DSPM implementation. This will enable DSPM solutions to assign and enforce security rules for data protection. It is recommended that organizations assess the different solutions on the market to determine their ability to discover unknown data repositories and perform a risk analysis. They should also evaluate each tool’s ability to use data lineage, map data’s locations, and identify potential risks. When a tool is chosen, organizations should invest smartly and leave room for business growth, shifting market conditions, and evolving threat trends. Solutions should be adopted, deployed, and managed in a way that allows them to adapt to the constant changes in the technology and cybersecurity landscapes. Conclusion More and more organizations are choosing to implement DSPM tools to secure data across cloud environments, and it is vital for decision-makers to use industry expertise and market research to make informed security choices. Gartner’s DSPM report highlights the trends that are contributing to the current growth of DSPM tools, the importance of investing in comprehensive cloud data security, and the best practices recommended for the secure and effective deployment of DSPM solutions. Organizations considering adopting DSPM as an approach to cloud data security can benefit from the information and advice presented in the report. About the author: PJ Bradley is a writer on a wide variety of topics, passionate about learning and helping people above all else. Holding a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University, PJ enjoys using a lifelong desire to understand how things work to write about subjects that inspire interest. Most of PJ’s free time is spent reading and writing. PJ is also a regular writer at Bora. 

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