What to look for in a DSPM solution

Dynamic cloud environments make it easy for sensitive data to sprawl across unmanaged databases, forgotten buckets or unauthorized SaaS tools. A robust DSPM platform helps you regain visibility, reduce misconfigurations and protect critical assets by delivering contextual intelligence on your actual exposure.

The right DSPM tool helps you:

• See all data across cloud and SaaS environments
• Classify and prioritize sensitive data based on risk and regulation
• Detect and remediate misconfigurations before attackers exploit them
• Integrate seamlessly with your existing cloud security stack

So, what exactly should you look for in a DSPM solution?

DSPM platforms aren't all the same. Some just find your data while others actually help you protect it. If you want to cut down on cloud data risk, look for tools that don't just tell you where your data is, but give you useful information about what to do next.

Essential DSPM features

Support for multi-cloud and SaaS environments

Your sensitive data doesn’t stick with just one provider. A strong DSPM platform spans AWS, Azure, GCP and SaaS applications so you have consistent visibility and control no matter where data lives. This unified approach helps prevent security blind spots and fragmented risk management.

Agentless, API-based scanning

Agentless deployment speeds up adoption, reduces operational overhead and eliminates blind spots. API-based scanning ensures you can continuously monitor without disrupting workloads. This lightweight approach also helps discover previously unseen risks, especially in ephemeral or serverless environments.

Automatic discovery of all data repositories

Unmanaged databases, shadow IT and forgotten storage buckets often contain high-value sensitive data you don’t even know exists. To eliminate hidden risks, your DSPM solution must auto-discover every data repository, including those outside sanctioned environments.

More than basic data discovery

Many DSPM solutions stop at simply finding where data lives. But effective DSPM also gives you the context to understand risk.

Data classification by sensitivity and regulation

A DSPM platform should classify sensitive data, financial information, intellectual property and custom-sensitive datasets while aligning with industry regulations and your internal policies. It helps you focus on what matters most to your business.

Ability to analyze identity, roles and entitlements

Most data exposure stems from over-permissioned accounts or poorly configured identities. DSPM must map who and what has access to your data, analyze toxic privilege combinations and highlight identity misconfigurations that lead to risk.

Visual exposure paths with context

Seeing a misconfigured bucket is one thing. Another is to understand how an attacker could chain that with an admin role to exfiltrate sensitive data. You must understand how an attacker could chain it with an admin role or another weakness to exfiltrate data. Look for exposure path modeling that gives you context to prioritize your most exploitable risks.

Intelligent prioritization

Your DSPM tool should work with your broader exposure management strategy.

Integration with CSPM, CIEM and CNAPP tools

DSPM works best as part of a larger exposure management strategy. Seamless integration with cloud security posture, identity entitlement management and application security tools creates a unified risk picture. Together, these solutions give you full-stack visibility and control.

Risk scoring based on exposure and business impact

Prioritization is critical. Your DSPM platform should provide risk scoring that accounts for exposure and business impact so you can differentiate between a test dataset in a public bucket and production customer data exposed through multiple identity gaps. DSPM ensures your team focuses on actual risk.

Actionable remediation that closes gaps

Detection without remediation leaves you vulnerable.

Recommend actionable fixes with guided remediation

Your DSPM should do more than flag issues. Look for prescriptive remediation steps, like revoking permissions, encrypting data or restricting public access. The best DSPM tools also integrate with cloud-native workflows for automated response, so you can close security gaps faster and with less effort.

Tips to choose a DSPM solution

The cloud will continue to evolve, and so will the risks to your sensitive data. 

By choosing a DSPM solution that supports multi-cloud environments, advanced exposure modeling, integrated risk prioritization and guided remediation, you’ll stay ahead of attackers and maintain control of your most critical assets.

Ready to strengthen your cloud data security posture? Learn how to protect your sensitive data with advanced DSPM capabilities.