While Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) employ nearly opposing strategies for securing serverless assets, there is much to be said about the mutual benefits attained only when these two disparate tools are combined.
Put simply, DSPM and CSPM work well together. In fact, they’re made for each other, or at least to complement each other in a synchronous cloud security strategy. Here’s how.
Contents
First, the Basics
To understand why these two cloud data security approaches complement one another, it is essential to first grasp their differences.
DSPM Means ‘Data First’
DSPM is an “inside out” tactic of securing data first, rather than the architecture that houses it. IBM notes that Data Security Posture Management “inverts the protection model embraced by other cybersecurity technologies and practices” by its unique ‘data first’ approach. This means that protections zero-in on sensitive data assets in the cloud,
- Finding it
- Classifying it
- Monitoring it continuously
- Using machine learning and automation to identify risks to it more quickly
And ultimately provide organizations with a clear view of the security status of all their data assets in a serverless environment. As Gartner observes, 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.”
In essence, DSPM solutions are made to uncover data (wherever it may be hiding) in the cloud and classify them based on sensitivity so that the proper protections can be assigned, and organizations can know what they’re working with.
CSPM Means ‘The Big Picture’
Now, Cloud Security Posture Management does what we expect security tools to do: secure the architecture. No matter how well your data assets are accounted for, this is still a necessary step and a vital first line of defense.
A CSPM solution will:
- Ensure the cloud security posture is strong from every angle (think of it as a bird’s-eye-view).
- • Make sure that cloud security policies are enforced and configurations are in check so regulatory compliance issues (GDPR, CCPA, PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc.) don’t arise. This simplifies what can otherwise be a complex compliance process (especially in the cloud).
- Prevent external attacks from taking hold in the cloud by addressing issues like misconfigurations and vulnerabilities early on.
Ultimately, CSPM is especially useful for organizations handling multiple cloud environments and the security demands that come with them. It allows teams to scale not only their infrastructure but also their security, even across diverse platforms.
With Their Powers Combined: DSPM + CSPM
Apart, they’re powerful. Together, they present what can be described as one of the most potent cloud security combinations on the market today. This is because DSPM focuses on keeping sensitive data safe from unauthorized access and breaches, while CSPM zeroes in on securing cloud infrastructure and preventing misconfigurations. In other words, when organizations add DSPM and CSPM to their cloud security strategy, they benefit from two specialists, each serving the other while not getting in the way.
When is DSPM + CSPM Needed?
The comprehensive cloud coverage brought on by combining these two is especially useful for compliance-heavy sectors like government, healthcare, and finance and any organization looking to establish a zero-trust approach in the cloud.
Combining sensitive data and complex environments typically demands more than one tool. Still, withtool sprawl paralyzing many security stacks (some estimates place the average number of security products per organization in the range of 70 to 90), it’s important only to have those solutions that matter most.
A Necessary One-Two Punch
Imagine having a warehouse full of scores of important documents. It’s crucial to padlock the doors, check workers at the entryways, ensure no one walks out with the goods, etc. At this stage, you’re looking to ensure the lock codes are correct, the windows are secure properly, and everything you think is working actually is working. This is essentially the job of Cloud Posture Security Management – secure the architecture.
But it’s also important to identify just how many important documents are stored there, how sensitive they are, where they are kept specifically, and the protections put on them within the warehouse to ensure their safekeeping. This is where Data Security Posture Management comes into play.
As is evident, both methodologies are needed for a fully comprehensive approach. Cloud data is necessary for data security. Data security is the point of cloud security. While an organization might strategize one or the other first, CSPM and DSPM play off each other in a way that creates a powerful synergy and force-multiplies cloud security efforts. In a landscape packed with tools and point solutions, taking a simplified, overarching approach with two succinct solutions can help teams combat complexity and create a cloud security strategy that is flexible, scalable, and resistant to the most common vectors of attack.
