DLP vs. DSPM: What’s the Difference?
The current data landscape is evolving rapidly. Global data creation has soared, with 147 zettabytes of data created in 2024, up from just 2 zettabytes in 2010. This also means there is a great deal more data to manage and protect.
When it comes to data security and managing sensitive data, there are several different tactics and approaches. While all of these are important in the grand scheme of data security, they serve different purposes and operate in distinct ways.
In this blog, we’ll explore the difference between Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), from their definition to their purpose, and how both can be leveraged in tandem for a more effective security strategy.
What is DLP?
DLP is a security solution designed to identify, monitor, and protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, sharing, or exfiltration. DLP tools help enforce data security policies across emails, endpoints, cloud applications, and networks, preventing data leaks and regulatory compliance violations.
Key Features of DLP
- Content Inspection: Scans files and messages for sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial details, or intellectual property.
- Policy-Based Controls: Enforces security rules to restrict how data can be accessed, shared, or transferred.
- Blocking and Encryption: Prevents unauthorized data movement by blocking actions or encrypting data before transmission.
- Integration with Compliance Standards: Helps meet regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA.
Benefits of DLP
- Risk Reduction: Reduces the risk of accidental data exposure.
- Compliance Support: Helps meet compliance and regulatory requirements.
- Data Visibility: Provides visibility into data movement and access.
Challenges of DLP
- Reactive, not proactive. DLP focuses on identifying and blocking threats but does not assess overall security posture.
- Policy maintenance overhead. DLP requires continuous updates and fine-tuning to avoid false positives and operational disruptions.
- Limited scope. DLP primarily prevents data leaks but does not provide holistic risk assessment, posture management, or recovery capabilities.
Common Use Cases for DLP
- Preventing employees from emailing sensitive files externally.
- Blocking unauthorized cloud storage uploads.
- Enforcing policies to redact personal data in shared documents.
Data security is a top priority for organizations managing sensitive information across cloud environments, collaboration platforms, and enterprise systems. For years, DLP solutions have served as a critical safeguard, helping businesses detect and prevent unauthorized exposure. But, while DLP plays an essential role, it’s not a complete solution. It contains critical blind spots that pose a threat to business continuity.
As data environments become more complex and cyber threats more sophisticated, organizations need a proactive, end-to-end security strategy – one that goes beyond just preventing leaks to also include ongoing monitoring, risk mitigation, and rapid recovery. This is where DSPM comes into play.
What is DSPM?
DSPM is a proactive, risk-based approach to securing data across an organization’s cloud and hybrid environments. DSPM is also becoming the fastest-growing security category, with 75% of organizations planning to adopt it by mid-2025. Unlike DLP, which focuses on controlling data movement, DSPM provides full visibility into data security posture, detects vulnerabilities, and enables organizations to mitigate risks before breaches occur.
Key Features of DSPM
- Automated Data Discovery: Continuously scans and classifies sensitive data across structured and unstructured sources.
- Risk-Based Analysis: Identifies misconfigurations, excessive permissions, and policy violations to increase security posture.
- Proactive Security Controls: Provides alerts, recommendations, and automated remediation actions for potential threats.
- Continuous Monitoring and Compliance: Ensures data security policies align with compliance frameworks while adapting to evolving risks.
- Resilience and Recovery Support: Enables organizations to respond quickly and recover in the event of data compromise or loss.
Benefits of DSPM
- Full-Spectrum Data Security: Covers visibility, risk management, prevention, and recovery for a comprehensive approach.
- Automated Risk Detection: Identifies security gaps without relying on manual policy creation.
- Adaptability to Evolving Threats: Unlike static DLP policies, DSPM dynamically adjusts to new risks.
Challenges of DSPM
- Initial Configuration Effort: Organizations must fine-tune settings to align with specific security needs.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Regular updates and adjustments are required to ensure DSPM solutions remain effective against emerging threats.
Common Use Cases for DSPM
- Identifying shadow data across multi-cloud environments.
- Detecting unauthorized access or overprivileged accounts.
- Automating remediation for data security misconfigurations.
The Comprehensive Advantage of DSPM in Modern Data Security
While DLP solutions provide a certain level of protection that’s important in today’s cybersecurity landscape, they fall short of delivering full coverage. DSPM bridges this gap by offering a holistic strategy that includes preventative security measures, continuous monitoring and control, as well as resilience and recovery capabilities in the event of data loss. In other words, DSPM addresses the shortcomings of DLP by ensuring that data is securely managed and protected across its entire lifecycle.
The Role of DLP within a DSPM Strategy
As data environments become more complex, organizations must shift from reactive, rule-based prevention to proactive risk management and resilience. DSPM delivers the full picture, giving organizations continuous visibility, automated risk protection, and recovery capabilities that go beyond traditional DLP. By integrating DLP as a tactical control within a DSPM-driven strategy, businesses can achieve comprehensive data security that adapts to modern threats and compliance demands.
Achieving Comprehensive Data Security with AvePoint
Secure, govern, and recover your most sensitive cloud data with AvePoint’s proactive approach to Data Security Posture Management (DSPM). With an advanced approach to holistic data security, the AvePoint Confidence Platform not only mitigates risks, but empowers organizational ability by providing real-time insights and adaptive protective mechanisms.
As threats evolve and the data landscape becomes increasingly intricate, AvePoint’s robust DSPM framework equips organizations with the necessary tools to navigate these challenges, ensuring their data remains a resilient asset rather than a liability.
Ready to take your data security posture to the next level? Learn more about AvePoint’s solutions for DSPM and get your free Data Security Risk Scan today.
Shyam brings over 15 years of expertise in product management, marketing, delivery, and support, with a strong emphasis on data resilience, security, and business continuity. Throughout his career, Shyam has undertaken diverse roles, from teaching video game design to modernizing legacy enterprise software and business models by fully leveraging SaaS technology and Agile methodologies. He holds a B.A. in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
