How to choose the best DSPM solution for your organization: comparison of features, benefits, and pricing models of different DSPM vendors

Cloud data security is one of the most critical, yet most challenging aspects of doing business in the age of cloud. As more organizations migrate their data to the cloud, they face an increasing range of risks and threats, including data breaches, data leakage, data loss, data misuse, data compliance violations, shadow data and more.

According to a recent report by IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.24 million, the highest it’s been in 17 years. In fact, most instances of data breaches tend to occur within shadow data environments. As the quantity of shadow data grows, so does the potential risk for a data breach. Shadow data, along with unprotected sensitive data, can often be stored in systems that are misconfigured, unobserved, and may violate data security protocols – making them prime targets for attacks.

Laminar’s State of Cloud Data Security Report 2023 revealed that three out of four respondents acknowledged that their cloud environments were breached in the previous year. Of those who experienced a breach, 79% were aware that data had leaked or been exfiltrated versus 58% from the year before.

To address these challenges and protect cloud data, organizations need a new category of cloud security solutions. This is known as Data Security Posture Management (DSPM). 

DSPM is a term coined by Gartner™ to describe solutions that focus on discovering, classifying, and protecting sensitive data in cloud environments. DSPM solutions help organizations achieve data security compliance, reduce data breach risks, optimize cloud costs, and improve data quality, all while enabling data-driven innovation.

However, not all DSPM solutions are created equal. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best DSPM solution for your organization, such as features, benefits, and pricing. In this article, we will help you evaluate and compare different DSPM solutions based on these criteria. We will also show you why Laminar is the best choice for cloud data security.

How to evaluate DSPM solutions based on features

The first criterion to consider when choosing a DSPM solution is the features and capabilities it offers. A good DSPM solution should provide the following features:

• Data discovery: The ability to scan and discover sensitive data across various cloud platforms and services, such as AWS, Azure, GCP, Salesforce, Office 365, etc.
• Data classification: The tool should categorize and label sensitive data based on predefined or custom classifiers, such as data type, content, source, owner, etc.
• Data risk assessment: Be able to analyze and quantify the risk level of sensitive data based on factors such as exposure, access, usage, location, etc.
• Data remediation: Take appropriate actions to mitigate or eliminate data security risks, such as encryption, masking, tokenization, deletion, quarantine, etc.
• Data protection: De-identify sensitive data via encryption, masking, or tokenization. Also, ensure logging is enabled, credentials are stored securely, and retention/backup policies are enabled.
• Data monitoring: Track and audit all data activity and events in real-time or near real-time.
• Data reporting: Generate and visualize comprehensive reports and dashboards on data security posture and performance.

There are different types of DSPM solutions available in the market, depending on how they interact with the cloud environment. Some of the common types are:

• Agent-based: Also referred to as connector-based, these solutions require installing agents or software on each cloud resource or device that hosts or has access to sensitive data. The agents collect and send data to a central server or console for analysis and management. Typically, they only discover and classify known data.
• Agentless: Instead of installing agents or software on each cloud resource or device these solutions use APIs or other methods to access and scan cloud resources. They find all data (including shadow data).  
• CSP-based: These solutions use APIs or SDKs provided by cloud service providers (CSPs) or third-party vendors to access and scan cloud resources. They leverage the native capabilities of cloud platforms for data security, but are mostly limited to their products.

The table below compares some of the leading DSPM vendors and their features:

Laminar leverages the native capabilities of the cloud platform to discover, classify, and protect your sensitive data without requiring any agents or software installation. Laminar also integrates seamlessly with other cloud security tools, such as CSPM, CASB, SIEM, and SOAR, to provide holistic and comprehensive data security posture management.

How to compare DSPM solutions based on benefits

The second criterion to consider when choosing a DSPM solution is the value it delivers for your organization. A good DSPM solution should provide the following benefits:

• Compliance: Comply with data privacy regulations and standards, such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc. DSPM solutions help you discover and classify your regulated data, assess and remediate your data security risks, and generate and maintain audit trails and reports.
• Risk reduction: The ability to reduce the likelihood and impact of data breaches and data leakage in your cloud environment. DSPM solutions help you encrypt, mask, or tokenize your sensitive data, monitor and detect any anomalous or malicious data activity, and alert and respond to data security incidents.
• Cost optimization: Optimize your cloud storage costs by eliminating or reducing redundant, obsolete, or trivial data in your cloud environment. DSPM solutions help you identify and delete any unnecessary or unused data, and apply data lifecycle policies and retention rules.
• Data catalog: The ability to check if data appears in a data catalog and to initiate remediation of ROT data. Continuously monitor for changes. 
• Innovation:  Enable data-driven innovation by unlocking the value of your data and supporting data analytics, AI/ML,, and other initiatives in your cloud environment. DSPM solutions help you protect your data while allowing authorized access and usage for legitimate purposes.

The chart below compares some of the leading DSPM vendors and their benefits:

Laminar helps you comply with data privacy regulations and standards, reduce data breach risks and costs, achieve good data hygiene, and enable data-driven innovation. 

More than this, Laminar’s cutting-edge solution also provides you with a user-friendly and intuitive interface, a flexible and scalable architecture, and a reliable and secure platform.

How to compare DSPM solutions based on pricing models

The third criterion to consider when choosing a DSPM solution is the pricing model and affordability. A good DSPM solution should provide a simple, transparent and fair pricing model that suits your budget and needs. The pricing of DSPM solutions depends on various factors, which can include:

• Data volume: The amount of data that you need to scan and protect in your cloud environment. Some DSPM solutions charge you based on the number of data records, files, or bytes they process.
• Data sources: The number and type of cloud platforms and services you need to connect and integrate with your DSPM solution. Some DSPM solutions charge you based on the number of connectors, APIs, or integrations that they support. An easier mechanism is to charge just by the asset (ex. AWS S3 bucket, Snowflake warehouse, SharePoint drive, etc.)
• Data types: The variety and complexity of data that you need to discover, classify, and protect in your cloud environment. Some DSPM solutions charge you based on the number of data types, categories, or labels that they support.
• Deployment model: The way that you deploy and run your DSPM solution in your cloud environment. Some DSPM solutions charge you based on the deployment model, such as SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS.

There are also different pricing models and plans for DSPM solutions, such as:

• Subscription-based: These solutions charge you a fixed monthly or annual fee based on the features, benefits, and resources that you use or access.
• Pay-as-you-go: These solutions charge you a variable fee based on the actual usage or consumption of the features, benefits, and resources that you use or access.
• Freemium: These solutions offer you a free plan with limited features, benefits, and resources, and charge you for additional or premium features.

The table below compares some of the leading DSPM vendors and their pricing models:

As you can see, Laminar is the only DSPM solution that provides a transparent and fair pricing model that suits your budget and needs. 

Conclusion

Choosing the best DSPM vendor for your organization is a crucial decision that can have a significant impact on your cloud data security and business success. You should consider the features, benefits, and pricing models of different DSPM companies, and compare them based on your specific needs and goals. Based on our comparison, we believe that Laminar’s DSPM Solution is the best choice for data security in the cloud. Laminar provides you with:

• A comprehensive and powerful set of features and capabilities that cover all aspects of cloud data security programs.
• A user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use and manage your cloud data security.
• A flexible and scalable architecture that adapts to your changing needs and growth.
• A reliable and secure platform that protects your data and privacy.
• A simple, transparent and fair pricing model that suits your budget and needs.

If you want to learn more about Laminar and how it can help you secure your cloud data, we invite you to try out our free trial or request a demo today.