DSPM vs CSPM: How to Pick the Right Solution

As organizations move more data into cloud platforms, security teams face a familiar challenge: knowing whether risk starts with infrastructure misconfigurations or with exposed sensitive data. This is where the comparison of DSPM vs CSPM becomes critical.

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solve different problems. CSPM focuses on securing cloud infrastructure by identifying misconfigurations, policy drift and compliance gaps. DSPM focuses on understanding where sensitive data lives, how it is accessed and whether it is adequately protected.

The key difference between DSPM and CSPM is scope. CSPM answers whether cloud environments are configured securely. DSPM answers whether sensitive data within those environments is exposed or at risk. Together, they provide the context security teams need to prioritize remediation and reduce real-world data risk.

DSPM vs CSPM: What are the Main Differences?

While CSPM and DSPM are often discussed together, they are designed to address distinct layers of cloud security. CSPM is infrastructure-centric, while DSPM is data-centric. Understanding these differences helps organizations determine where gaps exist in their security strategy and how the tools can complement one another.

The comparison below summarizes how CSPM and DSPM differ across focus, capabilities, use cases and how they work together to reduce cloud data risk.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM)

Definition
Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) identifies, classifies and assesses the risk of sensitive data across cloud and SaaS environments. It focuses on data context rather than infrastructure configuration alone.

Key features

• Automated data discovery across structured and unstructured sources
• AI-driven data classification for regulated and sensitive data
• Data lineage and access mapping
• Continuous risk scoring based on exposure and access patterns

Problems it solves
DSPM addresses blind spots where sensitive data exists in cloud environments without adequate protection. It helps organizations identify overexposed data, excessive permissions and unmanaged data stores that traditional security tools often miss.

Examples of platforms
DSPM solutions integrate with cloud providers, SaaS platforms and data repositories to provide a unified view of data risk.

Get more detail with our DSPM guide.

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)

Definition
Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) continuously evaluates cloud infrastructure against security best practices and compliance frameworks to detect misconfigurations and policy violations.

Key features

• Cloud asset discovery and inventory
• Continuous configuration monitoring
• Policy enforcement and automated remediation
• Compliance reporting across cloud environments

Problems it solves
CSPM reduces risk caused by misconfigured resources, unsecured services and configuration drift. It helps security teams maintain baseline security controls as cloud environments scale.

Examples of platforms
CSPM capabilities are commonly delivered as part of cloud-native security platforms or broader cloud-native application protection platforms.

Main DSPM and CSPM Use Cases for Enterprises

Both DSPM and CSPM play essential roles in enterprise security programs. The following examples highlight where each solution delivers the most value.

4 Examples of DSPM Applications

1. Data discovery and classification

DSPM automatically discovers sensitive data across cloud storage, databases and SaaS applications. This includes regulated data such as PII, PHI and financial records that may otherwise remain unknown.

2. Compliance and auditing

DSPM supports compliance initiatives by identifying where regulated data is stored and whether it meets protection requirements. This reduces audit preparation time and lowers compliance risk.

3. Risk prioritization

By scoring data risk based on sensitivity and exposure, DSPM helps security teams focus remediation efforts on the most critical data assets rather than addressing issues in isolation.

4. Access governance

DSPM maps who can access sensitive data and highlights over-permissioned users, service accounts and shared resources that increase the risk of data leakage.

Learn more about the main DSPM use cases.

4 Examples of CSPM in Action

1. Misconfiguration detection

CSPM identifies insecure cloud configurations such as public storage buckets, open network ports and overly permissive roles.

2. Continuous compliance monitoring

CSPM tracks cloud environments against regulatory frameworks and internal policies, helping organizations maintain compliance as environments change.

3. Automated remediation

Many CSPM tools support automated fixes or guided remediation workflows to reduce mean time to resolution for configuration issues.

4. Infrastructure visibility

CSPM provides a centralized view of cloud assets across providers, improving operational awareness for security and IT teams.

How CSPM and DSPM Can Work Together

CSPM and DSPM are most effective when used together. CSPM establishes a secure infrastructure baseline, while DSPM adds data context to prioritize and validate remediation efforts.

Key integration points include:

• Shared asset discovery: CSPM inventories cloud resources, while DSPM identifies and classifies the data within them
• API-driven remediation: CSPM corrects misconfigurations, while DSPM prioritizes fixes based on data sensitivity
• SIEM correlation: CSPM alerts on configuration drift, DSPM enriches alerts with data exposure context
• Lineage mapping: DSPM traces data access paths, CSPM secures IAM and network configurations along those paths
• Risk scoring: Infrastructure risk from CSPM combined with data sensitivity from DSPM enables smarter prioritization

SSPM as a Complementary SaaS Layer

SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) focuses on configuration and access risk within SaaS applications. While SSPM addresses SaaS-specific posture issues, it does not replace CSPM or DSPM.

Instead, SSPM complements CSPM and DSPM by extending posture management into SaaS environments. CSPM secures the infrastructure, DSPM understands the data and SSPM ensures SaaS applications are configured and accessed appropriately.

Gain an understanding of DSPM best practices.

3 Biggest Risks of Not Using a DSPM or CSPM Solution

• Hidden data exposure: Sensitive data may be stored or shared without visibility, increasing breach risk
• Persistent misconfigurations: Cloud environments change frequently, making manual configuration management unreliable
• Inefficient remediation: Without context, security teams may fix low-impact issues while critical risks remain unaddressed

Forcepoint DSPM: Visibility That Drives Action

Forcepoint Data Security Posture Management provides visibility into sensitive data across cloud and SaaS environments and connects data context with security controls.

Forcepoint DSPM capabilities include:

• Cloud infrastructure visibility: Discovers sensitive data across AWS, Azure, GCP and SaaS applications
• Real-time risk assessment: Continuously evaluates data exposure and access risk
• Misconfiguration detection: Identifies overexposed data, excessive permissions and unsafe sharing
• Access governance: Maps access paths and highlights over-permissioned users and services
• Compliance automation: Supports reporting for GDPR, HIPAA and other regulatory frameworks

By integrating DSPM with CSPM, Forcepoint helps organizations move from infrastructure-first security to data-aware risk management.

What are the best DSPM tools on the market?

Better Together for Security

The CSPM vs DSPM debate is not about choosing one over the other. CSPM secures the cloud foundation. DSPM reveals how data within that foundation is exposed and accessed. Together, they enable security teams to reduce risk with clarity and precision.

To learn more about Forcepoint DSPM and how it complements CSPM, explore the product or request a demo.