Gartner^® Buyer’s Guide for Data Security Posture Management

In today’s landscape of expanding data assets, the use of AI, and evolving data breach threats, data security posture management (DSPM) tools are in high demand. While they promise to easily help organizations classify, manage and secure their data more effectively, and identify potential risks, such as those linked to data residency, unauthorized access or excessive privileges, these tools can be costly and labor-intensive to operate. 

Selecting the right DSPM tool to meet the needs of today and the future requires a six-step strategic approach involving multiple stakeholders:

• Establish a comprehensive evaluation framework
• Implement a risk-based deployment strategy
• Determine the appropriate scanning methodology
• Assess vendor architecture and data handling practices
• Evaluate the vendor’s product roadmap for upcoming features
• Validate vendor capabilities through real-world POC 

Cybersecurity leaders should use this report to choose the right solution and avoid costly missteps. 

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Gartner, Buyer’s Guide for Data Security Posture Management, Jaimie Anderson, 29 May 2026.

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