Securing Unstructured Data with FAM

Unstructured data—ranging from Office files and chat logs to generative AI outputs and cloud-based design documents—now makes up as much as 90% of enterprise data. Yet, despite its volume and value, it remains largely invisible to traditional security tools built for structured databases. This white paper explores the critical security, compliance, and operational risks posed by unstructured data and introduces a modern, scalable approach to regaining control.

As organizations adopt hybrid work models, cloud collaboration platforms, and generative AI tools, the volume of unstructured data is growing by over 50% annually. This proliferation introduces substantial risk: sensitive content such as PII, PHI, financial records, and intellectual property is often scattered across unmanaged file shares, SaaS repositories, and chat platforms—without classification, monitoring, or access controls.

The paper outlines five primary risk domains: data sprawl, excessive permissions, ransomware and exfiltration, insider threats, and regulatory non-compliance. Each is examined in detail, with examples of how they disrupt business operations and increase liability. It then presents Thales File Activity Monitoring (FAM) as a purpose-built solution to address these challenges head-on.

Thales FAM provides intelligent discovery, real-time monitoring, contextual classification, and AI-assisted analytics across distributed environments. The platform enables security and compliance teams to gain visibility into who accesses what data, when, and from where—while supporting regulatory mandates like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. It also empowers organizations to minimize data sprawl, detect anomalous activity, and prepare audit-ready reports in minutes, not weeks.

With growing dependence on AI, FAM further ensures that only governed, high-integrity data enters machine learning pipelines—reducing the risk of model contamination and compliance breaches.

This white paper is essential reading for CISOs, CIOs, data protection officers, and IT leaders seeking to operationalize unstructured data security and align it with strategic business goals. Discover how Thales FAM transforms unstructured data from a hidden vulnerability into a source of actionable insight, compliance readiness, and competitive advantage.