Exceptional Remediation Strategies: Balancing Automation with Expertise

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is no small feat. It must address three distinct moving parts: the information itself, the infrastructure where it resides, and the individuals who generate or otherwise access it. The scale of such a challenge necessitates automation, as there is no other way to feasibly enforce the appropriate policies across an organization’s entire sensitive data footprint. However, implementations must not be so rigid that they fail to account for the inevitable exceptions that arise. 

To maintain the scalability of automatic risk mitigation without sacrificing the flexibility of manual oversight, DSPM solutions cannot exclude those most familiar with the task at hand—the departmental data stewards and custodians. User Level Remediation (ULR) anticipates the need for this expertise while minimizing any disruption to automated workflows. It facilitates informed exception handling to complement ongoing DSPM activities rather than adding friction through complication.  

Even with the most accurate data discovery tools, exceptions are bound to arise. These exceptions may be due to unique data contexts, nuanced departmental needs, or complex regulatory environments. Yet, all too often, DSPM programs are designed with a focus solely on automation, overlooking the fact that human expertise is crucial for managing exceptions effectively. 

Security teams, who are usually responsible for the daily operation of DSPM software, often lack the deep, contextual knowledge needed to understand the full implications of results from sensitive data discovery scans. This gap can lead to inefficiencies when ULR is not directly incorporated into a DSPM solution.  

Instead of seamlessly addressing exceptions, teams may resort to cumbersome workarounds such as help desk tickets and support interactions. This not only disrupts the workflow but also dilutes the benefits of centralized DSPM automation, as the manual processes introduced are neither scalable nor efficient. 

The Solution: Versatile User Level Remediation 

To solve this problem, what’s needed is a versatile ULR framework that can be seamlessly integrated into various DSPM policy execution modes. Such a solution would allow for pre-determined manual decision points within an otherwise automated workflow, ensuring that specific scan results requiring human intervention are funneled into a queue for manual review. Results that don’t meet these criteria could be processed automatically, maintaining the overall efficiency of the system. 

ULR should also offer exception-based overrides that enhance risk mitigation strategies. For instance, while broad actions like persistent classification could be applied through automated logic, more sensitive or destructive measures like redaction or deletion should be reserved for manual review by designated data custodians or stewards. This ensures sensitive decisions are made by those who best understand the data, balancing automation with informed human oversight. 

Additionally, intentional access to the DSPM solution is crucial. This means scoping visibility and control so users are not overwhelmed by unnecessary features or data that falls outside their scope of responsibility. Such granularity prevents distractions and ensures users can focus on their specific tasks without the risk of overstepping their bounds. 

Spirion’s approach to DSPM integrates ULR in a way that addresses these challenges head-on. With Spirion, ULR actions can be applied as overrides to automated workflows, or flagged for consideration through alerts and notifications issued when specific indicators or exceptions arise that warrant further evaluation. Decision points within the DSPM framework allow for manual review to determine whether additional remediation is necessary, and outcomes can be adjusted based on auditable ULR controls leveraged by those closest to the data. 

From a security standpoint, Spirion ensures users have scoped visibility into match results, meaning they only see what they need to audit locations containing sensitive data without proliferating it. For example, if a credit card number is identified as a match, the system can be configured to display only the last four digits to the user handling the ULR, mitigating unnecessary exposure. 

Furthermore, Spirion’s ULR controls extend to defining what locations or targets can be evaluated by any given user, ensuring only relevant data falls within their scope. This prevents unauthorized interactions with DSPM features that are not related to the user’s role, maintaining security and focus. 

Spirion’s DSPM capabilities – most notably the discovery, classification, and remediation of sensitive information – are designed to achieve accurate and actionable results, making it superior in addressing complex data security needs. The platform’s automated playbook logic leverages a visual-yet-programmatic interface that features flowchart-like decision trees. This intuitive design allows users to easily define and understand the processes involved— ensuring even those without extensive technical knowledge can effectively manage data security tasks.  

Within this framework, ULR actions are seamlessly integrated to further mitigate risks identified by playbook decisions. Additionally, remediation steps can be embedded into playbooks as suggested manual actions, which can either be executed or overridden after careful review. Once a scan is completed, the playbooks provide a clear visual indication of whether an action was applied or overridden— enhancing transparency and auditability. 

The solution also allows for precise control over who can see and interact with specific data. Scan targets can be associated with tag groups, either manually or by using conditional logic that automatically organizes locations based on naming conventions, IP subnetting, or other attributes. This feature ensures ULR permissions scale dynamically, adapting to the needs of users or roles as the organization’s data footprint and headcount expand. Spirion’s Sensitive Data Platform (SDP) is designed to keep pace with this growth, ensuring as the organization evolves, its data security posture remains robust and responsive to new challenges. 
 

Spirion offers a comprehensive DSPM solution that centralizes the discovery, classification, remediation of sensitive data. By empowering data custodians and stewards to leverage their expertise through ULR, Spirion alleviates the pressure on IT security teams who may not have the in-depth knowledge needed to handle exceptions. This ensures exceptions are handled effectively.  

With Spirion ULR, your organization can achieve a balanced approach to data security— one that harmonizes automation with the insights of your human experts.