When most people think about sensitive data, they picture electronic health records (EHRs), financial databases, or other structured systems. Those are important, but they’re not the whole story.
The bigger risk for many organizations — especially in healthcare — sits in unstructured data. Think files, folders, spreadsheets, shared drives, emails, SharePoint, Teams, and cloud storage. This data grows organically, spreads everywhere, and rarely gets the same level of oversight.
And that’s precisely why attackers love it.
The Problem with Unstructured Data
Unstructured data creates three big headaches:
- You can’t protect what you can’t see. Most organizations are unaware of exactly where sensitive data resides or who has access to it.
- Too many people can touch it. Shared folders and drives are often “open to everyone,” which makes life easier for employees — and for attackers.
- Nobody’s watching the data layer. Security teams monitor networks, endpoints, and applications, but the files themselves? Not so much. That blind spot leaves organizations exposed to insider misuse, ransomware encryption, and compliance issues.
For healthcare providers, the stakes are high. Uncontrolled access to PHI poses a regulatory risk, a patient trust issue, and an operational threat simultaneously.
Enter DSPM: Data Security Posture Management
That’s where Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) comes in. Unlike traditional security tools, DSPM focuses directly on the data layer, finding, classifying, and protecting sensitive information itself.
Here’s what DSPM brings to the table:
- Discovery and Classification: Automatically finds sensitive data (PHI, PII, financial records) no matter where it’s hiding.
- Access Control: Flags overexposed data and enforces least-privilege access.
- Continuous Monitoring: Tracks use of data, catching insider misuse or ransomware activity in real time.
- Compliance Support: Produces audit-ready reports aligned with HIPAA, HITRUST, GDPR, and other frameworks.
In plain terms, DSPM applies the same rigor you expect for your firewalls and endpoint protection — but to the files that attackers want.
Why DSPM Matters for the Business
This isn’t just a “security team” issue. DSPM drives measurable business value:
- Clarity: You know where sensitive data resides and who has access to it.
- Control: You can reduce unnecessary exposure before it becomes a breach.
- Efficiency: Automating permissions cleanup and reporting saves time and money.
- Confidence: Compliance audits get easier, faster, and less disruptive.
Bottom line: protecting unstructured data protects your reputation, improves operational resilience, and builds patient trust.
DSPM Stats
Yes, DSPM requires investment. But the numbers tell the story. Industry studies show:
- Organizations save millions by reducing breach risk.
- Automating remediation frees up hundreds of hours of staff time every year.
- Audit and compliance reporting costs drop significantly when you generate reports automatically.
And remember — the average healthcare breach in the U.S. costs $9.48M (2024). Even a slight reduction in breach probability makes DSPM self-funding many times over.
The Bottom Line About Unstructured Data
Unstructured data is one of the most vulnerable, yet least protected, parts of modern IT environments. Ransomware operators know it. Regulators know it. And your patients will certainly notice if their data ends up in the wrong hands.
DSPM changes the equation. It moves you from reacting after something goes wrong to proactively securing data as a strategic asset. It’s not just about checking a compliance box; it’s about protecting the core of your business and the people who rely on it.
Protecting unstructured data isn’t just a security must-do; It’s a business enabler.
