Google Drive DSPM

TL;DR:

• DSPM is crucial for Google Drive due to the sensitive data it handles.
• Key components include data discovery, access controls, DLP, monitoring, and user training.
• Data discovery involves identifying and classifying sensitive data.
• Access controls restrict data access to authorized users.
• DLP prevents data loss through detection and prevention measures.

Does DSPM Make Sense for a SaaS App Like Google Drive?

Absolutely. Google Drive, as a cloud-based storage and collaboration platform, handles an immense amount of sensitive data for individuals and businesses alike. Therefore, robust DSPM measures are crucial.

Here's why:

• Data Sensitivity: Users store personal, financial, and confidential business information on Google Drive. A breach could have severe consequences.
• Data Volume: The sheer volume of data stored on Google Drive necessitates efficient data protection strategies.
• Compliance: Many industries have strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA). Google Drive must adhere to these to protect user data.
• Threat Landscape: Cyber threats evolve constantly, making it essential to have a dynamic DSPM approach.

Key Components of DSPM for Google Drive

A robust DSPM strategy for Google Drive would likely include:

• Data Discovery and Classification: Identifying and categorizing data based on sensitivity to determine appropriate protection levels.
• Access Controls: Implementing granular access controls to restrict data access to authorized users.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Preventing sensitive data from being accidentally or maliciously shared.
• Monitoring and Detection: Continuously monitoring for suspicious activities and data breaches.
• User Awareness and Training: Educating users about data security best practices.

By implementing a comprehensive DSPM strategy, Google Drive can effectively safeguard user data and maintain trust.

Google Drive DSPM: Data Discovery and Classification

This is the foundational step in DSPM. It involves:

• Identifying sensitive data: Pinpointing data types like personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, intellectual property, and healthcare records.
• Data mapping: Understanding data locations, formats, and usage patterns.
• Data classification: Assigning sensitivity labels to data based on its value and risk.

Example: For Google Drive, this could involve scanning files for specific keywords or patterns, analyzing file sharing permissions, and using machine learning to identify sensitive content. In the below screenshot, Strac Google Drive Scanner does deep content inspection of detecting sensitive data via its Machine Learning and OCR Models.

Google Drive DSPM: Access Controls

Restricting data access to authorized users is crucial. This involves:

• Role-based access control (RBAC): Granting permissions based on user roles and responsibilities.
• Least privilege principle: Providing users with only the necessary access.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Adding an extra layer of security for user logins.
• Session management: Controlling access duration and monitoring user activity.

Example: Strac Google Drive DSPM provides remediation actions to remove access where not needed. For e.g.

1. remove unnecessary external members are present on files/folders
2. remove unnecessary public access

Google Drive DSPM: Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Preventing accidental or malicious data loss. This involves:

• Data leakage detection: Identifying and blocking unauthorized data transfers.
• Content inspection: Scanning files for sensitive information.
• Anomaly detection: Identifying unusual data usage patterns.

Example: Strac Google Drive DLP performs content inspection, data leakage detection and prevention.

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Google Drive DSPM: Monitoring and Detection

Continuously monitoring for threats and detecting incidents early. This involves:

• User and entity behavior analytics (UEBA): Identifying suspicious user activities.
• Threat intelligence: Staying informed about emerging threats.
• Security information and event management (SIEM): Correlating security data to detect incidents.

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Example: Strac DSPM for Google Drive gives customers advanced analytics to detect anomalies in file sharing, access patterns, and other relevant data.

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