Best Data-Centric Security Software
Data-centric security software focuses on securing the data itself, rather than the infrastructure or application used to store or access that data. This approach differs from a traditional network (or perimeter-centric) security approach, which focuses on protecting the locations where data is accessed or stored, such as servers, networks, applications, and devices.
This software can be used to achieve a zero trust security model and safeguard data across complex IT environments, including cloud environments. Businesses use data-centric security solutions to protect data when it’s in transit, at rest, or in use.
Core capabilities of data-centric security software include the discovery of sensitive data, policy management, access control, encryption, data obfuscation processes such as data masking, and monitoring data access and usage for suspicious behaviors. Additionally, these tools facilitate the labeling, tagging, and tracking of sensitive data points as well as auditing for security and compliance assurance.
Certain functionalities of data-centric security tools may be similar to those of data governance software, mainly in terms of compliance and policy enforcement. While that is an important functionality, data-centric security tools are intended primarily for data lifecycle management rather than for data security. Sensitive data discovery software is a subset of a broader functionality offered by data-centric security software and specializes in discovering sensitive data.
To qualify for inclusion in the Data-Centric Security category, a product must:
Best Data-Centric Security Software At A Glance
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- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Egnyte combines the power of cloud content management, data security, and AI into one intelligent content platform. More than 22,000 customers trust Egnyte to improve employee productivity, automate b
- Project Manager
- Assistant Manager
- Marketing and Advertising
- Construction
- 43% Small-Business
- 40% Mid-Market
16,463 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Varonis is fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and de
- Financial Services
- 85% Enterprise
- 27% Mid-Market
6,284 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
SecureCircle delivers a SaaS-based cybersecurity service that extends Zero Trust security to data on the endpoint. At SecureCircle, we believe frictionless data security drives business value for our
- 62% Enterprise
- 31% Mid-Market
106,600 Twitter followers
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- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Sophos SafeGuard Encryption provides data protection across multiple platforms and devices allowing you to have secure data without slowing down your workflow.
- Information Technology and Services
- 50% Mid-Market
- 30% Small-Business
36,941 Twitter followers
- Overview
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- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Salesforce Shield is a suite of products that provides an extra level of security and protection above and beyond what’s already built into Salesforce. Salesforce Shield capabilities help improve data
- Information Technology and Services
- Computer Software
- 48% Mid-Market
- 32% Enterprise
584,018 Twitter followers
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- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Secure data directly from your inbox with Virtru. Users can easily encrypt emails and attachments with just one click, protecting sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), inte
- IT Manager
- Hospital & Health Care
- Health, Wellness and Fitness
- 46% Mid-Market
- 39% Small-Business
1,801 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Strac is a 1-stop shop for all things PII (Personally Identifiable Information). Strac is a Data Loss Prevention software that protects businesses from security and compliance risks by a) automaticall
- Financial Services
- 52% Small-Business
- 48% Mid-Market
82 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
ProLion offers powerful data protection solutions that safeguard critical storage and backup data, on premises or in the cloud. From ransomware protection that detects threats in real time to data tra
- 58% Small-Business
- 42% Mid-Market
257 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Protect your sensitive information. Learn how our solutions help you discover, classify, and protect sensitive information wherever it lives or travels.
- Information Technology and Services
- 43% Enterprise
- 20% Mid-Market
14,052,965 Twitter followers
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- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Satori is a Data Security Platform (DSP) that enables self-service data and analytics. Unlike the traditional manual data access process, with Satori, users have a personal data portal where they can
- Software Engineer
- Computer Software
- Computer & Network Security
- 61% Mid-Market
- 27% Enterprise
303 Twitter followers
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- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Securiti is the pioneer of the Data Command Center, a centralized platform that enables the safe use of data and GenAI. It provides unified data intelligence, controls and orchestration across hybrid
- Computer Software
- Retail
- 58% Enterprise
- 21% Small-Business
627 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Kiteworks’ mission is to empower organizations to effectively manage risk in every send, share, receive, and save of sensitive content. To this end, we created a platform that delivers content governa
- Information Technology and Services
- 53% Enterprise
- 28% Small-Business
3,503 Twitter followers
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- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Fortra’s Data Classification Suite (DCS) can identify, classify, and secure your sensitive data across platforms, devices, and in the cloud. Fortra will help you build a data protection solution custo
- 44% Enterprise
- 39% Small-Business
2,408 Twitter followers
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- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
Data Detection and Response finds and follows your sensitive data anywhere it goes to protect it like never before. We reimagined data security for the cloud-first, hybrid work world. Cyberhaven p
- Financial Services
- 53% Enterprise
- 33% Mid-Market
685 Twitter followers
- Overview
- Pros and Cons
- User Satisfaction
- Seller Details
ManageEngine DataSecurity Plus is a unified data visibility and security platform that specializes in file auditing, file analysis, data risk assessment, data leak prevention, and cloud protection. F
- 50% Enterprise
- 40% Small-Business
7,665 Twitter followers
Learn More About Data-Centric Security Software
In the modern digital realm, safeguarding sensitive data has become an essential task. With the ever-increasing amount and variety of data, along with the constant evolution of cybersecurity threats and strict privacy regulations, organizations face significant hurdles in maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of their information assets.
In response to these challenges, data-centric security software has become a key solution. Let's explore its importance and how it addresses the complexities organizations face today.
What is data-centric security software?
Unlike traditional approaches that focus on fortifying network boundaries, data-centric security software prioritizes protecting data itself, regardless of its location or transmission mode.
It employs advanced techniques such as encryption, access controls, data masking, and tokenization to embed security directly into the data. By doing so, organizations mitigate the risks of data breaches, unauthorized access, and insider threats. Data encryption, one key feature of this software, makes sure that data remains unreadable and unusable to unauthorized users by encrypting it both at rest and in transit.
Access controls enable organizations to enforce granular permissions and restrictions with regard to who can use sensitive data and which actions they can perform. Moreover, data-centric security software helps businesses remain current with various regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by implementing robust encryption.
What are the common features of data-centric security software?
Data-centric security software has various functions that vary by tool and use case. Some valuable features of data-centric security software include the following.
- Data discovery refers to identifying and locating sensitive data across infrastructure. It teaches organizations how to understand the scope of their data assets and potential vulnerabilities.
- Data classification categorizes data based on sensitivity levels so organizations can prioritize their security efforts and apply appropriate protection measures.
- Encryption transforms data into an unreadable format. It prevents unauthorized parties from understanding the data, even if they somehow gain access.
- Access controls restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data. This includes using role-based access control (RBAC), permissions, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Tokenization shields sensitive data while preserving format and integrity. It’s useful for testing, analytics, or outsourcing without the risk of exposing sensitive information.
- Data loss prevention (DLP) stops unauthorized access, transmission, or storage of sensitive data. This not only protects the organization's reputation and financial assets but also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, such as GDPR or HIPAA.
- Data monitoring tracks data access, usage patterns, and security events. Real-time data monitoring helps Organizations rely on it to optimize resource allocation, improve operational efficiency, and enhance their overall security posture.
- Audit trails and reporting records data access, modifications, and system events for compliance and analysis. By analyzing audit trail data, organizations identify security gaps, interpret user behavior, and detect anomalies or potential threats.
- Risk management assesses and mitigates potential security risks. By using risk assessment solutions organizations can find vulnerabilities, threats, and potential negative impacts to their data assets.
What types of data-centric security software exist?
Each of the various data-centric security software options presents both distinct advantages and disadvantages. Exploring them will allow an organization to tailor their choices based on specific preferences and requirements.
- Firewall solutions monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It’s possible to set them up at network boundaries to prevent unauthorized access and protect against malicious activities.
- Authentication and authorization systems verify the identity of users who access data. They determine the level of access granted based on their credentials and permissions.
- Encryption secures data by converting it into a ciphertext format that can only be solved with the appropriate decryption key. This means that even if hackers intercept data, they won’t be able to understand it.
- Data masking hides sensitive information in non-production environments to protect privacy by replacing sensitive data with realistic but fake data or with a masked format.
- Hardware-based security solutions use specialized hardware components or devices to protect data. Examples include hardware security modules (HSMs) for managing encryption keys and secure enclaves for processing sensitive data in a protected environment.
- Data backup automatically creates copies of important data to guarantee its availability in case of data loss or system failure. This process helps organizations recover quickly from disruptions by providing redundancy and failover mechanisms.
- Data erasure securely deletes data from storage devices so unauthorized parties can’t recover it. This is crucial when retiring or replacing storage devices.
What are the benefits of data-centric security software?
The benefits of using a data-centric security software include:
- Enhanced protection for sensitive data. Data-centric security software employs encryption, tokenization, and other advanced techniques to protect sensitive data. By focusing on securing the data itself rather than just the perimeter, the data remains encrypted and unreadable, which provides enhanced protection against breaches.
- Regulatory compliance. Many industries are subject to strict regulations regarding protecting sensitive data, such as GDPR and HIPAA. Data-centric security software helps organizations achieve compliance by establishing robust data protection measures, including encryption, access controls, and audit trails to shrink the risk of non-compliance penalties.
- Persistent security. Data-centric security protects data throughout the entire lifecycle, from creation and storage to transmission and disposal. By embedding security controls directly into the data, organizations maintain persistent protection regardless of where the data resides or how users access it, whether on-premises, in the cloud, or on mobile devices.
- Access control. Businesses use data-centric security to enable granular access control. This makes it easier to define and enforce policies regarding the terms of access. RBAC, attribute-based access control (ABAC), and other access control mechanisms prevent unauthorized access.
- Reduced operational complexity. Implementing data-centric security simplifies security management by centralizing control over data protection policies. Rather than relying on a patchwork of disparate security solutions, organizations refine their security infrastructure, reducing complexity, lower administrative overhead, and greater operational efficiency.
- Enhanced data governance. Data-centric security facilitates better data governance by providing visibility into how users access and share sensitive data across their organizations. By monitoring data usage patterns and enforcing compliance with data policies, businesses maintain control over their data assets, reduce the risk of misuse or leakage, and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders.
- Deterrence of insider threats. Insider threats, whether intentional or unintentional, pose a significant risk. Data-centric security software deters insider threats by limiting access to sensitive data based on the principle of least privilege, monitoring user behavior for suspicious activity, and applying data loss prevention (DLP) to prevent unauthorized exfiltration.
Data-Centric Security vs. Zero Trust
Data-centric security and Zero Trust both approach cybersecurity with a focus on enhancing protection in the digital landscape.
Data-centric security places the utmost importance on safeguarding sensitive data, regardless of its location within the network or cloud. By employing techniques like encryption, access controls, and data classification, it protects data even if perimeter defenses are compromised.
On the other hand, Zero Trust takes a proactive stance by assuming that threats exist inside and outside the network perimeter. It continuously verifies each user and device that wants access to resources by relying on strict access controls and least privilege principles to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement of threats.
Incorporating both data-centric security and Zero Trust principles work hand in hand rather than separately.
Who uses data-centric security software?
Data-centric security software finds use with a variety of professionals and roles. Here's how:
- Chief information security officers (CISOs) oversee the implementation and management of data-centric security measures meant to protect sensitive data.
- Security analysts and engineers analyze security threats and vulnerabilities, configure and maintain security software, and investigate security incidents related to data breaches.
- Data protection officers (DPOs) ensure compliance with data protection regulations and implement data-centric security measures to safeguard personal data.
- IT and security managers handle the deployment and maintenance of data-centric security solutions to protect information assets.
- Database administrators (DBAs) implement security controls within databases, manage access permissions, and monitor database activity to prevent unauthorized access or data breaches.
- Compliance officers align data-centric security practices with relevant industry regulations and standards.
- Risk management professionals assess potential harm related to data security, develop mitigation strategies, and implement security measures to reduce the likelihood of data breaches.
- Network administrators set up network-level security controls to protect data in transit and configure firewalls or intrusion detection systems.
- Chief data officers (CDOs) develop data governance policies and strategies to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data assets.
- DevOps engineers integrate data-centric security measures into software development lifecycles to identify and remediate application security vulnerabilities.
- Systems administrators configure and maintain operating systems and server-level security controls to protect data stored on servers and endpoints within an organization's infrastructure.
Data-centric security software pricing
Each pricing model has its advantages and suitable customer scenarios. The choice of pricing model depends on factors such as budget, usage patterns, scalability requirements, and preferences for payment structure.
- Subscription-based models have customers pay a recurring fee at regular intervals (monthly, annually) to access data-centric security solutions.
- Perpetual licenses ask for a one-time fee for the software license, allowing buyers to use the platform indefinitely.
- Usage-based pricing is based on the volume or usage of the tool.
- Tiered pricing lets customers choose from different tiers or packages according to their needs and budget.
- Freemium models are basic versions of data-centric security solutions offered for free, with advanced features or additional functionality available for a fee.
- Volume licensing or enterprise agreements: are best for large organizations with the means to negotiate customized pricing and licensing terms.
- Feature-based pricing is determined by the specific features or modules of the data-centric security solution that customers choose to use.
- Pay-as-you-grow allows customers to start with a basic package and pay for additional capacity or features as their needs grow.
Return on investment (ROI) for data-centric security platforms
- Scalability and flexibility determine how effectively organizations adapt to changing security needs and accommodate growth without significant additional investment.
- Integration capabilities with existing infrastructure and systems can boost ROI by paring down operations, reducing manual effort, and avoiding duplication of resources.
- The total cost of ownership (TCO) of the software, including initial implementation costs, ongoing maintenance fees, and any necessary training or support, directly influences ROI.
- The speed and efficiency of incident detection and response facilitated by the software minimize the impact of security breaches, reducing downtime and associated costs.
- Automation and analytics enhance operational efficiency, which allows security teams to focus on high-priority tasks and potentially reduces the need for additional personnel.
- Actionable insights and intelligence empower proactive security measures, mitigating risks.
- User adoption and ease of use prevent employee resistance.
Challenges with data-centric security software
Some common challenges with data-centric security software are discussed here.
- Complexity of data discovery and classification: Identifying sensitive data within vast datasets and accurately classifying it overwhelms IT departments across industries. Automated tools may struggle to accurately detect all sensitive data types, leading to potential gaps in protection.
- Integration with existing systems: Integrating data-centric security solutions with existing IT infrastructure, including databases, file systems, and cloud services, complicates operations. Compatibility issues may arise, requiring careful planning and coordination to guarantee smooth integration without disrupting existing operations.
- Performance overhead: Implementing robust data-centric security measures can introduce performance overhead, especially in environments with high data throughput requirements. Balancing security needs with performance considerations helps avoid damaging system responsiveness or user experience.
- Scalability: Data-centric security solutions must scale effectively to accommodate growing demands. Scalability involves designing systems that can handle increasing volumes of data and user activity without sacrificing security or performance.
- Changes to data structure: Adapting data-centric security software to accommodate changes in data structure, such as schema updates or migrations to new platforms, presents significant burdens. It requires ongoing monitoring and adjustment to keep up with the protection of sensitive information.
- Costs: Implementing and sustaining data-centric security solutions cost a lot. They involve expenses related to software licensing, hardware infrastructure, training, and ongoing support. Organizations must carefully evaluate the cost-benefit ratio to justify investments.
- Training and expertise: Effective deployment and management of data-centric security software require specialized knowledge and expertise. Organizations need to invest in training programs to ensure that staff members know how to use and maintain these solutions.
Which companies should buy data-centric security software?
Below are some examples of companies that should consider buying data-centric security software.
- Financial institutions deal with highly sensitive data, making them prime cyberattack targets. Data-centric security software can help protect customer information, transaction data, and other relevant records.
- Healthcare organizations handle personal health information (PHI) and medical records. Data-centric security software ensures compliance with regulations like HIPAA and protects against data breaches.
- Government agencies store a wealth of information that includes citizen data, national security information, and government operations data. It all stays safe thanks to data-centric security software.
- Technology companies often have access to valuable intellectual property, proprietary information, and customer data. Data-centric security software can protect against data theft, industrial espionage, and unauthorized access.
- Retail and e-commerce businesses collect and store customer payment information, personal details, and purchase history. The right security software can protect customer trust by preventing breaches.
- Educational institutions hold onto student records, research data, and proprietary information that require protection against cyber threats. Data-centric software provides this protection and also ensures compliance with student privacy regulations.
- Corporate enterprises deal with sensitive business data, employee records, and intellectual property. They need data-centric security software to protect against insider threats, external attacks, and data leaks.
How to choose data-centric security software
Choosing data-centric security software depends on specific needs, preferences, and work. Here's a concise guide to help find the right solution:
- Understand the organization's security requirements, including the types of sensitive data handled and relevant compliance regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
- Evaluate data-centric security technologies and prioritize features based on what is needed, such as encryption for PII or data discovery for compliance.
- Research each vendor's reputation, future product development plans, financial stability, and quality of customer support.
- Consider deployment options (on-premises, cloud, hybrid) and confirm that the vendor’s pricing structures align with the budget and operational needs.
- Create a shortlist of solutions, conduct trials, gather feedback, and consider factors like functionality, integration, and user experience to make an informed decision.
Data-centric security software trends
- Adoption of the Zero Trust Model: Software solutions that use zero trust principles are rising. They feature micro-segmentation, MFA, least privilege access, and continuous monitoring for anomalies.
- Enhanced privacy regulations and compliance: In response to growing concerns over data privacy and protection, regulatory bodies have introduced stringent measures such as the GDPR and CCPA. Consequently, data-centric security software offers features like encryption, data masking, and pseudonymization.
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) integration: ML and AI algorithms analyze large volumes of data to identify patterns indicative of potential security threats. These technologies help refine incident response procedures by prioritizing alerts, orchestrating response actions, and even autonomously mitigating security incidents.
Researched and written by Lauren Worth
Reviewed and edited by Aisha West
