DSPM vs backup and DLP: what security teams need to sort out

TL;DR: As organisations evaluate Rubrik alternatives for data security and DSPM, the practical question is no longer just backup coverage but how discovery, classification, access governance, and recovery controls fit together, according to Netwrix. The deeper issue is that DSPM and adjacent controls solve different parts of the exposure problem, so teams need clearer boundaries before they buy.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Netwrix: The 7 best Rubrik alternatives for data security and DSPM in 2026

By the numbers:

• 90% of IT leaders say properly managing NHIs is essential for a successful zero-trust implementation.
• Only 5.7% of organisations have full visibility into their service accounts.

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should security teams choose between DSPM and backup for data protection?

A: They should not choose one as a substitute for the other.

Q: Why do DSPM and data access governance need to work together?

A: Because discovery alone does not remove access.

Q: What do security teams get wrong about replacing DLP with DSPM?

A: They often assume one category can do both movement control and data discovery.

Practitioner guidance

• Separate exposure management from recovery planning Define whether each control is intended to find data, block data movement, or restore data after loss.
• Tie DSPM findings to entitlement review Route high-risk data locations into access recertification, privileged access review, and service account cleanup.
• Assign ownership across identity and data teams Document which team owns discovery, classification, enforcement, and exception handling.

What's in the full article

Netwrix's full blog covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• Specific Rubrik alternative comparisons across data security, backup, and DSPM feature sets for implementation-stage evaluation
• Platform-level detail on how each option handles sensitive data discovery, access visibility, and recovery workflows
• Practical distinctions between DSPM, DLP, and data access governance for teams deciding what to own internally
• Product-specific deployment considerations that matter once you move from category selection to control design

👉 Read Netwrix's guide to the best Rubrik alternatives for DSPM and data security →

DSPM vs backup and DLP: what security teams need to sort out?

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