BY SPIRION
April 30, 2025
Regulatory compliance is more than just a box to check—it’s a critical element of data security, risk management, and consumer trust. Yet many organizations rely solely on Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions, assuming they provide enough protection to meet regulatory standards. The truth is, DLP alone is not enough for full compliance.
Every major compliance framework—from GDPR and HIPAA to PCI-DSS and CMMC—requires organizations to discover, classify, and protect sensitive data before it becomes a risk. That’s where Spirion’s automated data discovery and classification come in.
In this series, we’ll explore how Spirion helps organizations meet the specific requirements of major compliance frameworks—and why DLP can’t do it alone.
1. GDPR: The Need for Proactive Data Discovery & Protection
Key Requirement: Identify, classify, and protect personal data (PII).
Why DLP Isn’t Enough:
- DLP only blocks data in motion—it doesn’t locate or classify stored data.
- GDPR mandates that organizations map and document personal data (Article 30).
- Without proper classification, DLP may block the wrong data or fail to secure sensitive PII.
How Spirion Helps:
- Automated data discovery of all personal data across endpoints, cloud, and databases.
- Persistent classification to ensure data is labeled and protected at rest.
- Compliance reporting that simplifies GDPR audits and documentation.
Read More: Where DLP Falls Short in GDPR Compliance
2. CCPA: Consumer Privacy & The Right to Be Forgotten
Key Requirement: Allow consumers to access, delete, and restrict their personal data.
Why DLP Isn’t Enough:
- CCPA requires precise data location and classification for deletion requests.
- DLP does not provide a way to search and verify stored consumer data.
- Without classification, organizations risk non-compliance and regulatory fines.
How Spirion Helps:
- Automated search for all consumer data tied to a subject request.
- Tagging and classification to track data throughout its lifecycle.
- Pre-built remediation actions to redact or delete data on demand.
Read More: Why DLP Is Not Enough for CCPA Compliance
3. HIPAA: Securing Protected Health Information (PHI)
Key Requirement: Protect patient health information (PHI) against unauthorized access.
Why DLP Isn’t Enough:
- PHI exists in structured and unstructured formats, making discovery difficult.
- DLP cannot differentiate between general healthcare data and regulated PHI.
- HIPAA requires risk assessments, which DLP alone cannot provide.
How Spirion Helps:
- Accurate PHI discovery across cloud, databases, and endpoints.
- Context-aware classification to distinguish PHI from non-sensitive data.
- Audit-ready dashboards for compliance tracking and reporting.
Read More: Why DLP Is Not Enough for HIPAA Compliance
4. PCI-DSS: Protecting Payment Card Data from Breaches
Key Requirement: Secure cardholder data (CHD) from unauthorized access.
Why DLP Isn’t Enough:
- PCI-DSS requires organizations to locate and classify CHD—DLP does not.
- DLP only prevents data movement; it doesn’t secure stored credit card data.
- Non-compliance can result in costly fines and increased fraud risks.
How Spirion Helps:
- Automated CHD discovery in databases, cloud storage, and file systems.
- Persistent labels and encryption enforcement for PCI compliance.
- Continuous monitoring to detect CHD in unauthorized locations.
Read More: Why DLP Is Not Enough for PCI-DSS Compliance
5. FERPA: Protecting Student Education Records
Key Requirement: Secure and control access to student data.
Why DLP Isn’t Enough:
- DLP cannot proactively discover student records across systems.
- FERPA requires proper classification of student PII for secure handling.
- Schools must ensure proper storage and access controls, not just data blocking.
How Spirion Helps:
- Discover and classify student records automatically.
- Apply encryption and access controls for secure storage.
- Generate compliance reports to meet FERPA audit requirements.
Read More: Why DLP Is Not Enough for FERPA Compliance
6. NIST & CMMC: Data Security in Government & Defense
Key Requirement: Implement strong data classification and security controls.
Why DLP Isn’t Enough:
- NIST and CMMC mandate classification of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
- DLP cannot enforce persistent labels required for defense data security.
- Manual processes result in compliance gaps and security risks.
How Spirion Helps:
- Classifies and labels CUI for government and defense compliance.
- Automates security controls based on classification rules.
- Enables reporting to meet DoD and federal agency requirements.
Read More: Why DLP Is Not Enough for NIST & CMMC Compliance
Compliance Requires More Than DLP
Each compliance framework requires organizations to know where sensitive data lives, classify it properly, and apply protection before it becomes a risk. DLP alone is reactive—it doesn’t provide the proactive data discovery, classification, and compliance tracking that regulations demand.
With Spirion’s automated data security solutions, organizations can confidently meet compliance regulations and more, reducing regulatory risk while strengthening overall data protection. Want to see how Spirion enhances compliance beyond DLP? Request a Demo Today.
