TL;DR:

Sensitive data sprawls across SaaS tools, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Notion, Slack and more, fast enough to outpace most security controls. Metomic’s new Dropbox integration extends our SaaS-native platform to give CISOs centralized visibility, automated enforcement, and real-time user engagement across these collaboration tools. The result: fewer breaches, faster audits, and less vendor bloat.

SaaS sprawl is a security blind spot

Modern FinTechs and high-growth tech companies rely on tools like Google Drive, Slack, Jira, and increasingly Dropbox and Notion, for day-to-day collaboration. The challenge? Sensitive data sprawls across these platforms faster than security teams can track it.

Metomic’s 2024 CISO Survey revealed that while 90% of CISOs are confident in meeting security objectives, up to 95% of Google Drive files containing sensitive data had misconfigured access settings. Add Dropbox and Notion into the mix, and the risk surface expands exponentially.

Why Dropbox Matters

Dropbox remains a core productivity tool for design, product, and business teams. But without oversight, it quickly becomes a repository of:

• PII left open to “anyone with the link.”
• Financial models shared with external vendors.
• Credentials buried in outdated personal folders.

For CISOs, this isn’t just an IT nuisance, it’s an audit blocker and regulatory exposure.

The risk is more than theoretical. Metomic’s analysis of Dropbox environments revealed:

• Over 85,000 files flagged with sensitive detections.
• 52% of those were high risk.
• Nearly 20% had misconfigured or risky sharing settings.
• The majority of sensitive content fell into legal (52%) and financial data (27%), followed by customer PII, vendor files, and compliance records.

Metomic’s SaaS-Native Approach

Unlike legacy DLP tools built for endpoints or networks, Metomic was designed SaaS-first to secure collaboration platforms directly.

• API-native visibility: Metomic uses the Dropbox API to scan both shared and personal folders, identifying sensitive data and misconfigurations across the board. (Like other platforms, Dropbox’s Discovery API may limit scanning of strictly private content, but Metomic gives you the fullest coverage available today.)
• Automated remediation: Policies can be applied based on content and risk. For example, any public Dropbox file containing more than 10 sensitive data points can be automatically tagged, restricted, or escalated.
• Cross-platform enforcement: Tags applied in Dropbox follow files wherever they go. If a sensitive Dropbox document is later shared over Slack, the original classification persists, ensuring policies remain consistent.
• User-driven engagement: When risky behavior is detected, Metomic sends employees Slack prompts to resolve issues directly. This transforms abstract training into real-world action, without overwhelming security teams.
• Consolidation across tools: One SaaS-native platform covers Dropbox, Drive, Slack, Jira, and Notion, eliminating the need to juggle Google DLP, Netskope, and legacy endpoint modules.

Operational Impact for CISOs

CISOs need more than visibility, they need measurable outcomes:

• Reduced breach risk: Exposed Dropbox files are detected and remediated in real time.
• Audit efficiency: Automated tagging and historical cleanup shrink compliance prep time.
• Resource savings: By shifting remediation to end users and consolidating tooling, teams spend less time on manual triage and vendor management.

Looking ahead

Dropbox is the latest step in securing sensitive data where it really lives: inside the SaaS tools your teams rely on every day. By integrating seamlessly, Metomic helps you stay compliant, reduce breach risk, and give your board confidence—without slowing collaboration.

If you want to see what your SaaS sprawl looks like today—before auditors or regulators ask—book a session with Metomic.