Effective data protection is essential, as the loss or leak of data can have disastrous consequences for professionals. Implementing a DLP strategy is the solution to avoiding unauthorized access, cyberattacks, breaches and human negligence. With the increase in threats targeting digital data, it is essential for every business to improve its level of protection. So what is data loss prevention? Why and how should you implement it? In this article, we explore DLP and the tools it puts at your disposal.
Data loss prevention (DLP) ensures that users do not transfer critical data outside their company network. It allows the implementation of a set of measures to guarantee the security of the organization’s information systems. DLP refers to software that allows a network administrator to control the data that can be sent.
Data loss prevention (DLP) tools operate based on business rules to classify and safeguard confidential and vital information. Such tools ensure that classified data is not shared by unauthorized individuals, whether inadvertently or intentionally. For instance, an attempt by an employee to send a work email outside the organizational network would be automatically denied permission. The same applies to attempts at uploading files to a consumer cloud storage service.
Implementing DLP enables organizations to comply with strict data protection and access regulations. Moreover, some DLP tools extend beyond merely monitoring and controlling activities at endpoints. They are also capable of filtering information flows throughout the corporate network and securing data while it is being transmitted.
Data loss prevention reduces the risk of data loss or leaks, by allowing your business to:
It is estimated that 43% of data breaches are linked to the involvement of an internal employee. If any employee can make mistakes, when it comes to data protection and IT security, this can have serious consequences for the organization.
A confidential file that ends up on the public cloud engages the liability of the company and tarnishes its reputation. It loses the trust of its customers and partners, without forgetting the financial needs that will be necessary for the distribution of the damage.
A company responsible for creating, managing or hosting user data must ensure compliance with regulations. One of the most well known is GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Other laws also apply depending on the sector of activity, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Information Security Standard) certification and HDS (Health Data Hosts) compliance.
There are three types of DLP applications for securing business data. A data loss prevention system can be installed on your network, on staff connected devices and in the cloud.
DLP tools track and analyze activity and traffic on a company’s network. They monitor file transfers and online messaging emails to detect any data movement that does not obey established information security rules.
A database is also developed to record any access to sensitive or confidential files. The user who viewed the information is recorded, as well as the location where they may have moved a document on the network. The information security team therefore has full visibility of all data at rest, in transit or in use.
To safeguard against data loss, leaks, or misuse, we monitor all endpoints where data is used, stored, or transferred. This includes servers, cloud storage, desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones, and more.
DLP tools enable data analysis and verification in the cloud. Sensitive information is automatically detected and encrypted before it is authorized and stored. They hold the list of cloud applications and those of users who can access sensitive files. An alert is sent directly to the security team when suspicious activity or a policy violation is detected.
Implementing a successful DLP (Data Loss Prevention) strategy involves:
Not all of a company’s data is equally important. It is up to each organization to define what it considers sensitive information. It will therefore initially identify the files which would be more problematic in the event of a violation. The DLP will thus begin with the elements likely to be targeted by cybercriminals.
You can opt for a scalable approach by assigning a relevant classification tag to files to make it easier to control their use. Examining their content is also useful to identify expressions like credit card numbers, social security numbers or keywords like “confidential”.
An effective DLP (Data Loss Prevention) strategy needs to account for the risks tied to files distributed to employee devices or shared with customers or partners. It’s essential to consider the mobility of data and the points at which it becomes vulnerable, such as during transfer via email or when moved to a removable storage solution, among other scenarios.
The next step is to work with leaders in each sector to find out why these events are happening. The idea is to create control points in order to limit risks. We will first target common behaviors that are identified as a risk by most line managers. Over time, the DLP strategy may expand to more granular and specific data loss prevention (DLP) controls.
Employee training plays an important role in minimizing the risk of accidental data loss by insiders. Advanced DLP solutions keep employees informed about actions that breach company policy or increase vulnerability. Additionally, measures are put in place to directly block activities that could compromise data security.
Data loss prevention consists of equipping your company with efficient software to improve its IT security. These are practical tools whose implementation helps limit the risk of data loss due to human errors. You have access to strict protection measures for the confidential data of your organization, your customers, and partners. What is essential to carry out your activities in complete compliance. DLP and its various applications constitute a real asset for professionals who are called upon to handle sensitive information. They bring many benefits that would be interesting to explore, whatever your sector.