Data Loss Prevention: Safeguarding Your Sensitive Information

What is Data Loss Prevention?

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) refers to the strategies, technologies, and practices aimed at identifying, monitoring, and protecting sensitive data from unauthorised access, leaks, or loss. By implementing DLP, organisations can safeguard critical information, comply with regulatory standards, and enhance overall data security. DLP also includes tools that enable network administrators to track how data is accessed, used, and shared by end-users across the organisation.

Common Causes of Data Leaks

Data leaks occur for various reasons, and understanding these root causes is essential for effective prevention. Here are some typical scenarios:

• Insider threats
  • A malicious insider or compromised privileged accounts may misuse access rights, moving sensitive data outside of protected networks.
• External cyber attacks
  • Attackers often target sensitive data through methods like phishing, malware, and code injection. Once inside the network, they can extract valuable information.
• Unintentional or negligent data exposure
  • Employee negligence, such as sending sensitive data over open internet connections or failing to restrict access, is a frequent source of data leaks.

How Does DLP Work?

DLP solutions generally follow two main stages:

1. Data identification: In this stage, the DLP system detects and classifies sensitive information within the organisation. Techniques like Context Analysis (examining metadata) and Content Awareness (analysing file contents) allow DLP systems to identify data that needs protection.
2. Data protection measures: DLP tools are then employed to prevent unauthorised access, leaks, and breaches. These measures include access controls, antivirus protection, monitoring user behaviour, enforcing password protocols, and restricting vulnerable devices.

DLP solutions often go beyond the tasks of detecting potential data loss, providing alerts of enforcing encryption and isolating data. Some other common features of DLP solutions are:

• Monitoring data access and usage for visibility into potential risks.
• Filtering suspicious data streams to prevent leaks.
• Reporting and analysing activities for incident response and auditing.

Implementing a DLP Strategy

Organisations can use standard security tools to create a data loss solution and prevent against data leakage. Simple systems like antivirus software, intrusion detection systems and firewalls can be extremely beneficial in protecting your data from any unauthorised parties. However, larger organisations or organisations that may require a stronger DLP plan can turn to designated DLP tools or solutions to safeguard data.

A high level DLP implementation typically follows these major phases:

1. Prioritisation of data – determine which data is the most sensitive and would require the most protection.
2. Categorisation of data – classify data by context depending on the organisational needs. Some ways of classifying data include by creator or modifier, or by content.
3. Understand when data will be at risk – examples of when data might be at risk is when attached to an email or moved to a removable storage device. A robust data loss prevention program must account for the mobility of data and the moments when data is put at risk.
4. Monitor data movement – understand how data is being used and identify existing behaviour that puts that data at risk.
5. Communicate and develop controls based on monitoring of data movement
6. Train employees to practice good data safety and provide continuous guidance
7. Continue to repeat these steps and fine tune your DLP plan as it is an ongoing process, not a single set of steps.

By starting with a single set of data, you can trial your DLP plan and see how it works for your organisation. This trial will be able to provide lessons and learnings for expanding your DLP plan.

Why consider DLP now?

Several factors underscore the importance of implementing DLP today:

• Regulatory Compliance: As data privacy regulations grow, organisations must secure sensitive data, including Personally Identifiable Information (PII), to comply with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA.
• Rising Data Breaches: Data breaches are increasing in both frequency and impact. With sensitive data fetching high prices on black markets, organisations face more pressure to protect information from cybercriminals and malicious insiders.
• Expanded Definition of Sensitive Data: Sensitive data now includes intellectual property, strategic business information, customer lists, and more. This broadening scope of data vulnerability calls for stronger DLP policies.
• Complex Data Environments: The growth of cloud storage, remote work, and complex networks means organisations need enhanced visibility and control over data. DLP solutions provide this context and control.

How Can Organisations Leverage DLP methods?

Organisations can utilise DLP methods to:

• Protect personally identifiable information (PII) and comply with relevant regulations
• Protect intellectual property critical for the organisation
• Achieve data visibility in large organisations
• Secure mobile workforce and enforce security in BYOD environments
• Secure data on remote cloud systems.

Partnering for Success: How Can We Help?

From initial consultation to planning, design, implementation and management, BluBiz offers end to end management and support in producing DLP policies for our clients. If you’re looking to improve your cyber security and implement a DLP policy, please get in touch with our friendly team to start your journey.