Learn more about data loss prevention software in Data Protection 101, our series covering the fundamentals of data security. Show
What is Data Loss Prevention (DLP)?Data loss prevention (DLP) is a set of tools and processes used to ensure that sensitive data is not lost, misused, or accessed by unauthorized users. DLP software classifies regulated, confidential and business critical data and identifies violations of policies defined by organizations or within a predefined policy pack, typically driven by regulatory compliance such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or GDPR. Once those violations are identified, DLP enforces remediation with alerts, encryption, and other protective actions to prevent end users from accidentally or maliciously sharing data that could put the organization at risk. Data loss prevention software and tools monitor and control endpoint activities, filter data streams on corporate networks, and monitor data in the cloud to protect data at rest, in motion, and in use. DLP also provides reporting to meet compliance and auditing requirements and identify areas of weakness and anomalies for forensics and incident response.
Do I Need Data Loss Prevention? 3 Main Uses Cases for DLPData loss prevention solves three main objectives that are common pain points for many organizations: personal information protection / compliance, intellectual property (IP) protection, and data visibility.
While these are the three main use cases, DLP can remediate a variety of other pain points including insider threats, Office 365 data security, user and entity behavior analysis, and advanced threats.
Why Data Loss Prevention? 7 Trends Driving DLP AdoptionIn the 2017 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise DLP, Gartner estimated that the total data loss prevention market would reach $1.3 billion in 2020. Now, updated forecasts show a likely $2.64 billion market size in 2020. The DLP market is not new, but it has evolved to include managed services, cloud functionality, and advanced threat protection amongst other things. All of this, coupled with the upward trend in giant data breaches, has seen a massive uptick in DLP adoption as a means to protect sensitive data. Here are nine trends that are driving the wider adoption of DLP:
What Type of Data Loss Prevention is Right for Your Organization?Data Loss Prevention Best Practices
Experts Weigh in on Data Loss PreventionHere’s a look at what the experts have to say about data loss prevention. 1. Data protection is everyone’s job. “Everyone in a company is responsible for upholding data security standards. While the IT department does the majority of the everyday work with these systems and processes, stakeholders across your organization influence security policy and implementation. Think of the impacts of a data breach: Damage to the brand, regulatory infractions (and the resulting fines), and loss of sales and customers hurt the company as a whole. After considering this, suddenly the IT department’s reach doesn’t seem wide enough to address all of these issues. When building a case for a DLP solution, you must involve the leaders within your company who will become the main stakeholders.” - Choosing a DLP solution: A guided plan, Nightfall.ai When building a case for a DLP solution, you must involve the leaders within your company who will become the main stakeholders. Bring these people to the table during the discovery process and give them chances to view demos and ask questions before signing off on the final decision. Each organization’s needs will vary, but it helps to have leaders from engineering, operations, legal, and even sales and marketing involved in such discussions. 2. Encryption is important. “Security is more than encryption, of course. But encryption is a critical component of security. While it's mostly invisible, you use strong encryption every day, and our Internet-laced world would be a far riskier place if you did not. When it's done right, strong encryption is unbreakable encryption. Any weakness in encryption will be exploited — by hackers, criminals, and foreign governments. Many of the hacks that make the news can be attributed to weak or — even worse — nonexistent encryption.” — Bruce Schneier, The Value of Encryption, Schneier on Security 3. Be mindful of insider threats. “I’ve worked with organizations to prevent insider threats as well as in response to incidences. In my experience, the notion of it being ’easy’ to deter and detect insider threats is only the case if organizations are proactive about their approach in the first place. There are strategic ways to be proactive – from having internal training for business users to feel responsible with knowledge, skills and awareness – to monitoring activities that companies can employ that set up rules and parameters on what is considered appropriate for various employees to do as part of their work functions and flag instances that are outside of those rules.” — Isaac Kohen, Detecting + Deterring Insider Threats: How Easy Can It Be?, LinkedIn
Why Digital Guardian?Digital Guardian is a next-generation cloud-based data protection platform that is the only solution converging DLP, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) to provide data protection from all threats. Our comprehensive DLP platform eliminates the need for additional agents and consoles for EDR or UEBA and allows IT security teams to consolidate their security capabilities. We have been named a Gartner Magic Quadrant leader in Enterprise DLP for five consecutive years and are the #1 rated technology by Gartner for IP protection. Our platform provides:
We recognize that there is a shortage in security talent and we’re here to fill that gap. Our Managed Security Program extends the capabilities of your team. Our 24x7 global security analyst teams will help ensure sensitive data does not leave your organization. We will fully manage your data protection infrastructure and help you get deployed for the fastest time-to-value. Additional Resources:
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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is data loss prevention?Data loss prevention (DLP) is a set of processes, procedures, and tools designed to prevent the loss, misuse, or unauthorized access of sensitive information. Data is classified using DLP software solutions to determine if it is regulated, confidential or critical to the business. The software then identifies violations of organizational policies implemented to enforce compliance with regulatory guidelines such as HIPAA or GDPR. DLP enforces remediation of the identified vulnerabilities through alerts and protective actions like encryption to prevent intentional or accidental misuse of sensitive data. DLP software monitors and protects the network, endpoint, and cloud data at rest and in motion. Data loss prevention also involves reporting to demonstrate regulatory compliance and address audit requirements. What are three types or use cases of data loss prevention?Data loss prevention solutions can be used to address the following issues that plague organizations. 1) Complying with personal information security regulations - DLP solutions can be used to classify an organization’s sensitive information that is subject to regulatory standards. An example is companies operating in the U.S. healthcare industry that process protected health information (PHI). This data has its security and privacy regulated by HIPAA. DLP can monitor activities involving this data and provide reports to document regulatory compliance. 2) Protecting intellectual property (IP) - DLP solutions can use context-based data classification to identify important IP that needs enhanced protection. Implementing data protection policies and controls keeps a company’s IP away from unauthorized users. 3) Providing enhanced data visibility - An enterprise DLP solution can monitor data in the cloud, on networks, and at endpoints. The enhanced visibility into how data is used throughout the organization enables information to be used more efficiently and protected more effectively. What is the best way to prevent data loss?The best way to prevent data loss is to implement an enterprise data loss prevention solution. The tool should ensure information can only be accessed by authorized personnel and protect it in the event of a data breach. Implementing these data loss prevention measures requires instituting practices to enhance cybersecurity such as end-to-end encryption and multi-factor authentication. What is a data loss prevention policy?A data loss prevention policy documents the measures an organization implements to safeguard its information resources. The policy defines the acceptable ways users can share and access company data. It also outlines how data can be used by authorized individuals without accidentally exposing it to other entities. What is DLP and what are the types of DLP?Data loss prevention is an approach to data security that implements a set of processes, procedures, and tools to prevent the loss, misuse, or unauthorized access of sensitive information. Three types of data loss prevention are network DLP, endpoint DLP, and cloud DLP. What are the 3 types of data loss prevention?The three main types of data loss prevention software include network DLP, endpoint DLP and Cloud DLP.
Which devices best protect individual computers from unwanted Internet traffic?A firewall is a security device — computer hardware or software — that can help protect your network by filtering traffic and blocking outsiders from gaining unauthorized access to the private data on your computer.
Which of the following would most likely be considered for data loss prevention?The USB mass storage device would be the most likely asset to be considered for data loss prevention (DLP).
What is data loss prevention in cyber security?Data loss prevention (DLP) is a part of a company's overall security strategy that focuses on detecting and preventing the loss, leakage or misuse of data through breaches, ex-filtration transmissions and unauthorized use.
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