Data is the lifeblood of today's business. And if something happens to the data, for example, as a result of human error, cyber-attack or corruption, it will cause enormous damage to the business. Data loss could cause a business simply to stop existing at all.
More and more information is being stored in cloud servers nowadays. Organizations are using cloud-based SaaS applications in their work to improve collaboration and productivity. However, the cloud is not completely safe from data loss. Increasing security concerns regarding data breaches and cyberattacks have prompted companies to implement an additional layer of protection – Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems.
In this article, you will learn why DLP systems are useful and how to implement a reliable DLP program for your business.
What Is Data Loss Prevention (DLP)?
DLP systems are software products that protect organizations from confidential information leaks. Such systems create a secure digital perimeter by analyzing all outgoing and incoming information. Controlled information includes not only Internet traffic, but also other data flow - documents that are moved outside the protected security perimeter on external media, documents printed or sent to mobile devices via Bluetooth, and so on.
Since a DLP system is supposed to prevent confidential information leaks, it necessarily has built-in mechanisms for determining the confidentiality level of a document detected in intercepted traffic. Usually, there are two most common ways: by analyzing special document markers and by analyzing the document contents. Currently, the second option is more common, as it is robust against modifications made to the document before it is sent, and also allows to easily expand the number of confidential documents that the system can work with.
In addition to their primary task of preventing information leaks, DLP systems are also well suited for a number of other tasks related to monitoring employee actions.
Optional features of a DLP system include:
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Monitoring employees’ working time and work resources;
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Monitoring of employee interactions in order to detect breaches, which may be harmful to the organization;
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Controlling the legitimacy of employees' actions;
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Identification of employees looking for work and sending resumes to other companies
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How does DLP works?
DLP protects data while it is in use, in motion, and at rest.
In use: Protect data on devices or in applications by authenticating users and controlling access to sensitive data.
In motion: Protect sensitive data as it transmits over the network through encryption.
At rest: Protect data stored in the cloud, databases, or other media through access control, encryption, and storage policies.
DLP algorithms help determine which data transmissions should be blocked. For example, the program can prevent sending sensitive information outside the organization. Also, it prevents unauthorized data transfers to external storage by prohibiting employee endpoints from reading and writing certain information.
Email is the most critical source of threats. DLP monitors incoming emails for malicious attachments or suspicious links. The software detects sensitive data and prevents leaks. DLP products can also interact with other systems, such as a CMS, to identify content that needs to be blocked.
Data Loss Prevention by Cloud4Y
Data loss can be devastating for businesses of all sizes. It affects the financial health of a business, its reputation, and its relationship with clients and partners. And this applies to companies of all sizes. Criminals do not target only large enterprises – as long as you have valuable data, there will be hackers to steal it. In fact, no company is immune to data loss.
Cloud4Y offers a DLP system renting service. It is delivered via the SaaS model. This means that you do not need to buy the expensive software as well as think about its continued maintenance and updating.
Primarily, companies having an IT infrastructure of more than 100 computers should think about the implementation of DLP solutions. Most often, leaks occur in organizations working in the financial sectors, in manufacturing companies developing new products, and in those that process large volumes of personal data or deal with customer payment information.
