What Is Data Loss Prevention for Businesses?

Data loss prevention (DLP) includes strategies, tools, and processes aimed to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or transmission of sensitive information within an organization.

Perimeter 81

31.01.2024

5 min read

There are three main goals with DLP:

• Safeguard sensitive data
• Ensure compliance with privacy regulations
• Shield companies from risks caused by data breaches

DLP solutions include monitoring, detection, and blocking of sensitive data in various forms (text, files, images) as it traverses networks, endpoints, and storage systems. These solutions utilize content discovery, encryption, access controls, and policy enforcement to minimize data breaches and leaks.

Why is Data Loss Prevention Important for Organizations?

Data loss prevention is a must-have for every business. We’ve listed out the five main reasons why your organization should invest in data loss prevention.

1. Addressing Insider Threats: DLP tools identify and mitigate insider threats, whether intentional or accidental. This includes employees mishandling data, lowering the risk of internal data breaches.

2. Preserving Intellectual Property: DLP safeguards proprietary information from theft or unauthorized sharing, preserving an organization’s competitive advantage and innovation.

3. Ensuring Data Integrity: DLP contributes to maintaining data integrity by preventing unauthorized alterations or deletions, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of information.

4. Preventing Business Disruptions: Data breaches can lead to disruptions, downtime, and productivity loss. DLP proactively addresses potential threats, preventing security incidents and associated business interruptions.

5. Building Customer Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to data protection through DLP practices enhances customer trust. Organizations prioritizing the security and privacy of customer information are more likely to earn and retain customer confidence.

The Most Common Causes of Data Leaks

There are countless factors that contribute to data leaks. If you ever faced any data leaks, you’ve probably experienced at least one of these factors below.

1. Insider Threats: Employees may unintentionally or intentionally leak sensitive data due to negligence or malicious intent.

2. Phishing Attacks: Cybercriminals use phishing to trick individuals into providing sensitive information, leading to unauthorized access and data leaks.

3. Weak Passwords: Inadequate password practices create vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to exploit weak credentials for unauthorized access.

4. Unsecured Devices: Data leaks can occur when devices with sensitive information are lost or stolen, especially without proper encryption or security measures.

5. Third-Party Breaches: Shared data with third-party vendors may be compromised in their security breaches, resulting in a data leak for the primary organization.

6. Malware and Ransomware: Malicious software can encrypt and demand payment for data release or threaten to leak it if payment is not made.

To prevent these risks, you should implement robust cybersecurity policies in your organization.

Also, don’t forget to conduct regular employee training, utilize encryption, and stay vigilant against evolving threats. To better understand the importance of data breaches, we recommend checking the 5 biggest breaches in 2022.

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The Best Data Loss Prevention Techniques

There are plenty of effective techniques for safeguarding sensitive information.

We’ve created an effective step-by-step process for preventing data loss, so you can stay safe and keep your data secure with the highest precision.

1. Content Discovery and Classification: Identify and categorize sensitive data to understand its location and importance within the organization.

2. User Education and Training: Train employees on security best practices, emphasizing the importance of handling sensitive information responsibly.

3. Access Controls: Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data, limiting the risk of unauthorized exposure.

4. Data Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access, even if the physical storage or network is compromised.

5. Endpoint Security: Secure endpoints such as laptops and mobile devices with robust security measures to prevent data leaks from individual devices.

6. Network Monitoring: Continuously monitor network traffic for anomalies and unauthorized access, using intrusion detection systems to detect and prevent data breaches.

7. Data Backup and Recovery: Regularly backup critical data and establish recovery procedures to minimize the impact of data loss incidents.

8. Email Security: Implement email filtering and encryption measures to secure communication and prevent accidental data leaks through email.

9. Behavioral Analytics: Utilize advanced analytics to monitor user behavior and detect abnormal patterns that may indicate a potential data breach.

10. Incident Response Plan: Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to swiftly and effectively address data breaches when they occur, minimizing damage and downtime.

11. Secure File Sharing: Implement secure file-sharing platforms and educate users on safe sharing practices to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive documents.

12. Regular Audits and Assessments: Conduct periodic audits and assessments of security policies, controls, and technologies to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Implementing these data loss prevention techniques into your organization will greatly enhance data security and help you prevent legal, financial, and reputational risks.

5 Data Loss Prevention Best Practices

Having  an effective step-by-step process for preventing data loss is critical. However, there are additional (quick and easy) things you can do to improve your data loss prevention even more.

Here are five essential best practices to avert data loss:

1. Establish Strong Security Protocols

Formulate comprehensive security protocols governing data handling, access, and sharing. Ensure employees are well-versed in these protocols to foster awareness and adherence.

2. Train and Raise Employee Awareness

Conduct regular training sessions to enlighten employees about data security significance, potential risks, and best practices. Cultivating an awareness culture significantly mitigates the chances of human errors leading to data loss.

3. Implement Data Encryption

Deploy encryption techniques to protect sensitive data during transit and storage. This ensures that even if unauthorized access occurs, the encrypted data remains indecipherable without the corresponding decryption keys.

4. Keep Systems Updated and Patched

Ensure all software, applications, and systems receive timely updates with the latest security patches. Regular updates address known vulnerabilities, diminishing the risk of exploitation by malicious entities.

5. Utilize Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions

Invest in DLP solutions offering real-time monitoring, detection, and prevention of unauthorized data transfers. These solutions enforce security policies, recognize sensitive data patterns, and either block or provide alerts for potential data breaches.

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Data Loss Prevention is a critical shield for organizations as it orchestrates strategies, tools, and processes to protect against the unauthorized exposure of sensitive data. By prioritizing DLP, organizations not only safeguard confidential information but also adhere to data privacy regulations, mitigating financial, legal, and reputational risks. 

To maximize your organization’s cybersecurity and prevent data loss, we definitely recommend you check Perimeter81’s network security solutions.

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