What is Data Loss Prevention (DLP)?

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Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Definition

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.

A comprehensive DLP solution provides the information security team with complete visibility into all data on the network, including:

• Data in use: Securing data being used by an application or endpoint through user authentication and access control
• Data in motion: Ensuring the safe transmission of sensitive, confidential or proprietary data while it moves across the network through encryption and/or other e-mail and messaging security measures
• Data at rest: Protecting data that is being stored on any network location, including the cloud, through access restrictions and user authentication

DLP is also a way for companies to classify business critical information and ensure the company’s data policies comply with relevant regulations, such as HIPAA, GDPR and PCI-DSS. A properly designed and configured DLP solution streamlines reporting to meet these compliance and auditing requirements.

Finally, some DLP solutions can also provide alerts, enable encryption and isolate data when a breach or other security incident is detected. In doing so, the DLP solution can expedite incident response by identifying areas of weakness and anomalous activity during routine networking monitoring.

3 Types: Network vs. Endpoint vs. Cloud

There are three types of DLP:

1. Network DLP: monitors and protects all data in use, in motion or at rest on the company’s network, including the cloud
2. Endpoint DLP: monitors all endpoints, including servers, computers, laptops, mobile phones and any other device on which data is used, moved or saved
3. Cloud DLP: a subset of Network DLP that is specifically designed to protect those organizations that leverage cloud repositories for data storage

Network DLP

• Tracks and analyzes the organization’s network activity and traffic, across a traditional network and the cloud; this includes monitoring e-mail, messaging and file transfers, to detect when business critical data is being sent in violation of the organization’s information security policies
• Establishes a database that records when sensitive or confidential data is accessed, who accesses it, and, if applicable, where the data moves on the network
• Provides the infosec team with complete visibility into all data on the network, including data that is in use, in motion or at rest

Endpoint DLP

• Monitors all network endpoints, including servers, cloud repositories, computers, laptops, mobile phones and any other device on which data is used, moved or saved in order to prevent data leakage, loss or misuse
• Assists in the classification of regulatory, confidential, proprietary or business-critical data in order to streamline reporting and compliance requirements
• Tracks data stored on endpoints both on and off the network

Cloud DLP

• Scans and audits data in the cloud to automatically detect and encrypt sensitive information before it is admitted to and stored in the cloud
• Maintains a list of authorized cloud applications and users that can access sensitive data
• Alerts the infosec team to policy violations or anomalous activity
• Maintains a log of when confidential, cloud-based data is accessed and the user’s identify
• Establishes end-to-end visibility for all data in the cloud

Why Is DLP Important for Organizations?

As companies move to a more remote and dispersed workforce and rely more heavily on cloud-based infrastructure, protecting sensitive data has become more challenging.

According to CrowdStrike Intelligence, ransomware related data leaks saw an 82% increase from 2020 to 2021. 2,686 data leak events happened in 2021 (compared to 1,474 in 2020) and were felt across sectors and industries, with the engineering and manufacturing sectors suffering most and the technology sector trailing behind them.

A DLP solution protects sensitive data by helping the company:

• Improve adherence to existing security policies by quickly identifying network anomalies and inappropriate user activity
• Meet complex and evolving compliance standards by classifying and storing sensitive, confidential, proprietary or other business-critical data in a flexible and adaptable way
• Improve data visibility across the entire network and all endpoints through a 360-degree view of the enterprise
• Reduce financial risk associated with data loss or leaks, especially as it relates to ransomware attacks
• Decrease the chance of reputational harm by preventing data breaches and/or quickly identifying security incidents so as to minimize the impact of such an event

The growing sophistication of hackers and digital adversaries place greater emphasis on the organization’s prevention capabilities.

Main Causes of Data Leakage

Exfiltration

Data exfiltration is the act of stealing or impermissibly transferring data from a device or network. It can be conducted by outsiders or insiders performing cyberattacks like phishing or DDoS. Data that is typically exfiltrated includes login credentials and intellectual property.

Insider Threats

Insider threats are especially dangerous because the attack comes from within, an insider of the company. Insiders include company employees or former employees, contractors, and business associates. This leaves sensitive data vulnerable to exploitation.

Negligence

Many times, breaches are caused due to employee or another party’s negligence. There are a number of reasons this can happen, such as having weak security procedures, poor cybersecurity training programs, or not applying the Principle of Least Privilege (POLP), the idea of customized access restrictions to sensitive information based on job roles.

It is essential companies provide comprehensive cybersecurity training for their employees to understand the importance of keeping not only company data, but their personal data safe from adversaries. Companies should also focus on training their employees to adopt  cybersecurity best practices when performing work.

How DLP Tools Work

A DLP solution makes use of a combination of standard cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls, endpoint protection tools, monitoring services and antivirus software, and advanced solutions, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and automation, to prevent data breaches, detect anomalous activity and contextualize activity for the infosec team.

DLP technologies typically support one or more of the following cybersecurity activities:

Prevention: Establish a real-time review of data streams and immediately restrict suspicious activity or unauthorized users

Detection: Quickly identify anomalous activity through improved data visibility and enhanced data monitoring measures

Response: Streamline incident response activities by tracking and reporting data access and movement across the enterprise

Analysis: Contextualize high-risk activity or behavior for security teams to strengthen prevention measures or inform remediation activities

DLP Policy Rollout Best Practices

Given the complexity of the threat landscape and the sprawling nature of most corporate networks, the first step in implementing a DLP policy is often to identify a trusted and capable cybersecurity partner. A dedicated team of knowledgeable security professionals will be critical to helping the business at every stage of the program, from strategy and design to implementation and operation.

Below are the best practices to help companies maximize their DLP investment and ensure the solution aligns to the company’s existing security strategy and measures:

1. Determine the primary objective for the DLP

Given the complexity of the threat landscape and the sprawling nature of most corporate networks, the first step in implementing a DLP policy is often to identify a trusted and capable cybersecurity partner. A dedicated team of knowledgeable security professionals will be critical to helping the business at every stage of the program, from strategy and design to implementation and operation.

Below are the best practices to help companies maximize their DLP investment and ensure the solution aligns to the company’s existing security strategy and measures:

1. Determine the primary objective for the DLP

For many organizations, a DLP solution is adopted so that the company can meet complex and evolving compliance standards, such as HIPAA or GDPR. While this is one important functionality of DLP, a comprehensive solution provides many other uses to the organization, including data protection, incident prevention, improved visibility and expedited incident response capabilities.

In working with a knowledgeable cybersecurity partner, it is possible for the organization to customize the DLP to focus on each business’s priorities. Further, the solution design, configuration and implementation will depend on the tool’s primary use.

2. Ensure the DLP aligns to the organization’s broader security architecture and strategy

In designing and implementing a DLP solution, it is important for the organization to consider existing security measures, such as firewalls or monitoring systems that could be leveraged as part of this new capability. The organization should also ensure that the DLP solution is fully integrated within the company’s cybersecurity architecture.

3. Classify and Prioritize Data

For companies to better protect their sensitive information, they have to know exactly what they have. As a best practice, companies should perform data audits and inventory to more easily classify and prioritize this data. Doing so provides them with a better understanding of what data would cause more damage if it were compromised.

4. Develop implementation plans for any new tools within the DLP solution

These plans should involve both IT and information security teams to ensure that stakeholders are aware of the tool’s purpose and intended use. This planning process should also identify the tool’s operational impact on the business and the degree to which that can be tolerated.

5. Create a regular cadence of security review for the DLP solution

New features, capabilities and functions are often added to solutions regularly. Your teams should evaluate, test and implement rollout plans as new capabilities reach the market. “Setting and forgetting” is a recipe for failure as the threats, tactics and techniques change faster than most tools can adapt.

6. Establish change management guidelines

A tool’s agreed-upon configuration should be documented and then audited multiple times a year. Information security teams should frequently discuss configurations and new features with vendors and support teams to maximize the tool’s value and validate its use in the organization’s environment.

7. Test yourself

Regular audits and adversary emulation exercises should ensure that the DLP solution is working as intended.