We live in a data-driven world. However, with our data circulating across the internet, there are obstacles we all must face. Hazards like malware, spyware, trojans, and ransomware lurk throughout the dark web, lying in wait to steal your sensitive business information. According to Statista, the U.S. alone saw 1,001 data breaches in 2020, wherein 155.8 million records were exposed¹. The consequences of these breaches can be dire. As outlined in IBM Security’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021, the average data breach cost a record $4.24 million last year². Now, you may ask yourself, “How do I keep my company data safe in case of a breach?”
Enter data loss prevention, or DLP. This technique helps organizations protect their most sensitive data, such as health records and credit card numbers³. It also reduces the risk of data breaches by preventing users from sharing this information in an inappropriate manner³. In this article, we will learn more about DLP and why it should be a safe harbor for all your business data in case of cyberattacks.
One key advantage of DLP is that it provides you with real-time monitoring all day, every day. Consider the capable Sophos Synchronized Security system, for example. Combining Sophos’ proprietary firewall and Intercept X technologies, Synchronized Security continuously shares your network health information via the Security Heartbeat feature⁴. This keeps you updated on network health, as you will be notified every time an active threat arises⁴. Moreover, with state-of-the-art lateral movement protection that isolates compromised hosts, you will know right away if attacks have used or attempted to use your business data maliciously⁴. In short, Synchronized Security gives you peace of mind so you can focus on meeting your business’s goals.
DLP is also helpful because it helps organizations protect their crucial business data and intellectual property⁵. Loyola University Chicago, for example, recently began implementing DLP across the university’s Microsoft 365 and Outlook email systems⁶. The University’s goal is “to monitor, identify, and reduce the accidental release of sensitive information” in Outlook emails and MS 365 files⁶. Loyola-Chicago’s DLP protects university data by applying sensitivity labels to classify and protect users’ MS 365 documents⁶. Once users save these files, the labels remain with the documents whether they are shared internally, externally, or not at all⁶. The DLP also protects Loyola-Chicago’s intellectual property by preventing users from forwarding protected documents to emails outside the university system⁶.
While DLP is valuable for protecting and monitoring your organizational data, it also gives you valuable insights about which specific users may be the greatest threats to your business⁴. Returning to the Sophos example, consider the next-generation firewalls we discussed in a previous article. Sophos firewalls “provide you with actionable insights into top-risk users,” allowing you to control their actions before they can seriously harm your network⁴. By correlating users’ surfing habits and web activity with search histories and advanced threat triggers, Sophos Firewall identifies your users with risky online behaviors and immediately notifies you of any suspicious activity⁴. This demonstrates why DLP is quickly becoming essential for businesses of all sizes.
Still another benefit of DLP is that it helps your company save money. More specifically, it reduces your risk of exposure to both internal and external threats⁷. When you consider that each customer PII (personally identifiable information) record stolen in a data breach cost $180 on average last year, it becomes clear that your business is better off with DLP than without it². Additionally, as Security Intelligence points out, implementing DLP within your organization better positions you “to avoid financial loss from misuse of data, loss of data, or noncompliance” with relevant policies and regulations⁷.
At Navitend, we offer a comprehensive suite of data loss prevention software solutions, including Microsoft and Sophos products, along with the training you need to create a safe harbor for all your business data.
Navitend can help you. Call 973.448.0070 or setup an appointment today.
Sources:
¹Statista – “Annual number of data breaches and exposed records in the United States from 2005 to 2020” by Joseph Johnson. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/273550/data-breaches-recorded-in-the-united-states-by-number-of-breaches-and-records-exposed/.
²IBM Security – “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021.” Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/OJDVQGRY.
³Microsoft – “Learn about data loss prevention.” Retrieved from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/dlp-learn-about-dlp?view=o365-worldwide.
⁴Sophos – “Data Protection with Sophos Complete Security Solutions.” Retrieved from https://www.sophos.com/en-us/solutions/use-cases/data-protection#:~:text=%20Data%20Loss%20Prevention%20%201%20Secure%20the,and%20immediately%20take%20control%20of%20their...%20More%20.
Loyola University Chicago – “Data Loss Prevention: Information Technology Services.” Retrieved from https://www.luc.edu/its/services/datalossprevention/.
Identity Management Institute – “Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Best Practices.” Retrieved from https://identitymanagementinstitute.org/data-loss-prevention-dlp-best-practices/.
⁷Security Intelligence – “A Business Case for Data Loss Prevention” by Brian Evans. Retrieved from https://securityintelligence.com/a-business-case-for-data-loss-prevention/.
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