Data loss prevention (DLP) solutions protect data in use, motion, and rest. They discover where confidential information resides, monitor high-risk modes of communication, and control access to sensitive data to prevent data leakage from malicious insiders or employee negligence. Therefore, a data loss prevention strategy is essential to safeguard your data, safeguard intellectual property, and maintain regulatory compliance. DLP solutions guarantee that confidential or classified data from your firm is not misplaced, handled carelessly, or accessed by unauthorized persons. Regardless of the port or protocol, stop the network from losing important data. Search for sensitive information in email subjects, messages, and attachments. Implement policy-based web application monitoring and blocking. For secure communication and legal compliance, encrypt email information.
Many DLP solutions are installed at the perimeter of enterprise networks and analyze network traffic, looking for predefined information disclosure policy violations. Some can also scan computers company-wide for sensitive information stored on removable devices.
Data Type
A data type specifies the kind and range of possible values for a variable value. It provides constraints on the interpretation, storage, and structure of values and objects in computer memory. A computer system uses a variable’s static type to optimize its storage size and costs and to choose algorithms for operations on that variable.
Primitive data types have a fixed number, a sequence of field names, and a set of possible values, which are often enumerated. Examples include the boolean data type, which has only two possibilities: true and false; the int data type, which represents integers with up to 16 digits; and the byte data type, which is an 8-bit signed two’s complement integer.
A tuple (also called a record) is a data structure that stores multiple values in a fixed order and has a set of methods for accessing or modifying those values. It is the simplest of all data types.
A network data loss prevention solution, such as “DLP software“, should have a wide range of detection mechanisms, including predefined identifiers for sensitive and regulated patterns (PHI, PCI) and the ability to create custom patterns. It should also support various protocols, such as USB ports and WiFi connections. This will help protect against both accidental and malicious data loss. It should also be able to prevent unauthorized or unwanted access from removable devices and remote connection technologies like VPNs.
Access Control
A DLP solution can’t prevent breaches entirely but can minimize their impact. It can block uploads to the web, encrypt files on download from on-premises resources, and quarantine sensitive data at rest within the cloud. Ideally, it can do so consistently across all platforms and devices to reduce management time and cost.
In addition to access control, the right network data loss prevention solution can include authentication and authorization features. This help ensures that users are who they say they are and stay within the confines of their permissions to your system.
Access control models like role-based access control (RBAC) allow administrators to set permissions based on roles defined for their business. It’s an effective way to limit employees to systems and files relevant to their jobs, reducing the chances of accidental or malicious activities that can lead to a breach.
While RBAC can prevent some breaches, hackers often find ways around them. To counter this, a network data loss prevention solution like Cyberhaven can monitor files moving to and from your on-premises applications, cloud SaaS, and removable media. If it spots a file format you have restricted access to, it stops the transmission and alerts you to potential violations.
Security
Companies shifting to a remote workforce model become more susceptible to data breaches and other digital attacks. This makes data loss prevention practices more critical than ever. A DLP solution monitors internal network activity and protects data from unauthorized access, use, or transfer, whether modified, uploaded to the web browser, copied to the clipboard, or stored on external devices.
A network DLP tool can detect sensitive information being moved out of the company’s network, including PII and PCI data, and it can alert administrators when there is a breach or an attempt to transfer data. It can also help ensure the company’s security policies, such as HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS, meet regulatory compliance.
The right DLP tool will have built-in identifiers for sensitive and regulated data patterns, the ability to create custom ones, and a range of detection mechanisms. This can include everything from regex, exact data match, and MIME types to file fingerprinting.
In addition to detecting and preventing the unauthorized transfer of data, a DLP system can also help reduce the risk of ransomware attacks. The right DLP solution will prevent employees from downloading malicious files and copying data to removable storage devices like USB sticks. In addition, a DLP solution can block the use of specific instruments and protocols that increase the potential for data leakage and theft.
