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Tag: Data Loss Prevention

Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Strategies For Preventing The Loss Or Theft Of Sensitive Data

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a critical process that organizations must adopt to safeguard sensitive data from being lost or stolen. Sensitive data, such as financial records, personal data, and intellectual property, are valuable assets that, if compromised, can have major repercussions for the organization.

Strategies that organizations can use to prevent the loss or theft of sensitive data include:

Identify Sensitive Data

The first step in preventing data loss is identifying sensitive data. Organizations should conduct a thorough assessment of their data assets to determine the types of sensitive data that they possess. This includes personally identifiable information (PII), payment card information (PCI), and protected health information (PHI). Once identified, this sensitive data can be protected with appropriate controls.

Implement Access Controls

Implementing access controls is an essential step in preventing data loss. Access controls limit access to sensitive data to only authorized personnel. Access controls can be implemented through user accounts and password policies, as well as other techniques such as role-based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and biometric authentication.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Encrypting sensitive data is a critical step in preventing data loss. Encryption converts sensitive data into a code that can only be deciphered with a key. Even if an attacker gains access to the encrypted data, they will not be able to read it without the encryption key. Encryption should be used for data at rest and data in transit.

Monitor Data Access and Usage

Monitoring data access and usage is an important step in preventing data loss. Organizations should implement security information and event management (SIEM) tools to monitor data access and usage. These tools can detect anomalous activity, such as data exfiltration, and alert security teams in real-time.

Implement Data Backup and Recovery

Implementing data backup and recovery is essential for preventing data loss. Regular data backups ensure that even if data is lost or stolen, it can be recovered. Organizations should implement a backup strategy that includes both onsite and offsite backups. The data backup strategy should also include a disaster recovery plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a data loss incident.

Educate Employees

Employee education is a crucial step in preventing data loss. Employees should be educated on the importance of data security and the consequences of data loss. Employees should also be trained on how to identify and report security incidents.

Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Tools

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools are essential for preventing data loss. DLP tools can detect sensitive data and prevent it from leaving the organization. DLP tools can be used to monitor data usage, detect anomalous activity, and prevent data exfiltration.

Implement Security Policies and Procedures

Organizations should implement security policies and procedures to ensure that all employees follow best practices for data security. Security policies should include password policies, access control policies, and data classification policies. Security procedures should include incident response procedures, disaster recovery procedures, and data backup procedures.

For more information on how to protect your computer network systems and devices, contact Centex Technologies at Killeen (254) 213 – 4740, Dallas (972) 375 – 9654, Atlanta (404) 994 – 5074, and Austin (512) 956 – 5454.

 

Network Security Tools

The importance of data in business growth is imperative; however, network holds equal importance as it facilitates the flow of data. This makes it important to secure the organizational network to protect data as well as secure network endpoints. Thus, organizations need to implement effective network security and network visibility strategy.

Here is a list of network security tools that can help organizations in securing their network against security attacks:

  • Access Control: The best way to control damage caused by threat actors is to keep them out of the network. In addition to limiting the access of outside threats, it is equally important to take care of insider threats. Access control tools help organizations in keeping out threat actors and limiting user access to network areas that directly apply to user’s responsibilities.
  • Anti-Malware Software: Malware including virus, trojans, worms, keyloggers, spyware, etc. are designed to spread across computer systems and infect an organization’s network. Anti-malware tools assist organizations in identifying, controlling and resolving malware infections to minimize the damage caused to network.
  • Anomaly Detection: In order to detect anomalies in a network, it is first important to understand usual operations of the network. Network security tools such as Anomaly Detection Engines (ADE) allow organizations in analyzing a network, so that when and if any anomaly or network breach occurs, the IT team will be alerted quickly enough to limit the damage.
  • Application Security: Most cyber attackers consider applications to be a defensive vulnerability that can be exploited to cause network disruptions. Including application security tools can help organizations in establishing security parameters for applications.
  • Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Threat actors tend to use humans to cause data breach or network security breach. DLP technologies and policies help in protecting the employees and other users from misusing or possibly compromising sensitive data or allowing data flow out of the network at any of the endpoints.
  • Email Security: Email security tools are another set of network security tools that help organizations in minimizing human-related security weaknesses. Hackers or cyber criminals persuade employees to share sensitive information or inadvertently download malware into targeted network via phishing strategies. Email security tools assist organizations in identifying dangerous emails and blocking attacks.
  • Endpoint Security: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture has become highly integrated in organizations to an extent that it has become tough to distinguish between personal and business devices. Cyber attackers take this as an opportunity and attack personal devices to launch a network security attack. Endpoint security tools add a layer of defense between remote devices and business networks.

For more information on network security tools, contact Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.

Emerging Data Security Technologies

There has been an exponential increase in cyber-attack instances across the globe. This has led to a need for more advanced data protection and cyber security solutions which can defend organization’s IT systems and can protect business and consumer’s data. In such a scenario, newer technologies play a very important role in providing state-of-the-art data security solutions.

Some of the prominent technologies that are giving rise to possibilities of better data security in future are:

  1. Hardware Authentication: It is easier for hackers to get access to information systems due to inadequate passwords and usernames. This compromises sensitive data and urges the experts to come up with strict authentication methods. One of the ways, to accomplish this, is the development of user hardware authentication. Hardware authentication can be particularly essential for Internet of Things where it is important to ensure that any device seeking connectivity has the authorization to do so.
  2. User Behavior Analytics (UBA): It is a cybersecurity process that detects threats, targeted attacks and financial frauds. It gains information about network events like any kind of malicious behavior by attackers, unauthenticated usernames and passwords, etc. UBA is a valuable tool to train employees for adopting better security practices.
  3. Data Loss Prevention: Encryption of data can protect it on field and sub-field levels. Though any business process can be performed on encrypted data in its protected form, the attackers cannot monetize data even if they conduct a successful breach. For data loss prevention to work well, enterprises should ensure compliance to data privacy and security regulations.
  4. Cloud Technology: Transformation of system security technology will be impacted significantly through the cloud. Users have embraced cloud technology to store vast amount of information that is generated on daily basis. Migration from on-premise data storage and development of information systems security to be used in the cloud is emerging gradually.
  5. Deep Learning: Technologies like deep learning consist of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Experts have a significant deal of interest in these technologies for the purpose of system security. They focus on anomalous behavior as whenever AI and machine learning are fed with right data regarding a potential security threat, decisions are made to prevent attacks depending upon immediate environment without human input. Deep learning techniques have made it possible to analyze different entities that are found in an enterprise both at micro and macro level.

Combination of these new technologies and fundamental security controls can help in ensuring that the confidential information of an organization is safe. For more information on emerging data security technologies, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.

Reasons To Integrate DLP With Cloud Access Security Broker

Cloud based services play an important role in providing greater flexibility and access to core business applications. However, a major drawback of cloud computing is that the information stored and shared through these systems is highly vulnerable.  To tackle this vulnerability, cloud access security broker (CASB) solutions are being adopted by organizations for protecting data stored in both sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud applications. CASB can be installed on-premises or a cloud-based version of the software can be used as a security layer between the cloud application and service users to monitor the activity & enforce security measures. Another set of tools that is widely used by organizations to prevent data loss is DLP. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools classify the regular and critical data & identify security violations.

Cybersecurity firms are integrating CASB and DLP solutions to monitor & control sensitive data. This integration acts as a control point between users, accessible cloud services and the data stored in the cloud. Integrating DLP with Cloud Access Security Broker offers advantages like real time data protection and access management.

Following are other reasons to be considered for integrating DLP with CASB:

  • A rising number of businesses are falling victim to cyber-attacks and data breaches. Cyber criminals are targeting enterprises with malware attacks designed specifically for cloud platforms. They take advantage of loopholes like poor configurations, unauthorized devices and ill-defined access management because IT departments are not able to provide DLP coverage to these blindspots of cloud storage. However, integrating DLP with CASB solutions will help in providing comprehensive DLP coverage to protect sensitive data stored in the cloud.
  • >With the changing cyberattack scenario, it is essential to continually evolve industry’s response to these attacks. Standard network to endpoint workflow should no longer be assumed enough for protection against new and sophisticated malware attacks. Both DLP and CASB may have overlapping features but they fall short on cloud coverage and comprehensive coverage respectively. Thus, it is impossible to get complete cyber security coverage with just one solution. Integrating both solutions provides enhanced coverage to the cloud service users.
  • Integrating DLP and CASB is simple and easy. To integrate with a DLP solution, CASB uses ICAP protocol that sends the content to DLP for review. The DLP inspects files against its existing policies. Once a violation is identified, it sends the violation to the CASB cloud platform via the connector software. The CASB cloud platform enforces remediation action with the cloud service via API.

Most organizations are integrating DLP with CASB as a security standard to protect their data from impending threats.

For more information about IT and security risks, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.

Data Loss Prevention

March 23, 2015

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) can be defined as a strategy to identify or monitor confidential data to ensure that it is not sent outside a corporate network. It involves real time tracking of data as it moves through the end users in an enterprise and prevents its unauthorized access by implementing strict privacy policies. The term may also be used to describe software solutions that enable the web administrator to control the data that can or cannot be transferred by the users.

With the increasing number of devices connected to the network, Data Loss Prevention has become extremely important for the organizations to maintain their stability and protect confidential information. The types of data that may be leaked include:

  • Corporate Data: such as employee information, company strategies, financial documents etc.
  • Intellectual Property: such as product designs, price lists, source code etc.
  • Customer Data: such as financial records, personal details, credit card and bank account numbers, social security numbers etc.

Mainly, Data Loss Prevention products offer three different types of protection:

  • In-Use Protection: This is applicable when the confidential information needs to be used by certain applications. Access to such data depends upon the user’s ability to pass through different levels of control systems to authenticate his identity such as employee ID, job role and security policies. Additionally, such information is likely to be stored in an encrypted form to prevent the attempts to access snapshots, paging or any other temporary files.
  • In-Motion Protection: This is applicable when the sensitive data is being transferred through the network. Proper encoding methods are implemented to alleviate the risk of spying or hacking attack. The more confidential the information, the tougher the encryption will be.
  • At-Rest Protection: This is applicable when the data is saved on some kind of physical storage medium. It involves restricting access to the programs, monitor the attempts to use such information and use strong encryption to prevent threats to the physical media where the information is stored.

Requirements Of A Data Loss Prevention Software

  • Your DLP product should be capable of finding and protecting all information, regardless of its storage location.
  • It should also be able to track the usage of the data and prevent it from getting out of the organization’s internet network.
  • The system must also accurately detect any potential threats or breaches of network security.
  • Lastly, DLP software must be able to encrypt the sensitive information to prevent loss of data.

It is extremely important to have an effectively functioning Data Loss Prevention system to keep your business and data protected from potential security threats.

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