Data loss prevention is an essential component of the modern business’s security and recovery strategy. Today, data loss can be devastating in more ways than one. It can result in a loss of customer trust, a disruption of business operations, and even loss in bottom-line revenue. The costs of breaches and security attacks that result in data loss are rising every day, so embracing data loss prevention should be a top priority.
But what is data loss prevention? It’s a practice that includes intelligent detection and control of information across end points, applications, users, and other sites of exposure. It involves both technology and a shift in protocols and policies that protects both business and customer data. Not all data loss prevention solutions are the same, though. Below is a look at the three types you need to know about.
Network Data Loss Prevention
This method of preventing data loss includes data security techniques such as data identification, and protecting data in motion, in use, or at rest on a company’s network. It sets a secure perimeter around data and a network to track and monitor data such as emails and file transfers. This solution rings alarm bells if someone attempts to send information that would violate security policies, and it can perform certain actions to restrict that attempt as well as alert administrators. Network data loss prevention is only useful when a computer is connected to a specific network.
Endpoint Data Loss Prevention
In contrast to its network counterpart, endpoint data loss prevention is installed on actual endpoints—individual devices— to monitor data in motion and at rest on these devices. It is not limited by the device’s connection to a specific network and can work if a device is connected to the internet elsewhere. It applies to a variety of devices including mobile phones and tablets, and similar to network data loss prevention, it can restrict actions taken on sensitive data such as blocking it from being sent out or copied. The solution also helps to classify certain data to align with compliance and reporting needs.
Cloud Data Loss Prevention
This method is specific to the cloud, as the name suggests. It protects and manages data in applications such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS) or software as a service (SaaS). Similar to the endpoint version of itself, cloud data loss prevention makes sure data abides by policies and rules but on specific cloud accounts. You can integrate it with multiple cloud tools, and it greatly strengthens your cloud security by automatically encrypting data before it is brought into and stored in the cloud. The solution also alerts administrators to violations or other outlier activity, keeps a list of authorized apps and users, and provides visibility for all data in the cloud.
Implement Data Loss Prevention Types with Microsoft
Microsoft offers the most robust data loss prevention solution available today and helps you define and apply the right policies for your business. You can identify, monitor, and protect data across all Microsoft 365 services and products, including Teams, OneDrive, Exchange, SharePoint, and all Office applications. You can even secure data on non-Microsoft cloud apps.
As part of a larger Microsoft Purview offering, data loss prevention integrates with other tools to keep your business safe—from the network to the cloud and back again. The experts at Point Alliance have deep experience helping businesses determine their data loss prevention strategies and onboarding the right technology to proactively safeguard them from sophisticated security attacks and data loss. Get in touch with us today to learn more about data loss prevention and if Microsoft’s DLP solution is right for you.
