When it comes to protecting your critical business data, there are multiple factors you must consider, especially as the data ecosystem becomes increasingly complex.
Data loss prevention (DLP) should be a vital part of any robust data protection strategy.
DLP refers to a set of tools that enables your organization to:
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Track sensitive data
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Apply rules that control data flows in line with defined policies (these rules can be applied at terminal level, application level, or network level)
Like other integrations, DLP deployments need planning and the right strategy to avoid mistakes or downtime. To ensure that your DLP implementation is a success, here are five key factors you should consider.
Involve all the stakeholders (business, HR, IT, etc.)
DLP is everyone’s business! The project cannot succeed without the involvement of each player. Stakeholders and users of data must be aware of the DLP policy, its purpose, and their responsibilities when it comes to safeguarding the organization’s data. Invest in user training to reduce the risk of insider-triggered data loss.
Here’s where the different divisions come in:
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Different business units must be brought on board to connect security rules to real use cases (e.g., information leakage protection in communications)
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Users and HR involvement is required depending on sensitivity, recurrence, and change management efficiency
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IT team involvement is required to maintain tooling and continue integration in the environment
Identify, classify, and protect unstructured data
Before starting your data protection efforts, first identify what types of unstructured data you have and then classify them. With that knowledge, you can then use DLP solutions to control user data access and ensure that sensitive data is stored in secure locations.
Using this system, sensitive or critical data can be clearly marked. When data is created, modified, transmitted, or stored, the classification should be updated. It is also necessary to include controls to ensure that unauthorized users cannot tamper with the classification levels.
Account for regulatory and legal compliance when storing and processing data
Sensitive data – such as personal data – is subject to national information processing laws. These impose specific limits on the extent said data can be legally processed. If your organization operates internationally, you will also need to be familiar with and comply with regional regulatory frameworks.
When it comes to legal compliance, besides relying on the advice of your legal and compliance departments, various international bodies can approve the analyses and protection rules applied to the data.
Here are some of the main points to be addressed during regulatory due diligence:
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The processing of personal data
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Notifying users about the data processing
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Where the processed data restored
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The transfer channels used
Define governance and processes to ensure long-term effectiveness
DLP is not limited to a tool implementation project. It is a comprehensive approach and an ongoing effort to understand your data and how to better protect it across various touchpoints and users.
By answering the following questions, you should get some insights into areas of focus your organization should note as part of establishing DLP internal processes and policy.
a) Purpose and value
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What are the business objectives behind the deployment strategy?
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What are your primary and secondary data protection goals (e.g., protecting IP, data visibility and transparency, compliance, etc.)?
b) Success metrics and structured reporting
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What are the KPIs to be measured and monitored to determine the success of the DLP program?
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Is ongoing progress being documented?
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Is there a clear and measurable business value?
c) Processing for managing data leak incidents
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What resources and processes will be set in motion after a data leak is detected? (These should be tailored to your organization’s incident management processes)
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Are all the stakeholders involved well-informed about their roles and responsibilities in the event of an incident?
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Has a realistic timeline been set, from breach to response?
d) Budget
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What are your expectations in relation to your budget, and how do they match market standards?
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Where is the budget going, and what makes more sense to be prioritized first, if the budget is limited (e.g., OPEX versus CAPEX)?
Define a phased deployment strategy
Trying to implement your planned DLP policies all at once is unrealistic. To avoid negative impacts on activities and gain organizational maturity, it’s best to treat DLP as a long-term process to be implemented in stages. For example, you can deploy the software components as needed, based on the priorities set.
It’s important to remember that the DLP process requires continuous improvement. You can incorporate DLP objectives into a more extensive data protection program or use third-party consultants like Wavestone, who can give technology-independent recommendations and provide a 360° vision of data protection. We bring a results-driven approach to help you tailor a resilient data protection strategy and implement privacy solutions to suit the needs of your business.
Wavestone’s experts can help you transform your data protection program with benchmarks of market solutions and feedback from the field.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WAVESTONE’S DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY RESOURCES
Wavestone
Our team is a blend of high-quality talent from all levels who can tackle your most complex issues with a fresh approach. With a globally connected network of 4,000 employees, Wavestone is designed to help you get results. All our consultants thrive on complex challenges, enjoy blazing new trails, and are committed to your organization’s success.
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