A data loss prevention (DLP) policy is a set of guidelines and procedures designed to protect sensitive data from being accessed, used, or inappropriately shared. The primary goal of a DLP policy is to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data security by identifying, monitoring, and protecting data, whether it is at rest, in motion, or in use.
A data loss prevention plan is essential from an operational point of view, but it also has significant ramifications with respect to legal compliance, commercial agreements, and the organization’s reputation.
Improper handling of data can lead to financial penalties, lost revenue, reputational damage, and legal action. This is important for virtually any organization, but the stakes can be especially high for regulated industries such as healthcare and financial services. Regulations like HIPAA, GLBA, CCPA, and GDPR are evidence of the growing concern about data privacy and security risks that DLP policies are designed to mitigate.
Why Is a Data Loss Prevention Policy Important?
Data breaches are an all-too-common occurrence in today’s highly connected world. Hackers routinely steal customer lists, personnel records, and other sensitive information and use it for personal gain. Internal employees, likewise, are frequently the perpetrators of data theft because they have relatively easy access and a reasonable expectation that they will not be caught.
Regardless of how it happens, though, a data breach can result in regulatory action (including fines and penalties), bad publicity, and lost revenue. In some cases, regulators may penalize organizations simply on the premise that data was placed at risk. In other words, even if no data breach occurred, there can be significant ramifications. Under HIPAA, for example, the federal government has penalized numerous organizations simply for failing to take adequate steps to protect patient data.
A data loss prevention policy, in essence, applies the same stringent standards to the data that your organization collects, stores, and processes. A good DLP is like an insurance policy. It helps protects you from the damage that a data breach or similar unauthorized access can cause.
Key Components of a Data Loss Prevention Policy
To fully protect your organization, you need a comprehensive data loss prevention policy that incorporates the following key elements:
Data classification and cataloging involves categorizing various data sets based on their sensitivity and importance, and then maintaining an accurate record of what you have. Classification helps in prioritizing protection efforts and ensures that the most critical data receives the highest level of security. Categories typically include public, internal, confidential, and highly confidential data, with specific handling and protection measures tailored to each classification. For a covered entity subject to HIPAA, for example, a patient’s “protected health information” (PHI) is considered highly confidential, so there are strict guidelines for accessing, storing, sharing, or transmitting it. Most companies would consider customer lists to be internal or confidential because competitors could use them to poach clients. It’s important to monitor and maintain your catalog of data assets. For example, by maintaining a global view of what data snapshots you have, where they reside, and whether they are in compliance or not, the Snapshot Catalog in Pure1® can help you remain compliant.
Access controls ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data. Role-based access controls (RBAC) and the principle of least privilege (PoLP) help to minimize the risk that unauthorized parties could access information. Routine audits, ongoing monitoring, and periodic reviews of access permissions are also important, especially as employees change roles or leave the organization. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to sensitive information.
Encryption protects data both at rest (that is, where it is stored), and in transit (in other words, when it is being transferred or transmitted internally or externally). By encrypting data, organizations can ensure that even if data is accessed by an unauthorized party, it will be unreadable. Encryption should be applied to sensitive files, emails, and any other data that is stored or transmitted. In many cases, regulations require that data be encrypted using industry-standard protocols. Pure Storage® FlashArray™, for example, secures data at rest using AES 256-bit encryption. It is FIPS 140-2 certified, NIST compliant, NIAP/Common Criteria validated, and PCI-DSS compliant.
Employee training and awareness programs are critical because they address one of the weaker points in the wall of security that surrounds sensitive data. Employees are often the first line of defense against data breaches, and their actions can significantly impact data security. Regular training sessions should educate employees on the importance of data protection, how to recognize and respond to potential security threats, and the specific policies and procedures they need to follow. Employees should understand the risks associated with suspicious emails and how hackers use social engineering techniques to gain access.
Together, these elements form a robust DLP policy that not only protects data from loss and unauthorized access but also ensures compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards. Regularly updating and auditing the DLP policy to address new threats and technological advancements is essential to maintaining effective data protection in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
How to Implement a Data Loss Prevention Policy
Begin developing your DLP policy by conducting a risk assessment. Identify the various categories of data your organization has, the potential threats, and the likelihood and impact of various risks such as unauthorized access, data breaches, and accidental data loss. Evaluate your current security measures and identify any gaps or vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.
Next, select appropriate technologies that align with your risks and data protection requirements. Insist on products that address comprehensive data loss prevention compliance standards. Choose technologies that integrate easily with your existing systems and offer comprehensive protection for data at rest, in motion, and in use.
Develop policies and procedures based on your risk assessment and the technologies you selected to protect your data. Clearly define how data will be classified, handled, and protected. Establish access control policies that specify who can access different types of data and under what conditions. Include guidelines for encryption, data transfer, and data storage to ensure consistent security practices. You should also specify standards and guidelines for audits, monitoring, and periodic reviews of access controls.
Train your employees on the new DLP policies and procedures. Refresh this information routinely with regular training sessions to ensure that all staff members understand the importance of data protection and know how to follow the established guidelines. Emphasize the role of each employee in maintaining data security and provide practical examples of how to handle data safely.
Once you have a formal DLP plan in place, review it on a regular basis. Integrate your data loss prevention policy with your broader incident response and disaster recovery/business continuity planning.
Your data loss prevention plan is a lot like an insurance policy, protecting your company against the release of sensitive information that could have serious financial, reputational, and legal ramifications. A well-implemented DLP policy not only protects your organization's data assets but also sets a standard for public trust, operational continuity, and legal compliance in an increasingly interconnected world.
Smart storage solutions from Pure Storage offer a fast-track to DLP best practices. Want to learn more? Contact one of our data protection specialists today.
