In this article, we’ll explore the common mistakes that IT and Security teams make when deploying DLP in an organisation.
As data breaches become more common and costly, the need for comprehensive Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions is more pressing than ever.
The revenue in the DLP market is expected to rise from $1.24 billion in 2019 to $3.5 billion by 2025, demonstrating the increasing recognition of DLP's importance among organisations worldwide.
However, despite the growing investment in DLP technologies, many organisations continue to face challenges in deploying these solutions effectively.
By understanding these pitfalls and how to avoid them, your organisation can better protect its sensitive data and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a set of technologies and processes designed to prevent the unauthorised transmission or disclosure of sensitive information.
They monitor and control endpoint activities, filter data streams on corporate networks, and protect data at rest, in motion, and in use.
With 29% of data breaches leading to data loss, rising to 46% for those in the retail industry, it’s clear that there is a critical need for effective DLP solutions to protect sensitive data from being compromised during breaches.
By implementing DLP, organisations can safeguard their valuable data assets, maintain customer trust, and avoid hefty fines associated with data breaches and non-compliance with data protection regulations.
Deploying DLP technologies presents a variety of challenges that organisations must address to ensure effective implementation.
Overview of typical challenges:
One of the significant challenges in deploying DLP technologies is finding the right balance between robust security measures and maintaining usability.
Overly restrictive DLP policies can hinder productivity and frustrate employees, leading to potential workarounds that compromise security.
Organisations need to plan deploying their DLP strategies meticulously, considering factors such as the specific data they need to protect, the regulatory requirements they must comply with, and the potential impact on user experience.
By doing so, they can implement DLP solutions that are both effective and user-friendly, minimising disruption while maximising security.
One mistake is attempting to scan all data. Scanning everything can lead to significant scalability issues and performance impacts. If a company tries to run DLP scans on every piece of data across all cloud applications, it can slow down system performance.
Solutions requiring extensive configuration and management for each device can lead to operational inefficiencies and strain resources. This can make the security team's job more difficult and reduce the overall effectiveness of the DLP programme.
Many organisations overlook Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) protocols when deploying DLP. Employees often use personal devices to access company data, and failing to include these devices in the DLP strategy can expose the company to security risks and potential data breaches. For example, an employee might access sensitive information on an unsecured personal device, leading to a data leak.
When deploying DLP, one common mistake is breaking the functionality of cloud applications. For example, a DLP solution might encrypt documents to protect sensitive information, but this can prevent users from previewing or searching these documents within their cloud applications.
DLP solutions can sometimes negatively impact the end user by causing slowdowns or interruptions. For instance, forward-proxy DLP solutions might introduce lag and performance issues, making cloud applications less responsive. This can affect user experience and productivity, leading to dissatisfaction and potential resistance to the security measures.
Related to the above point, DLP solutions need to be configured to avoid scanning personal traffic, such as employees' social media activities or online banking transactions. Failing to respect user privacy can lead to legal implications and erode trust between the company and its employees.
Making mistakes when deploying DLP can have severe consequences for organisations:
By avoiding common DLP deployment mistakes, organisations can mitigate these risks and safeguard their data, finances, and reputation.
To avoid the pitfalls that come with poor deployment of DLP solutions, your organisation should implement the following best practices.
Metomic provides advanced and modern DLP solutions tailored to the unique requirements of businesses across various industries. Our platform minimises the impact of data breaches and leaks, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information.
These include:
Metomic offers complimentary data security tools to help organisations assess their current data security posture and identify areas for improvement. These assessments provide valuable insights into your organisation’s DLP requirements and the implementation strategies you’ll need to put in practice to ensure a smooth transition to a DLP tool.
Proper deployment of DLP is crucial for your organisation’s data security. With a constantly evolving threat landscape and stringent regulatory requirements to adhere to, organisations must remain vigilant in safeguarding their sensitive data.
Investing in DLP is not just about protecting data; it's about safeguarding the integrity, reputation, and trust of your organisation.
Ready to step up your Data Loss Prevention efforts? Take the first step towards fortified data security by booking a personalised demo of the Metomic platform today.