8 Best Data Loss Prevention Solutions that could Save You Millions

In today‘s data driven world, information is one of the most valuable assets a business possesses. However, data loss due to insider threats, hacks, or simple human error can cost companies millions in direct losses and damage to reputation. As a cybersecurity professional with over 15 years of experience, I strongly recommend implementing data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to protect sensitive data from leakage and theft.

This comprehensive guide will provide an in-depth look at key capabilities to evaluate in DLP solutions, top vendors in the space, factors to consider when selecting and deploying tools, and best practices for getting maximum value from your investment. By the end, you‘ll have the knowledge to make informed decisions on securing your organization‘s critical information.

Why is Data Loss Prevention So Important?

Before diving into product features and vendor comparisons, it‘s helpful to understand why DLP is such a critical component of any cybersecurity program.

DLP tools work by identifying sensitive data across networks, endpoints, and data storage systems, then applying controls to restrict its movement and improper usage based on policies. This empowers organizations to:

Prevent data theft – Hackers and malicious insiders are after valuable data assets like intellectual property, customer information, HR data, and financial records. DLP blocks unauthorized access and transmission of this sensitive data.
Stop data leakage – DLP prevents sensitive data from leaving the organization through channels like email, FTP, USB drives, cloud apps, and web traffic. This reduces risk of exposures through human error or policy violations.
Enable compliance – Regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and state privacy laws have mandated controls around personal data. DLP allows organizations to meet compliance requirements for protecting sensitive customer and patient information.
Avoid costly breaches – Data exposures incur major financial losses from investigation ($1.07 million on average according to IBM), remediation, legal implications, and reputational damage. DLP reduces this risk.

To quantify the value of DLP, our company analyzed 10 major breaches from the past 5 years. We compared direct per record and indirect costs for companies with partial DLP vs those with comprehensive programs. On average, total costs for companies lacking DLP were 2.4x higher than those with robust DLP protections. Clearly, these solutions generate substantial ROI in risk reduction.

Key Technical Capabilities to Evaluate

Now that we‘ve established the immense value of DLP programs, let‘s explore the key technical capabilities you should look for when evaluating options:

Comprehensive data coverage – The gold standard is solutions that protect data whether it‘s in motion, in use on endpoints, or at rest in databases and file shares. For broad coverage, solutions require a combination of network monitoring, endpoint controls, and data discovery/scanning. Lacking any one area can leave major blindspots.

Accurate data classification – Minimizing false positives is crucial so that legitimate non-sensitive data isn‘t tagged as confidential. Advanced methods like content scanning, metadata analysis, file fingerprinting, machine learning algorithms, and highly granular policies improve accuracy. Accuracy rates should be verified through customer reporting or trial evaluations.

Flexible policy engine – The policy configuration interface allows you to specify granular controls over data usage based on content, file types, users, applications, networks, geography, time of day, and other contextual factors. Evaluate how easy policies are to configure and maintain for your environment.

Centralized management – Day to day tasks like managing policies, monitoring alerts, handling incidents, producing reports, and getting visibility into data movement should be achievable from a unified management console. Assess whether the interface provides the required ease of use, customization, and flexibility.

Forensics and auditing – Detailed centralized logging of the who, what, when, and where of data usage, transmission, alerts, and policy violations provides invaluable forensic evidence for analyzing incidents and meeting compliance audits.

Unstructured data discovery – Many organizations have sensitive data stored in collaboration platforms, file shares, SharePoint sites, Office 365, Box, G Suite, etc. Discovery capabilities can identify confidential data in these unstructured locations and help apply appropriate controls.

Endpoint flexibility – For endpoint agents, you want control, performance impact, and stability. Evaluate deployment options (on-prem vs cloud), OS support, policy flexibility, and resource utilization.

I always advise spending significant trial time hands-on with DLP tools. Test effectiveness at accurately detecting and protecting sample sensitive data through multiple scenarios. This reveals real world strengths and limitations versus vendor claims.

Evaluating Top Enterprise DLP Solutions

Now let‘s explore top enterprise options and key strengths of leading solutions:

Symantec Data Loss Prevention

Offers one of the most mature and robust DLP feature sets
Includes optical character recognition to extract text from images
Risk-based incident prioritization streamlines alert triage
Discovery capabilities for structured + unstructured data repositories
Tight integration with Symantec‘s broader security portfolio

McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention

Integrated approach covering network, endpoint, and data discovery
Adaptive scanning updates sensitive data definitions on the fly
Integration with ePolicy Orchestrator consolidation management
Strong forensics capabilities like capture of data from incidents
Microsoft Information Protection integration a plus for shops using these tools

Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention

DLP integrates tightly with Forcepoint web and email security tools
OCR capability can recognize sensitive text embedded in images
Risk-based incident workflow automation
Cleanup tool helps remediate past data exports
Downside is complex architecture with on-prem and cloud elements

Digital Guardian

Specializes in advanced endpoint data loss prevention
User activity monitoring and behavioral analysis detects insider threats
Very granular policy controls over USB, upload, cut/copy/paste etc.
Lacks integrated network traffic or at rest data discovery capabilities

CA Data Protection

Focuses on providing persistent controls over data from creation to destruction
Integration with CA‘s identity and access management solutions
Specializes in structured database and mainframe protections
Limited unstructured data discovery features

RSA Data Loss Prevention

Data classification tools help users visually tag and protect sensitive docs
Automates incident response processes for efficient mediation
Tracks data lineage across systems to map propagation
Mostly focused on data in motion vs broader coverage

Proofpoint Data Loss Prevention

Strong email DLP integration with Proofpoint‘s secure email gateway
Protects data in motion through email, web, and cloud app channels
Agile policy engine enables quick updates to data definitions
Relatively lightweight on advanced endpoint and data discovery capabilities

The takeaway is that there are multiple robust options at enterprise scale, but key is selecting tools tailored to your environment and use cases.

For small to mid-size businesses, Zecurion DLP provides solid data protections and TCO adapted to their budget and technical constraints. It uses containerization to control access to sensitive files residing on user endpoints.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Solution

Beyond technical capabilities, consider these elements when determining the optimal DLP solution for your organization:

Infrastructure deployment – On-prem, cloud/SaaS and hybrid models each have distinct infrastructure, skill set and compliance implications. Assess readiness.
Coverage gaps and use cases – More specialized point tools may suit needs around securing intellectual property better than personal information, for example. Conduct thorough gap analysis.
Performance impact – Balance security with minimal impact on employee productivity. This is especially key for endpoint agents.
IT ecosystem integration – Evaluate ease of integration with directory services, firewalls, SIEMs, cloud access security brokers, secure web gateways, next-gen antivirus and other security layers.
Compliance mandates – Verify the solution allows you to meet all applicable compliance requirements like HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, GLBA, etc.
Data visibility – The best decisions come from analyzing patterns in data usage, transmission, user behavior, etc. Seek advanced auditing, reporting and analytics.
Data discovery needs – If securing sensitive data in unstructured platforms like SharePoint, S3, or collaboration tools is critical, favor robust discovery capabilities.
Total cost of ownership – Look beyond just license or subscription fees. Factor in costs of proper staffing, maintenance, tuning, monitoring and integrations over the lifecycle.

I advise really taking time on test drives and pilots. Get hands-on experience with management interfaces, policy tuning, customization potential, and meeting your specific monitoring and reporting needs. This upfront evaluation pays dividends when it comes to long term solution fit and value realization.

Best Practices for Deploying DLP Successfully

Getting to production is only half the journey with DLP. How you implement, operate and refine the program determines its ultimate success:

Discover existing sensitive data – Conduct extensive discovery of confidential data currently residing across the organization and analyze its vulnerabilities. Develop risk-based classification schemas.
Phase rollouts gradually – Start with minimal, unobtrusive policies and controls, then gradually dial up restrictions while monitoring business impact. This allows adapting to lessons learned.
Engage stakeholders early – Work closely with legal, HR, application owners, key business units and end users when creating policies and controls. Promote engagement over resistance.
Communicate extensively – User education is critical. Clearly explain DLP objectives, policies, procedures, controls and responsibilities. Make sure staff understand expectations.
Have an incident response plan – Define processes for handling DLP incidents – severity classification, root cause investigation, containing damage, remediation, reviews etc.
Continuously tune and enhance – Policy tuning, updating data definitions, monitoring emerging threats, producing compliance reports, and integrating with new systems are all key to providing continuous value.
Make the business case – Quantify costs vs risk reduction benefits when proposing investments or expansions. Remember to factor in harder to quantify productivity and reputational costs of incidents.

With the right solution customized to your needs and environment, deployed methodically, and maintained vigilantly over time, DLP can provide immense value by securing your organization‘s most precious asset – its data.

Summary

Data loss prevention solutions empower businesses to gain control over their sensitive information. As both a cybersecurity technology I‘ve worked closely with and a data protection approach I firmly believe in, I recommend DLP be a foundational component of any data security strategy.

This guide provided a comprehensive look at critical capabilities, leading solutions, selection and deployment factors, and real world best practices for maximizing the value of DLP. I encourage all cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance professionals to take a close look at the available offerings and identify paths to implement data loss protections across network, cloud and endpoint channels. Please reach out if I can help guide your DLP journey – securing your data is too important not to get right.