DLP (Data Loss Prevention) is a security strategy that prevents the loss, theft, or unauthorized exposure of sensitive data.

What is DLP?

DLP is a set of technologies and processes designed to detect, monitor, and prevent the loss of sensitive data.

Types of DLP

Network DLP

**Traffic monitoring": Network traffic analysis
**Content filtering": Data filtering in transit
**Blocking": Blocking unauthorized transfers
**Alerts": Violation notifications

Endpoint DLP

**Local monitoring": Device surveillance
**Device control": Device management
**Encryption": Sensitive data encryption
**Blocking": Blocking unauthorized actions

Storage DLP

**Classification": Automatic data classification
**Encryption": Data encryption at rest
**Access": Data access control
**Audit": Access logging

Main Features

Detection

**Content analysis": Data content analysis
**Classification": Automatic classification
**Patterns": Pattern detection
**Context": Context analysis

Prevention

**Blocking": Blocking transfers
**Encryption": Automatic encryption
**Redirection": Data redirection
**Notification": User notifications

Monitoring

**Logs": Activity logging
**Alerts": Real-time alerts
**Reports": Report generation
**Analysis": Trend analysis

Data Classification

Sensitivity Levels

**Public": Public access data
**Internal": Internal use data
**Confidential": Confidential data
**Secret": Highly sensitive data

Data Types

**PII": Personally identifiable information
**PHI": Protected health information
**PCI": Payment card information
**Intellectual": Intellectual property

Popular DLP Tools

Enterprise

**Symantec DLP": Leading solution
**Microsoft Purview": Microsoft solution
**Forcepoint DLP": Forcepoint solution
**McAfee DLP": Intel Security solution

Open Source

**OpenDLP": Open source solution
**MyDLP": Open source solution
**Data Loss Prevention": Open source solution
**DLP Solutions": Open source solutions

Cloud

**AWS Macie": AWS service
**Azure Information Protection": Microsoft service
**Google Cloud DLP": Google service
**Salesforce Shield": Salesforce solution

Implementation

Phase 1: Analysis

**Data inventory": Identify sensitive data
**Classification": Classify data by sensitivity
**Flows": Map data flows
**Risks": Assess loss risks

Phase 2: Design

**Policies": Develop DLP policies
**Controls": Design security controls
**Processes": Define response processes
**Tools": Select tools

Phase 3: Implementation

**Deployment": Deploy DLP tools
**Configuration": Configure policies
**Integration": Integrate with existing systems
**Testing": Validate functionality

Phase 4: Operation

**Monitoring": Continuous monitoring
**Maintenance": Tool maintenance
**Updates": Regular updates
**Improvement": Continuous improvement

Best Practices

Policies

**Classification": Classify data appropriately
**Labeling": Label sensitive data
**Access": Control data access
**Retention": Retention policies

Controls

**Encryption": Encrypt sensitive data
**Backup": Backup data regularly
**Monitoring": Monitor access
**Audit": Regular audits

Training

**Awareness": Train staff
**Policies": Communicate policies
**Procedures": Train on procedures
**Incidents": Train on incident response

Metrics and KPIs

Operational

**Classified data": Percentage of classified data
**Violations": Number of violations detected
**Response time": Incident response time
**Coverage": Percentage of protected data

Security

**Prevented losses": Number of prevented losses
**Exposures": Number of avoided exposures
**Compliance": Compliance percentage
**Effectiveness": Solution effectiveness

Databases - Systems that DLP protects
DBAaaS - Service that DLP protects
SIEM - System that can integrate DLP
SOAR - Automation that can use DLP
EDR - Tool that complements DLP
Firewall - Network protection that complements DLP
VPN - Secure connection that DLP protects
VLAN - Network segment that DLP protects
Logs - Logs that DLP generates
Dashboards - DLP visualization
Metrics - DLP measurement
CISO - Role that supervises DLP

References