Slowly but surely, everything is transitioning to the cloud. More and more companies are utilizing cloud platforms to handle their business processes, including applications and services for customers. This convenience, however, introduces new challenges—how do we ensure the security of data stored in the cloud? Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is the answer, aimed at protecting your personal and business data.
What is Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and How It Works?
Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a method or technology used to protect sensitive and confidential data in a cloud environment. Its primary objective is to prevent data leakage, loss, or unauthorized access to critical information stored in the cloud.
1. Identify Sensitive Data
In the first stage of DLP, sensitive data is identified, including information like credit card numbers, personal identification data, health records, or confidential business information.
2. Data Classification
After identifying sensitive data, it is classified based on its sensitivity level and type, such as “public,” “restricted,” or “confidential.”
3. Data Filtering
DLP tools monitor data movement through the cloud infrastructure, checking it against predetermined policies. This includes scanning emails, uploaded files, and other communications.
4. Detection and Analysis
As data traverses the cloud environment, DLP employs methods like signature scanning, context analysis, and pattern detection to identify sensitive data patterns.
5. Handling Actions
Upon detecting sensitive data, DLP takes actions based on predefined policies, which may involve blocking access, encrypting data, notifying administrators, or other appropriate measures.
6. Reports and Audits
DLP provides reports and audit records on activities related to sensitive data, allowing organizations to track how it’s handled and who has access to it.
Additionally, Cloud DLP can seamlessly integrate with various cloud services like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other cloud storage platforms. This integration enhances data security and compliance in the cloud.
The Importance of Implementing Data Loss Prevention in the Cloud Ecosystem
Source: zscaler.com
Implementing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) in a cloud ecosystem is crucial because it involves protecting sensitive and important data in an increasingly connected digital era.
Firstly, DLP helps organizations maintain the trust and integrity of their data. As more data is stored and processed in the cloud, the risk of data theft or leakage increases. DLP safeguards sensitive data, such as customer information, intellectual property, and financial data, preventing financial and reputational losses that may arise from data incidents.
Secondly, with data privacy regulations like the Personal Data Protection Act, GDPR, and CCPA becoming increasingly stringent, implementing DLP allows organizations to comply with applicable data security laws and regulations. This can spare organizations from hefty fines and legal consequences resulting from data security incidents.
Lastly, DLP enhances an organization’s responsibility for data security. By closely monitoring and handling sensitive data, organizations can proactively mitigate risks and protect their interests. Additionally, DLP helps organizations detect security incidents early, enabling swift and effective responses, thereby reducing the impact of potential losses.
5 Benefits of Cloud Data Loss Prevention
Cloud DLP offers flexibility, efficiency, and a high level of protection for sensitive data in a cloud environment, greatly benefiting companies in managing and safeguarding their valuable information. Furthermore:
1. Easy Scalability
It enables organizations to easily adapt their storage capacity and data security needs to growing data volumes and changing information ecosystems.
2. Reduced Infrastructure Costs
It can eliminate the need to maintain and update on-premise hardware, leading to significant infrastructure cost savings. Organizations no longer need to invest in purchasing, maintaining, and upgrading hardware.
3. Universal Protection
Cloud DLP provides data protection for users and branches anywhere, without the need to route data back to the company’s data center. This offers broader and more effective security, especially in the era of remote work and mobile device usage.
4. Fast Implementation
Cloud DLP is faster to implement and configure compared to on-premise solutions. Organizations no longer need to manage hardware or design complex infrastructure.
5. Automatic Updates
Automatic updates from the cloud ensure that organizations always have access to the latest features without disrupting their operations.
Example of Using Cloud Data Loss Prevention
Apart from offering these advantages, there are several examples of using Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) in various scenarios.
Protection of Sensitive Data in Motion and at Rest
DLP is used to protect sensitive data as it moves between endpoints, networks, and cloud storage. For example, an employee sends an email containing a customer’s personal information, and DLP will automatically detect this sensitive data, encrypt the message if necessary, and ensure that only authorized parties have access to the data.
Compliance with Regulations
DLP assists organizations in complying with various data privacy regulations and policies, such as the Personal Data Protection Act, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). Organizations can configure DLP policies that control access to sensitive data, perform audits, and ensure data is treated in accordance with legal requirements.
Data Visibility
DLP helps organizations identify potential vulnerabilities in their infrastructure, detect risky activity, and ultimately prevent data breaches. For instance, if an employee attempts to download sensitive data to an unauthorized mobile device, DLP will detect this action and can take countermeasures in accordance with established policies.
5 Types of Cloud Data Loss Prevention
Below are five common types of Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) technologies used to protect sensitive data in various scenarios.
1. Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs)
Tools that monitor and control user activity and data transfer between endpoints and cloud applications. CASBs provide visibility into user behavior, application usage, and data storage in cloud environments.
2. DLP Software
DLP software is designed to identify, prevent, and protect sensitive data in real-time from data leaks through various channels, such as endpoints, email, and cloud services.
3. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
UEBA solutions monitor, analyze, and correlate user behavior, access patterns, system events, and more to detect anomalies, potential threats, and lateral movement within the organization’s network.
4. SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM)
SSPM solutions assist organizations in assessing and managing their security configurations, permissions, and vulnerabilities across Software as a Service (SaaS) applications. This approach aims to address security gaps and reduce the risks associated with data exposure and unauthorized access.
5. Browser Isolation
Browser isolation technology runs web content in a secure environment, preventing potentially harmful web content, such as unauthorized downloads, malware, and phishing, from directly accessing or impacting user endpoints, networks, or sensitive data. This helps protect users from web threats that might compromise data security.
So, if you want to implement cloud Data Loss Prevention protection for your business, the first step is to formulate a protection strategy. After that, choose advanced technologies or solutions that have proven effective in enhancing the security of your company’s cloud storage, such as the Zscaler Data Loss Prevention solution.
Zscaler Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Recommended Cloud Data Loss Prevention from CDT
Zscaler Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is one of the Cloud Data Loss Prevention solutions recommended by the Cloud Data Trust (CDT). Zscaler DLP is designed to help companies close security gaps resulting from increased cloud usage and mobility, whether due to vulnerabilities or incorrect configurations.
One of the main advantages of Zscaler DLP is that it is completely cloud-based (100% cloud-delivered), meaning there is no need to add additional hardware to an already complex infrastructure.
Some of the key features and benefits of Zscaler DLP include.
Identical Protection for Users and Data Everywhere
Provide consistent and identical protection for users and data across multiple locations, including the internet, endpoints, email, SaaS applications, private applications, and cloud infrastructure.
Protection that Involves All Elements
Covers protection across multiple channels, including internet, endpoint, email, applications and SaaS. This ensures that sensitive data is protected wherever it resides.
Scalable TLS/SSL Inspection
It supports customizable TLS/SSL inspection, and it can classify and protect sensitive data passing through security clouds at scale.
Integrated Workflow and Simplified Operations
Uses ML-powered data discovery technology to help detect sensitive data efficiently and provide more efficient workflows and simpler operations.
Explore Zscaler Data Loss Prevention with CDT’s Team of Experts
It’s time to use Zscaler Data Loss Prevention which offers comprehensive security, exceptional user experience, and has 150 data centers worldwide, so your company can detect attacks in the cloud effectively with advanced security technology.
Now, Central Data Technology (CDT) has collaborated with Zscaler. To provide reliable solutions, especially Zscaler Data Loss Prevention. For further information regarding implementing Zscaler solutions in your business, don’t hesitate to contact us by clicking the following link.
Author: Ary Adianto
CTI Group Content Writers
