Written By Antoine Harb, Team Leader, Middle East, Kingston Technology

Data is a valuable asset for businesses, and it is crucial that it must be protected. With the influx of data, we are constantly at risk of data loss due to data breaches which results in severe consequences, including financial loss and legal implications. The costs of data breaches can be astronomical, and it is crucial that endpoint Data Loss Prevention strategy be implemented. Lost laptops and unencrypted USB drives leave both individuals and companies extremely vulnerable to information leaks. To mitigate these risks, organizations need a robust strategy in order to safeguard information and customers’ trust.

Data Audit

The first step in developing an effective data loss prevention plan is to do a thorough data audit. Organizations should identify and categorize all types of sensitive information and understand the scope of the data to protect it effectively. The audit also helps identify vulnerabilities that can be checked in time to prevent future data losses through weak networks, storage systems and employee access points, reducing the amount of data that needs protection.

Backup to Secure Data

Once sensitive data has been identified, organizations should urge their employees to back up all their information securely to protect against file corruption and accidental file deletion. This step also leaves the company less vulnerable. Encrypted USBs are another way data can be stored and transferred securely. There are several options to store and transfer critical information effectively, such as the Kingston’s IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD, which is a hardware-encrypted storage.

Implement Robust Policies for Uncompromising Data Security

Another aspect of data loss prevention is to establish clear and well-defined data handling policies for maintaining data security. Businesses should establish clear guidelines on, and dictate how employees handle sensitive information, including data access, storage, transmission, and disposal.

According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breaches Investigations Report, 74% of data breaches involved a human element. Further research by Ponemon found attacks on endpoints to be some of the most prevalent that respondents had experienced, with 81% of businesses experiencing an attack involving some form of malware, and 28% experiencing attacks involving compromised or stolen devices. It is thus imperative that employees be trained on best practices on the safe use of USB drives and be aware how much data can be lost through a small flash drive. For example, 1TB of data may comprise of roughly 250,000 photos or 500 hours of HD Video. This is the amount of data that can be lost through USBs that are unencrypted or due to employee error. It is extremely important that data be stored in encrypted drives to prevent data leakage.

Data loss through unencrypted USBs happens when the data becomes inaccessible or is permanently lost. Restricting access to sensitive data is crucial for preventing unauthorized disclosure. Implementing access controls, such as multi-factor authentication, role-based permissions, and data segmentation, in addition to implementing robust encryption mechanisms helps limit data access to authorized personnel only. This way, even if data falls in the wrong hands, it remains unusable.

The Threat landscape is continuously evolving, and organizations need to stay on top of all new hardware and software security features. Risk assessment and penetration testing should be done on a regular basis to identify weaknesses in the infrastructure or applications. Additionally, staying ahead of emerging threats allows companies to modify their DLP strategies. Companies such as Kingston Technology develop their IronKey products incorporating DLP strategies so that organizations are in a better position to mitigate data loss.

In conclusion, data loss prevention strategies are paramount in today’s data-driven world. It is essential for organizations to adopt a proactive approach in identifying potential vulnerabilities, implementing preventive measures, and constantly monitoring data movement to ensure compliance with established policies. In a landscape where data breaches and cyber threats continue to pose significant risks, implementing comprehensive data loss prevention strategies is not just a best practice but a necessity.