DLP Encryption: Techniques for Optimal Data Loss Prevention

Imagine you’re a healthcare admin who just received a call that a lost laptop containing thousands of unencrypted patient records has been found in a public park. The data could easily be accessed by anyone, which poses a severe risk to patient privacy and regulatory compliance. This plausible scenario happens every day at companies, whether they are in healthcare or other industries. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) strategies, particularly those that integrate strong encryption are one of the chief ways to reduce data security risks.

This article dives into DLP encryption and the critical part it plays in optimally protecting your business against data loss.

Introduction to DLP and Encryption

Data loss prevention (DLP) combines strategies and tools to detect and prevent sensitive data from leaving your organization, whether that data is at rest, in transit, or being used. In other words, it’s all about being able to identify, monitor, and properly protect valuable information. The need for DLP stems from the increasing risks and costs of data breaches and leaks, as well as stricter regulatory compliance requirements in today’s digital landscape.

Encryption is a method of converting readable data (plaintext) into an unreadable format (ciphertext) using an algorithm and a special key. Only authorized parties with the correct decryption key can convert the ciphertext back into readable data. Let’s say you have a database of customer details. When using encryption, if an outsider accessed this database, they’ll see some random mix of characters like “u7Jt9Xa4F5yDZ8v+3NfJsd9HqOvwbz5” rather than the info they want (e.g. the customer’s name).

The Role of Encryption in DLP

Encryption meets the need for protection in DLP by ensuring that even if an unauthorized party intercepts or accesses your organization’s sensitive data, it remains unreadable and useless to them. DLP encryption fulfills this role for businesses using the same premise as secret codes did for thousands of years by transforming readable data into unreadable formats (unless you have the right key to unscramble the information).

Back then (as far back as 400 BC), primitive ciphers concealed written information for the Spartans. In the modern world, organizations need to protect a slew of digital information from prying eyes. This data exists in formats as diverse as PDFs, compressed folders, attachments, presentations, images, and spreadsheets. Modern encryption algorithms use complex math to transform plaintext into ciphertext that’s only readable with the correct key.

Some of the main methods of encryption you’ll see used within DLP strategies and solutions are:

• AES (Advanced Encryption Standard): This symmetric encryption algorithm commonly secures data stored on servers, databases, and storage devices. Think of hard drives, flash drives, databases, and individual files or folders on an endpoint device.
• RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman): RSA keeps data secure during communication between endpoints and servers. Use cases in DLP include encrypting sensitive email attachments, and verifying the authenticity and integrity of documents.
• TLS/SSL (Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer): This encryption method protects sensitive information transmitted over networks, such as web traffic, VPNs, and email communications.

How DLP Solutions Use Encryption

Ideally, a dedicated DLP solution should employ multiple encryption types to ensure data gets full protection at all times. Full data protection only comes from encrypting it at rest, while in transit, and while in use during specific risky actions.

DLP solutions should enforce encryption on endpoints, such as laptops, USB devices, and mobile devices, to protect data stored or used locally by employees. Endpoint encryption helps protect your company’s sensitive information even if a physical device is lost or stolen or hacked into by someone. This endpoint DLP encryption uses policy-based controls and automatic actions to encrypt data.

Usually, your admin(s) will define encryption policies by specifying which data types, applications, or file locations need encryption. You can often tailor these policies to specific users, groups, or departments based on their access levels and data handling needs. Scans by lightweight agents installed on endpoints can detect whether devices are in compliance with policies, and evaluate the context in which a user accesses or modifies data files to determine the need for encryption (e.g., sensitive data being copied to an external drive).

Benefits of Integrating Encryption with DLP

Whatever your DLP strategy and toolset look like, integrating encryption with DLP is mandatory for a number of reasons.

Better compliance

An important aspect of the increase in data privacy regulations and laws over the last 5-10 years is that the categories of sensitive data continue to expand all the time. In other words, these laws protect more information and more types of data, which makes compliance trickier than ever.

Some laws mandate encryption, while others are more vague about the measures you should implement to secure sensitive data. Whether specifically mandated or not by a given law, implementing encryption within DLP frameworks boosts compliance with all data protection regulations and helps you avoid costly penalties and legal fees.

Enhanced data security

Encryption is the cornerstone of data confidentiality. One of the main objectives of a DLP strategy is to prevent dreaded data breaches. Encryption dramatically mitigates this risk by ensuring that intercepted or stolen data is unusable without the decryption key. This enhancement of data security is vital for addressing scenarios where sensitive data might be inadvertently leaked or exposed through lost or stolen devices, insecure networks, or insider threats.

More secure data collaboration

There’s no getting around the fact that collaborating on work projects often involves transmitting sensitive info internally on messaging platforms or sharing files with other team members that may contain sensitive data. Encryption within DLP allows for secure data sharing and collaboration both internally and externally. By encrypting data before it is shared and only allowing decryption by authorized users, you can safely collaborate with partners, customers, and remote employees without exposing sensitive information to potential threats.

Best Practices for Implementing Encryption in DLP

The first thing to consider for an effective implementation of DLP encryption is to choose the right encryption method for the right use case. This starts with knowing what information is sensitive and needs the level of protection that encryption gives. Also, consider the computational overhead of different encryption algorithms (AES is efficient for large datasets, while something like RSA might be better for exchanging smaller bits of information).

Also, think about the importance of safe encryption key management. After all, if keys aren’t managed securely, sensitive data can easily fall into the wrong hands. Make sure your company regularly rotates encryption keys to limit the amount of data at risk if a key is compromised. On a related note, define key lifetimes and enforce key expiration policies.

Carry out regular audits of encryption protocols and implementations to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with security standards. Any audits should include reviewing key management practices, access controls, and encryption configurations. You might even consider periodic penetration testing to simulate attacks on encrypted data and assess the resilience of your encryption measures. Lastly, don’t neglect the human element of a functioning encryption implementation. Use ongoing training programs to educate your employees about the importance of encryption and how to comply with encryption policies. Training should cover recognizing sensitive data, using encryption tools, and adhering to key management practices. This is especially important if you use a DLP solution that doesn’t come with automated encryption features.

Encryption Completes Your DLP Strategy

Encryption, when properly and securely implemented, completes your DLP strategy by protecting sensitive information at rest and in transit. Integrating the two helps you to better comply with regulatory requirements, mitigate risks, and safeguard against data breaches. But there are challenges to consider, like choosing the right encryption methods, managing keys securely, and minimizing human error.

As threats to sensitive data get more complex and numerous, it’s essential to reevaluate your DLP strategy and consider enhancing encryption practices. Endpoint Protector is a multi-OS DLP solution that offers a robust, user-friendly way to secure your important data without the need for in-depth technical management. Endpoint Protector uses 256-bit AES encryption automatically any time users transfer files to portable USB storage.

Learn more about Enforced DLP Encryption.