Tag: #TechNews

Why All Companies Should Consider Implementing Data Loss Prevention 

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) has been around since the early 2000s. It started gaining prominence recently as organizations have become increasingly under pressure from regulatory compliance to protect sensitive data, alongside the affordability and accessibility of the technology. 

Over time, DLP technology has evolved significantly, incorporating advanced features like behavioural analysis, encryption, and integration with cloud services to allow visibility of data in motion and at rest in cloud services/applications. 

DLP can protect a company from the inside out and outside in. Ensuring that employees and contractors are using sensitive data correctly can also help when an unauthorised hacker gains access and tries to remove data. 

Key Reasons Why Organizations Adopt DLP: 

• • • Protection of Sensitive Data: Safeguards confidential information from unauthorized access, leakage, or theft. 
    • Regulatory Compliance: Helps meet industry standards and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, APRA) to avoid legal penalties. 
    • Insider Threat Mitigation: Detects and prevents unauthorized data access or misuse by employees and contractors. 
    • Incident Response: Provides real-time alerts and detailed reports to respond quickly to potential data breaches. 
    • Enhanced Data Visibility: Offers insights into data flows and usage patterns, improving data management and security. 

Common Use Cases Implemented for Our Clients:

• USB Monitoring/Blocking or Encryption

USB devices are a common way for data to be removed undetected, especially when employees leave a company. They can take confidential information, like customer lists with PII, PHI, or PCI data, which can lead to a reportable data breach. 

Technology Used: Endpoint DLP 

Controls and Processes: 

• • • Audit all USB uploads. 
    • Block or encrypt files uploaded to USB. 
    • Create exemptions for necessary BAU activities. 
    • Triage and escalate suspicious transfers. 

• Web Monitoring – Monitor/Encrypt/Block Data Uploads

This includes monitoring AI sites, third-party file sharing/email accounts, social media, etc. Common scenarios involve: 

• • • Blocking/monitoring uploads to AI sites (ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot). 
    • Preventing unauthorized online file storage and sharing. 
    • Blocking exfiltration through personal emails or online storage. 

Technology Used: Web DLP, Endpoint DLP 

Controls and Processes: 

• • • Audit uploads hitting DLP policies. 
    • Whitelist necessary internal sites and APIs. 
    • Blacklist sites for blocking uploads. 
    • Triage and escalate unauthorized uploads. 

• CRM Monitoring/Control

CRMs store personal information and are often unmonitored, allowing undetected data exports. 

Technologies Used: Endpoint DLP, Web DLP, CASB 

Controls and Processes: 

• • • Audit uploads via web, email, or USB to detect sensitive data leaving. 
    • Block all data/report exports from CRM. 
    • Create exemptions for necessary BAU report exports. 
    • Triage and escalate unauthorised exports. 

Many more use cases differ depending on the company, industry, and compliance needs. DLP is generally a journey that a company will go through, starting with auditing, then reporting data leaks, and finally blocking uploads to locations to reduce risk further. 

Take the Next Step 

Many companies already have some DLP capabilities built into their security stack. Reach out for a no-obligation session to explore your company’s DLP needs and current security vendors’ capabilities. 

The Risks of Standardizing on a Single Huge Platform: Lessons from the Recent CrowdStrike Outage 

In today’s digital landscape, enterprises often seek efficiency, integration, and simplicity by standardizing their operations on a single, comprehensive platform. Microsoft, with its extensive suite of products, is a popular choice among large organizations. While this approach offers numerous advantages, such as streamlined workflows, consistent user experiences, and centralized management, it also introduces significant risks. The recent CrowdStrike outage serves as a stark reminder of these vulnerabilities. 

The Appeal of a Single Platform 

Microsoft’s ecosystem includes everything from operating systems and productivity tools to cloud services and security solutions. This integrated approach can simplify IT management, reduce compatibility issues, and enable seamless collaboration across different departments. Additionally, a single vendor relationship can lead to better support agreements and potentially lower costs. 

However, these benefits come with trade-offs. The reliance on one platform means that any issue within that ecosystem can have widespread ramifications. This was clearly illustrated in the recent CrowdStrike outage. 

The CrowdStrike Outage: A Case Study 

CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm, experienced a significant service disruption recently. As a major player in the endpoint security market, CrowdStrike’s services are critical to the protection of numerous enterprises globally. The outage, which lasted several hours, left many organizations vulnerable to cyber threats, unable to access crucial security functionalities. 

This incident highlighted several key risks associated with the reliance on a single platform: 

Single Point of Failure: When companies standardize on one platform, any failure within that system can bring down a vast array of services. The CrowdStrike outage showed how a disruption in a key security service can leave an organization exposed to potential attacks. 

Vendor Lock-In: Standardizing on a single vendor can lead to a form of dependency known as vendor lock-in. Organizations may find it challenging to switch to alternative solutions due to the high costs and logistical difficulties associated with migrating data and reconfiguring systems. 

Complex Interdependencies: Modern platforms are highly interconnected. An issue in one service can cascade into others, causing widespread disruptions. The CrowdStrike outage affected not just the security monitoring but also incident response times and overall security posture of the affected organizations. 

Reduced Redundancy: Diverse systems provide a form of redundancy; if one service fails, another can often take its place. By contrast, a single platform can create a monoculture where a single vulnerability or failure can have catastrophic effects. 

Mitigating the Risks 

To mitigate these risks, organizations should consider several strategies: 

Diversification: While it may be efficient to standardize on a single platform, maintaining a diversified IT environment can provide critical backup options. Employing a mix of vendors for different services can reduce the impact of any single outage. 

Robust Contingency Planning: Develop and regularly update contingency plans that address potential outages. This includes having backup systems, alternative vendors, and clear protocols for responding to service disruptions. 

Regular Audits and Assessments: Conduct regular security and performance audits to identify potential vulnerabilities within the chosen platform. This proactive approach can help detect issues before they lead to significant disruptions. 

Enhanced Vendor Management: Work closely with vendors to understand their outage response protocols, service level agreements (SLAs), and support structures. Ensure that the vendor has robust measures in place to quickly address and mitigate any service disruptions. 

Invest in Cyber Resilience: Beyond prevention, focus on resilience—how quickly and effectively an organization can recover from disruptions. This includes incident response planning, regular drills, and investing in technologies that support rapid recovery. 

The CrowdStrike outage is a reminder of the inherent risks in standardizing on a single, massive platform like Microsoft. While the benefits of such standardization are undeniable, the potential for widespread disruption necessitates a balanced approach. By diversifying their IT environments, planning for contingencies, and working closely with vendors, organizations can better manage the risks and ensure continuity even in the face of unexpected outages.