Editor's note
Data loss prevention is both an enterprise security strategy and a category of software and hardware. The execution of a strategy should go hand in hand with DLP tools, but often, they do not.
More and more companies are dealing with sensitive, personal or valuable data, and if businesses don't have a data loss prevention (DLP) strategy or the coinciding software, they are risking that data falling into the wrong hands, or being noncompliant and potentially losing millions of dollars. Knowing the type of DLP product your company needs is crucial for your business to protect itself, its data, its employees and its customers.
There are different types of data with which all companies deal. Government agencies, health insurance companies and financial institutions deal with very different types of data.
Businesses store financial and tax data they receive when working with vendors and customers. This data resides in different areas of a company's infrastructure. It travels through the business in many different ways and to many different endpoints, like mobile devices and cloud-based file sharing systems.
Much like the data that they protect, not all DLP products are the same. Stand-alone DLP products are built solely for the purpose of protecting data and preventing leaks holistically. Meanwhile, integrated products protect one aspect of the data, whether it is data in use, in motion or at rest. Other data loss prevention functions can be found in other perimeter security gateways, such as endpoint security gates or intrusion prevention systems.
The size of a business, or the industry it's in will determine what type of DLP tools a company should deploy (or if it even needs DLP).
To assist in determining whether a business should procure DLP software or hardware, this buyer's guide dives into DLP technology, what DLP tools do, the business scenarios in which one should deploy DLP and the criteria to keep in mind when procuring DLP products. It presents a how-to on creating a DLP strategy, mapping data flows and classifying data. It compares stand-alone and integrated vendors in the DLP market, and offers insight into other technologies that are complementary to DLP software.
1Use cases for DLP software and appliances
A DLP strategy and DLP tools can help businesses shore up their data security, potentially saving millions of dollars and avoiding litigation. These use cases can help companies determine if they need DLP tools or not and, if so, which type.
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Determine what type of DLP tools businesses need (and if they need them in the first place)
DLP is a necessity for some companies, but other businesses may already be employing data loss prevention functionalities and not even know it. See where the differences lie. Read Now
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Three instances where DLP tools are a necessity
A regional medical center. A growing tech company. A health insurance company. These businesses all have something in common: They need DLP to protect their data assets. Read Now
2Map out and classify data before purchasing DLP tools
Creating a data flow map and a data classification policy are the first crucial steps a business should take before procuring DLP tools. Once a company knows the type of data it has, how it moves and where it resides, it needs to know the criteria for assessing DLP software or appliances.
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The six steps to finding the right DLP tools
Before deciding on which DLP software or appliance to choose, businesses need to follow this roadmap of the DLP selection process. Read Now
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Matching up the right type of DLP tools with certain business scenarios
Three very different data scenarios, three different types of DLP tools. See which kind of DLP tool works best for large, growing and geographically distributed companies. Read Now
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Know where data is processed, how it moves and where it's stored with a data flow map
The key to selecting the right DLP software is to first know where sensitive data is stored, how it moves across a company and where it's processed. Once those questions are answered, the DLP tools selection process can begin. Read Now
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DLP tools are of little use unless a data classification policy is in place
When a company deals with an extremely large amount of data, it needs to be classified in order to valuate risk. If a business does not have a data classification policy in action, then any DLP tools it deploys are not going to work as efficiently as they should. Read Now
3Select DLP tools that are best for business
Purchasing a DLP tool is easy. Selecting the right one that best matches business needs is the challenge. It's a necessary challenge, though. Select the wrong tool, and hundreds of thousands of dollars could be wasted on a tool that may not even be able to protect data and prevent loss the way a company needs. Companies need to choose the right DLP software or appliance based on what type of data they have, where it lives and how it moves. To holistically execute a DLP strategy, businesses should also consider complementary technologies that can enhance DLP tools.
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Which DLP tools suit SMBs and enterprises best?
Once a business has determined the type of data it needs to protect, and how that data moves across the company, it can select the best DLP tools for the job. Here's a comparison of some DLP vendors that offer comprehensive suites and integrated tools. Read Now
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Enhance data security beyond DLP software
There are complementary technologies that can extend data security beyond what DLP tools can do, and businesses should consider them when executing a DLP strategy. Read Now
4Deep-dives into DLP tools
Here are in-depth overviews of both comprehensive DLP suites and integrated DLP tools. These vendors were selected by TechTarget editors after extensive research into the top DLP market share holders, as well as seeing who fit the presented buying criteria best.
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Blue Coat's DLP tools target a wide range of customers
With three appliance models, Blue Coat's DLP appliances aim to protect both data at rest and in transit. See how each appliance prevents data loss. Read Now
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CA Technology's data loss prevention software suite covers a broad swath of data protection needs
CA Technology's Data Protection is a DLP software suite aimed at large enterprises in need of complete data loss protection. Read Now
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Digital Guardian's DLP tools protect data at all levels and states
Digital Guardian for Data Loss Prevention and three accompanying tools protect a business's data across the network and in the cloud. Read Now
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McAfee Total Protection offers DLP tools that monitor and manage for data security
Built for a variety of enterprises, McAfee Total Protection discovers, monitors and manages data in use and in transit. Read Now
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RSA Data Loss Prevention Suite protects data for medium-sized businesses and enterprises
RSA's suite of DLP tools address data on mobile devices, cloud apps and services to help assist in protecting a business's data assets. Read Now