SYNOPSIS

Data loss prevention (DLP) is becoming a more common business practice as the demands for compliance increase and as awareness of how the lack of DLP strategies inhibits business operations. The Essential Series: Email-Centric Data Loss Prevention provides an overview of key aspects of DLP, including: the varied executive management responsibilities, the role of employees in data loss prevention, and best practices for automating DLP controls. Together, the three articles in this series describe the major fundamental issues in email centric data loss prevention and offer best practices for effective and efficient DLP management.

CHAPTER PREVIEWS

Article 1: Executive Perspectives on Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Data loss prevention is a multi-dimensional challenge that requires the attention of human resources, financial management, information technology and other executive management. This article begins with an introduction to the business drivers to DLP, especially compliance and enabling business processes and moves on to examine the types of support different management areas can provide. The article concludes with a discussion of the key business benefits of implementing a managed data loss prevention program.

Article 2: Employees' Role in Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Employees have an essential role in implementing data loss prevention measures. To ensure that employees can meet DLP objectives, companies must ensure that their policies evolve along with changes in commonly understood "acceptable" use and the introduction of Web 2.0 technologies. This article addresses those challenges as well as issues in employee education and the use of automated DLP measures. Findings from a recent study on data loss prevention are provided as well.

Article 3: Benefits of Using Data Loss Prevention Technology

Data from a recent study on email-centric data loss prevention indicate the need for more efficient, i.e. automated, DLP measures. This article describes the benefits of policy-driven DLP controls that are more efficient, consistent and targeted than manual or ad hoc approaches. In addition, the article offers suggestions for incrementally implementing and improving DLP strategies.