Imagine your company incurring reputational damage, losing its competitive advantage, or suffering long-term financial harm – not due to cyber-attacks from outsiders, but because of actions, mistakes, or negligence by your own employees.
Insider threats, whether intentional or accidental, pose a significant risk to organisations. With sensitive data flowing across devices, applications, and teams, it’s essential to consider implementing robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions within your overall cyber security plans to prevent costly mistakes. Below are five common insider threats that could lead to data loss and how DLP can help mitigate them.
Accidental Data Mishandling
Human error is one of the leading causes of data loss. Employees may accidentally send sensitive information to the wrong recipient, delete critical files, or mishandle confidential documents. In 2023, the Rockhampton Grammar School in Queensland disclosed confidential medical information of 18 students to a group of parents. This incident, as confirmed by the school headmaster, was a result of human error.
To mitigate such risks, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions can monitor and control the sharing of sensitive information. By implementing DLP policies, organisations can prevent unauthorised disclosures, whether intentional or accidental.
Unauthorised Data Sharing
Employees may knowingly or unknowingly share sensitive files outside the organisation through personal emails, cloud storage platforms, or unauthorised devices. For instance, sharing spreadsheets with vendors or contractors can expose confidential data.
DLP ensures that sensitive files cannot be copied to unauthorised devices, shared with unapproved cloud services, or uploaded via non-secure browsers. Policies can enforce encryption, restrict file sharing, and log attempts to violate rules for auditing and accountability.
Intentional Data Theft by Disgruntled Employees
Disgruntled employees can pose a deliberate threat by exfiltrating client lists, intellectual property, or financial reports before leaving the organisation. This data may be used for personal gain or to harm the company.
DLP systems track unusual activity, such as large file downloads or excessive email attachments, particularly from employees nearing their resignation. Insider Risk Management policies trigger alerts so that security teams can investigate and intervene quickly.
Data Misuse During Remote Work
The rise of remote work has led to employees using personal devices and home networks, which are often less secure than corporate environments. Sensitive data may be leaked through unsecured devices or mishandled in non-secure settings.
DLP policies extend to personal and remote devices, monitoring activities like copying sensitive files to USB drives or printing them. Just-in-time protection ensures files are protected until policies are evaluated and approved, reducing risks even when employees work off-site.
Non-Compliance with Data Handling Policies
Failure to comply with data handling standards can lead to operational risks and penalties, particularly under Australian regulations like the Privacy Act or the Defence Industry Security Program. For instance, a breach under DISP could result in losing accreditation, severely impacting an organisation’s ability to operate in the defence sector.
DLP automates compliance by classifying and labelling data based on its sensitivity. Policies prevent actions such as sending unencrypted emails or downloading restricted files, ensuring regulatory requirements are met and protecting the organisation from legal and financial repercussions.
DLP solutions play an important role in safeguarding IP. By restricting unauthorised access and providing audit trails for sensitive data interactions, they ensure proprietary information stays protected.
DLP systems minimize human error by monitoring and securing employee actions, reducing the risk of accidental data loss.
How Can Virtuelle Group Help?
Data loss is a threat that can lead to multiple dangers for your business such as monetary loss, operational disruption, and regulatory penalties among many others. However, these risks can be easily mitigated with the right proactive measures in place.
Virtuelle Group’s Managed Data Loss Prevention-as-a-Service (mDLP) offers businesses a comprehensive solution to address modern business challenges. Built on Microsoft Purview compliance technology, this service provides:
- Real-time monitoring to detect and respond to threats instantly.
- Hands-off management to allow your team to focus on core business activities.
- Regulatory compliance to prevent legal risks.
- Scalable solutions requiring no added infrastructure.
Contact us today to learn how Virtuelle Group can partner with you to secure your critical data and safeguard your business.