What is Data Leakage? 8 Ways to Prevent Data Leakage

Here is everything you know about Data leakage

What is Data Leakage?

When sensitive data is accidentally disclosed to the public, this is referred to as data leakage. Data can be exposed when it is in transit, at repose, or in use. Data leaked in transit might include information provided via emails, chat rooms, API requests, and other similar channels.

Data exposed at rest might be the consequence of an incorrect setup cloud storage facility, an unsecured database, or lost or unattended equipment. Data from images, printers, USB devices, or clipboards may well be exposed while in use. A data leak is not at all like a data breach; however, a data leak can occasionally lead to a data breach. The fundamental distinction is that a data leak does not occur as a consequence of a hacking attempt, but rather as a result of employee carelessness.

How Can Data Leaks Be Exploited?

What makes data leaking so dangerous is that it is nearly difficult to determine who has access to the information once it has been released. If a cyber-criminal has access to the disclosed data, they will be able to utilize it for a number of objectives. To begin, they may attempt to utilize it to conduct a focused social engineering attack.

Therefore, the more sensitive information they have access to, the simpler it will be for them to mimic an employee or executive. This is particularly true if the stolen data contains psychographic information, such as a data subject's values, views, attitudes, hobbies, and lifestyle preferences. Similarly, behavioural data like the data subject's browsing history, pages viewed, applications, and devices utilised can be used to personalize phishing emails. Hackers can also exploit released data for advertising, doxxing, extortion, spying, and intelligence, or just to disrupt the organization whose information was leaked.

Even when data leaks do not immediately result in a breach, they are addressed in the same manner. After all, each firm that works in a regulated field is obligated to notify the higher level about any private information that has been released to the public, irrespective as to whether the information was used for malicious purposes. As a result, organizations must take data leaks very severely in order to prevent any reputational or financial harm.

8 Methods for Preventing Data Leaks

Data leak prevention strategies and technology are much the same as those used to avoid data breaches. Most data loss prevention solutions begin with risk assessments and the development of rules and procedures based on those evaluations. To do a risk assessment, therefore, you must first know what information you have and where it is housed.

1. Device control

Users frequently save sensitive papers on their smartphones and tablets. Aside from device management policies, you'll need a system that monitors and manages which devices have been used and by whom. You will also need to utilize Mobile Device Management (MDM) software, which will allow security teams to mandate the usage of difficult passwords, manually service the device, and regulate which programmes may be loaded on the device. Most MDM systems can also monitor the device's position and even erase its data if it is lost or stolen.

2. Restrict access rights

Limiting the number of people who have access to sensitive information is always a smart idea since it reduces the chance of data leakage.

3. Email content filtering

To discover sensitive data in text, pictures, and attachments in emails, utilize a content filtering system that employs deep content analysis technologies. If sensitive data is discovered, an alert will be sent to the administrator, who will be able to check the transfer's validity.

4. Cloud storage configuration

Data leaks are prevalent as a result of incorrectly configured storage repositories. Many data breaches, for example, were purportedly triggered by Amazon S3 buckets being accessible to the public by the standard. Similarly, GitHub repositories and Azure file shares have been found to expose data when not properly set up. As a result, it is critical to have a defined procedure in place for evaluating the setup of any online storage repositories you utilize.

5. Encryption

Encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit is always a smart idea. This is especially important when it comes to keeping sensitive data on the cloud.

6. Endpoint protection

A Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution may be used to protect sensitive data from flowing from terminals (desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and servers). Some DLP solutions can restrict, quarantine, or encode sensitive data as it exits an endpoint. A DLP system can also be used to limit certain tasks, such as copying, printing, or moving data to a USB device or cloud services platform.

7. Data discovery and classification

Use a system that can automatically detect and categorize your sensitive data. After that, delete any ROT (Redundant, Obsolete, and Trivial) data to assist in optimising your data security approach. Classifying your data makes it easy to set appropriate controls and monitor how people interact with your sensitive information.

8. Controlling print

Sensitive files can be kept on printers that an unauthorized person can access. To use the printer, require users to sign in, restrict the printer's capability based on their job, and guarantee that papers containing sensitive data may only be printed once. You must also ensure that no printed papers containing sensitive data are left in the printer tray.

Conclusion

A data leak, like a data breach, can have a variety of negative effects. It can lead to litigation from those whose data was compromised, fines from regulatory authorities, and damage to your company's image and bottom line.