Gartner Identifies Top 5 Steps to Dramatically Limit Data Loss and Information Leaks

August 9, 2006; 04:09 AM

Public exposure of private data is becoming a regular occurrence, but the majority of these incidents can be prevented if companies implement the proper security best practices, according to Gartner, Inc. Gartner analysts have identified the top 5 steps to prevent data loss and information leaks.

“From lost laptops to misplaced backup tapes to accidental e-mails filled with sensitive information, we seem to be in the midst of a data loss epidemic, with tens of millions of individuals receiving ‘data loss’ notification letters this year,” said Rich Mogull, research vice president for Gartner.

“Data loss and information leaks are not random acts of nature too costly to prevent,” Mr. Mogull said. “By following these five steps, enterprises can dramatically reduce the risk of their valuable structured or unstructured information ending up in the wrong hands and forcing an embarrassing public disclosure.”

The top 5 steps to prevent data loss and information leaks are the following:

1. Deploy Content Monitoring and Filtering (CMF). A CMF solution monitors all outbound network traffic and generates alerts regarding (or sometimes blocks) activity based on inspecting the data in network sessions. CMF tools monitor common channels, including e-mail, IM, FTP, HTTP and Web mail (interpreting the HTTP for specific Web mail services) and look for policy violations based on a variety of techniques.

“CMF tools are best at detecting and reducing information loss from accidents, such as e-mailing the wrong file to the wrong person, or bad business process, such as exchanging HR data over an unencrypted FTP connection,” Mr. Mogull said. “CMF won't stop all malicious activity and can be circumvented by a knowledgeable attacker. Still, most information leaks are the result of these accidents or bad processes, and CMF is evolving rapidly to address more malicious attacks.”

2. Encrypt Backup Tapes and (Possibly) Mass Storage. Gartner analysts highly doubt that many of the reported lost backup tapes containing consumer records eventually result in fraud. However, because there is no way to know for sure, companies have to assume exposure anyway. Encryption can ensure that the data will still be safe.

“During the past few years, tools have emerged that significantly improve the performance, manageability and simplicity of encryption,” Mr. Mogull said. “For large tape installations, we recommend in-line encryption appliances. For tape drives connected to local systems or servers, companies may want to consider software encryption. Older mainframes may need an in-line appliance with an adapter for mainframe protocols, while new software solutions can take advantage of extra processors or cryptographic coprocessors in more current models.”

3. Secure Workstations, Restrict Home Computers and Lock Portable Storage. Workstations and laptops can be a major source of loss, especially when a poorly configured or out-of-date enterprise or home computer is compromised by a virus or worm, and by losing portable storage media, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or CD-ROM.

“There’s really no excuse for not keeping an enterprise system up-to-date with the latest patches, a personal firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware software,” Mr. Mogull said. “These precautions alone will prevent the vast majority of commonly encountered Internet attacks.”

4. Encrypt Laptops. If organizations give employees portable computers, employees will store sensitive data on it. Policies don’t matter: Users will always use the tools they acquire, and sensitive data will always end up in unexpected places.

“There is only one tool to protect sensitive information on a lost laptop: encryption, preferably whole-drive encryption from a third-party vendor,” Mr. Mogull said. “Whole-driven encryption, as opposed to file and folder encryption, involves very little user action, protects all data on the computer, and is not vulnerable to the same kinds of recovery techniques that skirt the protections of passwords or other controls.”

5. Deploy Database Activity Monitoring. Most organizations struggle to secure existing databases that are rarely designed with effective security controls. While companies eventually need to encrypt some of the data in their databases, database activity monitoring is a powerful security control that’s easier to implement and more viable than encryption for many types of data.

“Database activity monitoring tools observe all activity within a database, record this activity in a secure repository and generate instant alerts for unusual activity,” Mr. Mogull said. “Through detection of unusual behavior, database activity monitoring can limit insider misuse of database systems, enforce separation of duties for database administrators and limit certain external attacks, all without affecting database performance.”

Additional issues related to the state of the security industry will be presented at the Gartner IT Security Summit, September 18-19, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Gartner analysts, industry experts and IT security practitioners will examine the manageable security processes needed to address today's and tomorrow's threats. For complete event details please visit the Gartner IT Security Summit Web site at www.europe.gartner.com/security. Members of the media can register by contacting Laurence Goasduff at [email protected].

About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. Gartner serves 10,000 organizations, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company consists of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 3,700 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 75 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.