DLP Regulatory Compliance – Need and Measures
Enterprise Security while Working with Cloud Apps
There are millions of packets of data transacted everyday between the servers and the systems. Advent of cloud computing has increased this network traffic by a considerable amount and security has become a pressing issue for almost all the existing corporate entities. Data leakages have become one of the most talked about issues when it comes to cloud computing. One should always be aware and try to repair any vulnerability in the system and make sure that the data transacted in the system is safe and secure. Preventing any form of DLP regulatory compliance is mandatory to keep the company’s image intact. Apart from these, there are many virtual security threats that the system has to deal with everyday, and thus securing it from any and all kinds of threats should be one of the prime motives. One should always hire the most experienced company for fortifying the systems and deal with any kinds of malware attacks. Complying with the ever expanding and diverse DLP regulatory compliance requirements in an efficient and cost-effective way is a challenge in itself. All the regulatory standards need to be complied to strictly, be it HIPAA (PHI), GDPR (EU citizen’s personal data), PCI (cardholder data) or NERC-CIP (system and operation data) etc.
Cloud Computing – A Boon or a Bane
Indeed collaboration tools such as Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive for Business and others have been a boon to businesses. Their easy-to-use cloud service and the file sharing help in seamless integration of the productivity solutions. With advanced features like digital signatures and file discovery, these tools serve as a treasure for shared information that enables efficient business processes. But there is flipside to this too. The sharing of documents and files across the globe through the net gives rise to a number of challenges, the foremost being the area of Data Leakage Prevention policy. And here comes the question of regulatory compliance. For example, a medical office, who uses cloud services to keep the records of the patients, must be sure that it is doing so within the regulatory compliance of the Health-Insurance-Portability-and-Accountability-Act (HIPAA). Any negligence on its part will result on hefty fines.
DLP Regulatory Compliance Measures
Complying with the regulations is becoming an increasingly complex issue today. Thus organizations take a number to steps to ensure that full compliance measures are followed when using the personal data on the cloud services. Many measures are taken to preserve and improve DLP and regulatory compliance within the context of cloud services. So here are a few things that have to be considered in any organization that has opted for cloud services to regulate and share their data:
- One of the foremost things is that the security concerns should be addressed from the ground level itself before the first stage of the DLP regulatory compliance rollout so that the regulatory compliance measures are adequately addressed.
Define and map thresholds to policies that govern people, processes and systems. Adopt a framework to meet the regulatory and business requirements. - Office 365 policy templates can be readily used by the IT teams to flag sensitive information and thus prevent it from being shared outside the organization.
- One more way through which compliance and security can be achieved is by controlling the disposition of shared data by creating data retention plans and to train the employees to use expiring links so that documents are only temporarily available.
- DLP regulatory compliance should be user-friendly and not such that users will be inclined to work around the system. Good communication and training to the employees ensure that they collaborate with the security and compliance environment and follow the best practices for sharing of data.
- Information can be further secured by integrating cloud storage devices with productivity software and mobile device platforms. This in turn adds vale and boosts engagement of the customers and employees.
- It is the season of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device); instead of disallowing the employees, restrictions can be imposed through mobility management solutions. Shared documents will be accessed from personal devices like Smartphones and tablets. So it is to be seen that the client devices are properly configured and updated.
Ending Notes
Careful planning and commitment is required for the organizations to minimize the risks of data leaks and compliance shortfalls. CASB solutions ensure that all the personal data of the organizations is safe and well within the regulatory compliance standards. But, only the implementation of DLP regulatory compliance in the form of CASB will not suffice. What is needed is constant monitoring and training of the employees. The cloud collaboration services help organizations to secure their data so that there is no security or a compliance breach.