The Ultimate Guide to DLP Remediation for Data Threats

Businesses today are in constant fear of cyber threats. And with rising threats, governments are also strengthening compliance requirements. Founders and compliance offers are constantly striving to comply with regulatory requirements. The struggle to protect confidential data is real and pressing, from small startups to large enterprises.

The consequences of neglecting data security challenges are far-reaching. In 2023, the average cost of a data breach soared to USD 4.45 million worldwide. This report reflects a staggering 15% increase over the past three years.

This article provides actionable insights on DLP remediation to strengthen your organization’s data protection measures.

Understanding DLP incidents

A Data Loss Prevention (DLP) incident occurs when sensitive, confidential, or critical information is exposed to an unauthorized entity. This can include sending a confidential document to the wrong recipient or unauthorized access to sensitive data. 

Common causes of DLP incidents

DLP incidents are not limited to external threats, they often involve internal actions which lead to potential data breaches. Such incidents can arise from different sources including:

• Human error: Mistakes such as sending emails to incorrect recipients or misconfiguration databases are frequent culprits.
• Insider threats: Employees or contractors with access to sensitive information may misuse their privileges.
• External attacks: Hackers and cybercriminals employ sophisticated techniques like phishing, malware, or social engineering to breach defenses.
• Lack of awareness: A significant number of incidents occur because employees are not aware of the proper protocols for handling sensitive data.
• Inadequate security measures: Weak passwords, outdated software, and lack of encryption can make it easier for data breaches to occur.

The impact of DLP incidents on organizations

The consequences of DLP incidents can be far-reaching and devastating for organizations as below:

• Financial loss: From regulatory fines to litigation costs and DLP remediation expenses, the financial impact can be substantial.
• Reputation damage: A single incident can tarnish an organization's reputation which leads to lost trust among customers and partners.
• Operational disruption: Responding to a DLP incident often requires significant resources and time to divert attention from regular business activities. The average time to detect and contain a breach in 2023 was 277 days.
• Legal and regulatory consequences: Many regions and industries have strict data protection regulations, and non-compliance can result in severe penalties.
• Intellectual property loss: Leaks of proprietary information can erode competitive advantages and result in significant strategic setbacks.

The Role of Remediation Scripts in DLP

Remediation scripts are automated tools designed to respond to Data Loss Prevention (DLP) incidents as they occur. These scripts are an integral part of a DLP strategy, providing a proactive approach to managing and mitigating potential data breaches. 

By automating the response process, remediation scripts ensure that incidents are addressed quickly and efficiently. It reduces the window of exposure and minimizes the impact on the organization. They can be tailored to the specific needs and policies of an organization.

Types of Remediation Scripts

Remediation scripts can be categorized into several types, each serving a different function within the DLP framework:

• Endpoint scripts: These scripts are deployed on individual devices or endpoints within the network. They can perform actions such as isolating a compromised device and DLP delete sensitive data from unauthorized locations. They even block the execution of unauthorized applications and control the spread of potential threats from individual devices.
• Incident management scripts: These scripts cover the broader aspects of incident response, including logging incident details, notifying relevant personnel, and establishing follow-up processes. They ensure that every incident is recorded and assessed for a coordinated response and to improve prevention strategies.
• Policy scripts: Policy scripts enforce the organization's data protection policies automatically. They can modify access permissions, redirect data flows, or block data transfers based on predefined rules. By enforcing policies consistently, these scripts help prevent incidents before they occur and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

How Remediation Scripts Work in Response to DLP Incidents

Remediation scripts are triggered by DLP systems when they detect an incident that violates predefined data protection policies. Once activated, the scripts follow a set of programmed instructions tailored to the nature of the incident. Here's how they operate:

• Detection: The DLP system identifies a potential threat or policy violation, such as an unauthorized attempt to copy or send sensitive data.
• Analysis: The system assesses the severity and nature of the incident to determine the appropriate response based on predefined criteria.
• Execution: The relevant remediation script is triggered to execute actions designed to mitigate the incident. This could involve quarantining affected data, revoking access permissions, or alerting the security team.
• Notification: The script informs the relevant stakeholders about the incident and the actions taken. It ensures transparency and enables further investigation if necessary.
• Logging: All actions and outcomes are recorded for audit purposes and future analysis. It helps organizations improve their DLP strategies and prevent similar incidents.

What are the DLP Remediation Techniques?

DLP remediation techniques define the actions taken to mitigate potential data breaches and ensure sensitive information remains secure. Listed below are the techniques:

1. DLP Remediation Redaction

Description
Redaction, also known as masking, obscures sensitive portions of a file or record so that unauthorized users cannot see the full data. This remediation action helps ensure that regulated or personal information is protected, even if documents need to be shared more broadly.

Example

• Scenario: A financial or an ID document submitted over email or customer support tool (Zendesk) or Slack or Jira or Notion.
• Action: Automatically redact sensitive documents or messages, so the employee sees it, if needed.

2. DLP Remediation Labeling

Description
Labeling (sometimes referred to as "tagging") allows you to categorize data based on its sensitivity level or compliance requirements. By attaching clear and consistent labels, teams can quickly identify and apply the right controls to each piece of data.

Example

• Scenario: A file containing employee Social Security Numbers OR PHI (Protected Health Information) is discovered in your Google Drive.
• Action: Apply a label such as "Confidential – PII" (Personally Identifiable Information) to clearly indicate that this file contains sensitive data requiring special handling and restricted access.

3. DLP Remediation Alerting

Description
Alerting notifies the right stakeholders about high-risk findings or potential data breaches. These notifications can happen in real time or at scheduled intervals, allowing for rapid response and containment.

Example

• Scenario: A spreadsheet with sensitive financial information has been shared publicly by mistake.
• Action: An immediate alert is sent to security and compliance teams, prompting them to investigate and take necessary steps, such as revoking the public link or removing the file.

4. DLP Remediation Deletion

Description
Deletion permanently removes sensitive information that is no longer required or stored in violation of policies and regulations. This helps reduce the overall risk footprint by eliminating unnecessary data that could be compromised.

Example

• Scenario: A legacy database contains outdated customer records that are past their retention period.
• Action: Remove these records entirely from the system to minimize risk and ensure compliance with data minimization requirements.

5. DLP Remediation Blocking

Description
Blocking restricts user actions on specific files or records. It often involves preventing downloads, copies, or external sharing of particularly sensitive data. This ensures that only authorized individuals can handle critical information.

Example

• Scenario: A folder containing confidential design documents should not be exported or shared outside the organization.
• Action: Implement a block on download and sharing permissions for everyone except a small set of authorized team members.

6. DLP Remediation Encryption

Description
Encryption encodes data so that only authorized parties with the correct decryption key can view it. This is especially crucial for data at rest or in transit to protect against interception and unauthorized access.

Example

• Scenario: A database hosts sensitive medical information for customers.
• Action: Automatically encrypt all records at rest and ensure data is transmitted via secure SSL/TLS channels to meet compliance requirements and maintain data confidentiality.

7. DLP Remediation View Who Has Access

Description
Having visibility into who can access a file or folder is essential for maintaining proper governance. By reviewing access controls, you can quickly identify unauthorized or excessive permissions that could lead to data leaks.

Example

• Scenario: You suspect an internal user may have unnecessary permissions to highly sensitive design blueprints.
• Action: Access the file’s permission settings to see the list of users and their corresponding access levels. From here, you can revoke or adjust permissions as needed.

8. DLP Remediation Revoke Access

Description
Revoking access removes permissions from specific users, groups, or external collaborators. This action is crucial when a user’s role changes, they leave the organization, or if external vendors only require temporary access.

Example

• Scenario: A contractor no longer works on a project that involves proprietary financial reports.
• Action: Immediately remove the contractor’s permissions to access the reports, ensuring no further exposure of sensitive data.

9. DLP Bulk Remediation (e.g., Remove Public Access)

Description
Bulk remediation allows you to address multiple security issues in one action. For instance, you can scan for publicly shared files and instantly remove public access across all of them, rather than going file by file.

Example

• Scenario: A security audit reveals 100+ shared links marked as publicly accessible.
• Action: Run a bulk remediation process to remove public access for all identified files, significantly reducing exposure in a single operation.

10. DLP Remediation Remove External Members

Description
Similar to removing public access, removing external members involves systematically checking for and revoking access given to users outside your organization. This ensures your data remains within trusted boundaries.

Example

• Scenario: A large marketing folder was shared with multiple external agencies, some of which are no longer under contract.
• Action: Perform a mass cleanup of external users, revoking all outdated memberships and restricting data access to active, authorized collaborators only.

Configuring Remediation Actions in DLP Solutions

Modern DLP solutions offer a range of remediation actions, from alerts and quarantines to encryption and deletion. Configuring these settings involves defining the conditions under which each action is triggered and who is notified.

Aligning remediation actions with organizational policies ensures that incident responses are consistent, appropriate, and compliant with regulatory requirements. It also helps maintain the balance between security and operational efficiency, particularly when DLP redact strategies are in place.

Best Practices for Implementing DLP Remediation Techniques

Here are some best practices to guide you in selecting and applying the right remediation strategies for your organization.

• Assess your data: Classify data based on sensitivity and compliance requirements to determine the appropriate level of protection needed.
• Understand regulatory requirements: Know the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to your industry and region. This understanding will guide the selection of remediation techniques that ensure compliance.
• Evaluate your risk profile: Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential data security threats and vulnerabilities. This will help you prioritize the techniques based on the likelihood and impact of different types of data breaches.
• Tailor remediation to data context: Set policies to protect for each type of data. For instance, encryption may be essential for protecting data at rest, while blocking may be more appropriate for preventing unauthorized data transfers.
• Awareness campaigns: Run ongoing awareness campaigns using posters, emails, and intranet articles to keep data protection top of employees' minds.
• Feedback and reporting mechanisms: Encourage employees to report suspicious activities or potential data breaches and provide feedback on DLP policies and training.

What Makes Strac Stand Out in the Data Discovery, DSPM and DLP Space?

Strac is the only data security platform for SaaS, Cloud and Gen AI apps that is agentless. Its features are listed below:

Automated detection and redaction

Strac’s DLP redact capabilities to identify and mask sensitive information across various data formats and platforms. Strac is more accurate and faster than traditional DLP, which requires manual tagging and classification, leading to scalability issues and requiring the lion’s share of your security teams’ time to work with.

No-code integrations

Strac’s seamless, integration with most SaaS applications enable organizations to implement DLP measures without technical expertise and disrupting existing workflows.

Real-time monitoring and alerts

Strac provides immediate notifications about potential data breaches or policy violations. It enables swift preventative actions and ensures that organizations respond instantaneously to threats.

Compliance management

In terms of regulatory compliance, the platform helps organizations adhere to various data protection standards and regulations. It automates the compliance process and provides clear insights into data handling practices.

Advanced scanning capabilities

Strac’s advanced scanning capabilities allow for deep data analysis and inspection beyond simple text matches. This includes the ability to understand context, recognize patterns, and identify sensitive information hidden within structured and unstructured data.

Deep integrations with SaaS, endpoints, and cloud apps

The integration with SaaS, endpoints, and cloud apps ensures that DLP policies are consistently applied across all data environments. This comprehensive protection is crucial for securing data regardless of its location.

Zero data architecture

Strac's innovative data architecture, which does not store or process data, sets a new standard for data security. It minimizes the risk of data breaches within the DLP system itself and provides an additional layer of security.

Schedule a free meet to learn how Strac meets your specific data security needs.