Endpoint DLP Plus, a comprehensive data classification tool, scans your endpoints for sensitive data with an effective data classification and categorization process, defining what is sensitive to your organization. This classification aids when configuring a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policy to accurately mark if your enterprise data contains sensitive content in it.
The quintessential data classification process forefronts classification guidelines that identify sensitive data. Data rule in Endpoint DLP Plus is one such standard, which can be defined to accurately spot critical enterprise data amongst the sea of data.
Data rule, is a two-fold data classification standard; Custom and predefined. While the predefined criteria are aligned more to aid in categorizing the data simultaneously when discerning sensitive data, the custom criteria is to create a set of rules according to your business requirements.
Data classification extends to sensitive data categorization as well. Grouping sensitive data, like PHI, PII, and PCI to name a few, bodes well when devising a DLP policy catering to the relevant classified data.
What is a Data Rule?
Data Rule is a guideline, that helps spot the sensitive content in a file/data using classification criteria like, RegEx, Keyword matching, File Extension, and Document/Fingerprint matching. During file scanning, if the pattern in the data rule matches the content in the file, the file will be marked as sensitive. The data classification criteria will be constantly updated, keeping in mind the significance to stay compliant and safe.
Endpoint DLP Plus enables IT admins to automate the extensive combing and categorization of sensitive information stored across endpoints. This enterprise solution rapidly discovers and classifies various types of structured as well as unstructured data using advanced mechanisms such as fingerprinting, RegEx, file extension based filter, and keyword search. Furthermore, using Endpoint DLP Plus, sensitive data can be categorized based on origin, format, and many other attributes using numerous predefined criteria or by creating your custom criteria. After this step, it is significantly easier to create policies that dictate exactly how the specified content should be handled to prevent disclosure.
Predefined criteria enable swift detection of common indicators of sensitive items in documents that contain PII such as addresses or financial information. Since PII is displayed in different formats around the world, predefined criteria can be applied on a national basis.
There are numerous niche industries where companies are required to handle and process data that doesn’t fall under the conventional forms of PII or finance tokens. For organization-specific requirements, there is a myriad of mechanisms to create detailed custom rule criteria.
RegEx, also known as a regular expression or rational expression, is a logical system to describe patterns. In data classification, it’s a powerful utility that can be used to identify expressions denoted in certain sensitive documents. They can include sequences such as credit card numbers or social security identification.
For files containing target keywords or other specific arrangements of letters that are thought to be signifiers of sensitive data (like names), the keyword search feature can be used to filter large volumes of data efficiently and automatically find the relevant documents. This tool is especially useful for investigative purposes, as it helps narrow down and detect specific criteria.
Fingerprinting is a DLP capability used to create criteria based on user uploads or commonly transferred documents. Your organization’s established formats for the types of documents that are frequently handled can be used to distinguish between various sensitive documents. The structure of patents, legal documents, health records, and other types of documents can be contextually analyzed to create corresponding document fingerprints. From then onwards, those types of documents will be classified accordingly based on their corresponding layouts when they are processed or transferred.
Documents can also be classified as sensitive according to their file extensions. Depending on the organization or department, certain file types have a high likelihood of containing sensitive items ex: In the accounting department, excel sheets will likely contain confidential, financial information so files with the extension .xlsx can be marked as sensitive.
Data classification is a process that spots sensitive content and also groups the critical data for further DLP configuration.
Software that favors reliable data classification practices of the highest degree to make data loss prevention a seamless process is data classification software.
An organization, be it mid-cap or large, has myriads of data that will be created, viewed, modified, and frequently transferred daily. Configuring a data loss prevention policy for all such data would be redundant, as not every data is significant. With data classification, you can locate sensitive data from the sea of data and proceed with configuring data loss prevention for data that matters.
Content-based: Documents are searched for specific keywords, patterns, or image matches. Fingerprinting and RegEx are typically used as mechanisms to classify data based on content.
Context-based: To derive the context of particular documents, the sources of the data and the extensions of the files are identified. Organizations typically have certain apps and email domains that are categorized as enterprise-appropriate. If a particular file is deemed to have been created or transferred via enterprise applications or emails, it will be marked as sensitive.
Data rules, both custom and predefined, are used to classify sensitive content in enterprise data. Once a data rule is created using Endpoint DLP Plus, your enterprise data is continuously scanned for sensitive data based on the rules defined.
Effective risk management: Identifying the nature and sensitivity of data can help ensure that the apposite security measures are in place.
Optimal use of resources: By consolidating and securing all the sensitive information, the non-sensitive content can be further scrutinized to determine whether it is still useful. Any data deemed purposeless can then be easily eliminated to reduce overhead costs for maintenance and storage.
Comprehensive data loss prevention: All sensitive data is accounted for and labeled so any misuse is noticed immediately.
Enhanced user productivity: Depending on the type and purpose of the data as well as how and when it is used, it can be made more accessible to authorized users and restricted from the rest.
Any tool that has granular data classification components gives attention to detail, thereby striving to both pinpoint the sensitive data and categorize classified data as groups, is the best data classification tool. In a nutshell, the best data classification tool should be meticulous in locating sensitive data to support data loss prevention configuration.
Endpoint DLP Plus is ManageEngine's dedicated data loss prevention solution, offering both data classification and data protection in a single package. With a cutting-edge classification system that combines content-based and context-based methods, Endpoint DLP Plus efficiently identifies sensitive data and monitors its movement across your network. It swiftly detects and blocks unauthorized transfers of this data through a variety of channels, ensuring your information stays safe and secure.
