How to Stop Data Leaks in Their Tracks

Data leaks are a growing concern for organizations due to the rising volume of sensitive information stored digitally. Leaks occur when sensitive data is inadvertently exposed, and they can easily lead to cyber attacks, reputational damage, and enormous financial costs. The best way to protect against them is to stop them from occurring in the first place. In this blog, we’ll delve into the common causes of leaks and best practices to bolster data security and prevent data leaks effectively.

Common causes of data leaks

Data leaks can result from a variety of factors, each posing unique risks to an organization's data security. Serious issues often stem from a combination of human error, technological vulnerabilities, or malicious activities. Here are some of the most common causes of data leaks:

Human error

In most cases, securing a technology requires a detailed understanding of how humans interact with that technology. Data leakage often occurs when people fall for social engineering attacks, use weak passwords, or accidentally share information with the wrong recipients.?

Technological vulnerabilities

Technological vulnerabilities are another common factor threat actors can exploit to access or extract data. Software bugs, malware, and other malicious programs all make it easier for attackers to accomplish their goals. Similarly, unpatched operating systems and outdated software programs or applications can be vulnerable to exploits. Insecure APIs can also create a gateway for attackers.

Malicious activities

Sometimes, data leaks can originate within an organization through malicious activities. Insiders with legitimate access may intentionally leak or steal data, for example. Threat actors can also use brute force attacks or malware to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Physical security breaches

Although many cyber attacks are executed remotely, data leaks can also originate in person. When attackers steal work or personal devices that are connected to professional resources, it’s exponentially easier for them to access sensitive data. Unauthorized individuals may use social engineering tactics to gain access to data centers, offices, or servers, which can also lead to data leakage.

Cloud security issues

Cloud misconfiguration issues are one of the most common causes of vulnerabilities in cloud apps. Another common issue in this realm is insufficient cloud access controls; without the appropriate role-based controls in place, it’s that much easier for attackers to exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to sensitive data.?

Third-party risks

Most modern organizations rely on third-party apps, external solutions, and SaaS vendors to run their everyday operations. But if those third-party vendors aren’t adequately managing and implementing their own security strategies, they can become a weak link in the chain. If those vendors have access to sensitive data, leaks are even more likely to occur. Compromises in any step of the supply chain can introduce vulnerabilities to your organization and every other team involved.

Best practices to prevent data leaks

Preventing data leaks requires a proactive approach. Implementing best practices before vulnerabilities, leaks, or breaches occur is the best way to protect sensitive information. Here are a few of the main ways organizations can strengthen their data security measures and reduce the risk of data leaks:

Establish a data loss prevention (DLP) policy

With data now spread across the cloud, organizations must move away from access-centric security and toward data-centric security. With a robust data loss prevention (DLP) policy, your organization can discover, monitor, and control sensitive data, reducing the opportunity for data leaks.?

Encrypt sensitive data

Encrypting sensitive data can ensure its safety even if it falls into the wrong hands. Data encryption should take place wherever data is stored or used, including both when it is at rest and when it is in transit. Enterprise digital rights management (EDRM) solutions can help your organization enforce data protection policies even when data leaves your sphere of influence.?

Apply zero-trust access controls

Zero trust is one of the most popular approaches to cybersecurity today. You can apply the principle of least privilege to limit access to sensitive data, making it harder for leaks to occur. Strong authentication methods like single sign-on (SSO) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) also support a zero-trust approach and reduce the chances of data leaks.

Monitor user behavior

With user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), you can develop an understanding of what “normal” behavior patterns look like across your organization. Establishing that baseline will make it easier to flag deviations from the established pattern, identifying and preventing insider threats before any data can be leaked or stolen.?

Implement a comprehensive cloud security solution

To prevent data leaks in today’s cloud-based world, you need a cloud-native security service edge (SSE) solution to protect SaaS apps, private apps, and internet traffic. Modern architectures have grown increasingly complicated, and SSE is the best way to protect data across all the platforms, apps, and devices where it’s in use.

Prevent data leaks with a complete cloud security platform

In today’s working world, employees can access corporate data and resources from anywhere, anytime. And thanks to the proliferation of bring-your-own-device policies, your organization’s sensitive data is likely to move through mobile devices, personal devices, and unprotected networks on a regular basis. To prevent data leaks, you need continuous visibility from endpoint to cloud. Learn how the Lookout Cloud Security Platform protects data in our free e-book Minimize Risk To Your Data With End-to-End Visibility and Controls.