Data leaks can harm any organization, affecting its reputation, operations, and financial health. As such, businesses need to implement effective data leak detection techniques; here are several such methods that your business should consider.
Network monitoring: One of the initial steps in data leak detection involves monitoring your network traffic. Unusual network activity, such as a high volume of data transfers, can indicate a potential data leak. Tools like intrusion detection systems (IDS) can help monitor network traffic and flag anomalies.
Seeding list & databases: When decoy contacts are ‘seeded’ into lists or databases, they will receive communications sent to that list, such as emails, texts or calls. Using data leak monitoring software, you can see all the communications the seeded list is receiving in one place and can even be alerted if they are receiving communications from somewhere they shouldn’t be! The sooner you know when a data leak or breach happens, the better the outcome for your business. Companies like Assumed can get you started with implementing decoy contacts today.
User entity and behavior analytics (UEBA): This technique involves monitoring and analyzing user behavior to detect anomalies. If a user is accessing data they shouldn’t be using or are transferring large amounts of data, UEBA can help flag these activities as potential data leaks or breaches.
Machine learning and AI: Machine learning and AI can learn and adapt to your organization’s standard data usage patterns and identify spikes that might suggest a data leak. The adaptability of AI and machine learning algorithms makes them particularly effective in environments where data usage patterns continually evolve.
Data encryption: Encrypting data can add an extra layer of protection by making the data unreadable to unauthorized users. Even if a data leak occurs, the leaked data will be useless without the encryption keys.
Regular audits: Regular audits of user activities, access logs, and data transactions can help identify potential leaks. Audits can also help ensure that your organization complies with relevant regulations and best practices for data security. Penetration testing should also be considered to cover any security weaknesses your business may have.
These data leak detection techniques can significantly enhance your business’s data security posture. However, it’s important to remember that data security is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. Regular reviews and updates of your data leak detection techniques will ensure they continue to provide adequate protection as new threats emerge.