Many large commercial organisations have been aware for some time that their data is one of their most valuable assets to their business and safeguarding that information is critically important.

In recent times the approach to data security has widened and the threat to most if not all organisations of losing (or having stolen) customer data or data sensitive to the public (in an unsecured format) has risen with the changing working practises that are taking place within most organisations.  These changing work practises have meant that data can now more easily be transported around different computers and locations using a wide variety of mediums and controlling the flow of sensitive data has become an increasingly difficult challenge.

To secure data, Foursys recommend a layered approach.  This layered approach starts with controlling where data resides and where data flows (i.e. through different technology mediums i.e. email, web etc.).  Once these layers are established, when data does need to be accessed remotely or transported the appropriate encryption or remote access technology is in place to safeguard the data.

Its important to understand that today’s DLP solutions don’t have to be difficult to configure, setup or administer and that having these security measures in place can be significantly less expensive (either financially or via reputation) than dealing with the consequences of data loss.