{"id":312,"date":"2024-09-20T08:12:55","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T08:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/?p=312"},"modified":"2024-09-20T08:12:55","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T08:12:55","slug":"how-to-prevent-data-exfiltration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/?p=312","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent Data Exfiltration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is Data Exfiltration?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When someone steals important information, usually with the intent of misusing it, the process is called <\/span>Data Exfiltration<\/span><\/a>. The information can be anything from your customers\u2019 data and financial records to intellectual property.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Data Exfiltration otherwise known as Data theft or data exportation refers to the unauthorized transfer of data from a computer or network.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the era when businesses are going digital, data is becoming an invaluable treasure for any organization. Hence, learning to detect and prevent data exfiltration is not a choice but essential. For early and effective data exfiltration detection, they are using various tools and techniques specifically designed for the purpose of data exfiltration prevention. However, before selecting any such strategy, one should understand how the systems are targeted and how data exfiltration occurs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How Does Data Exfiltration Occur? <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There is a common misconception that understanding data exfiltration is only for organizations that are in the business of handling sensitive data. What most people <\/span>fail to<\/span> understand is every organization is holding data that can be exploited. Their data can be used to gain a competitive advantage or compromised for financial gains. To put a stop to this corrupt practice, <\/span>let\u2019s<\/span> first understand the sources of data exfiltration.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sources of Data Exfiltration<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There are three major sources of data exfiltration.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Insider threat: <\/span>The most prevalent source as most attacks on data occur due to the negligence or error in judgment of employees. The details they think of as unimportant end up costing organizations heavily. They are the ones with access to the information and sometimes a resentful employee seeking revenge leaks data intentionally and oftentimes data leak is a result of careless behavior.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>External attack: <\/span>This includes hackers, cybercriminals, or black hat hackers hired by your nemesis. Their attacks are generally well-planned and targeted. Their preferred methods of intrusion are phishing, social engineering, or advanced malware attacks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Third-party vendor: <\/span>The<\/span> most<\/span> overlooked attacker is usually a third-party vendor as they can easily slip into your system and steal any required information. Even if these vendors don\u2019t have strong security measures in place, the external attacker can also enter your network and steal data.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Methods Employed for Data Exfiltration<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There are three facets of exfiltrating data:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Social engineering<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Social Engineering means exploiting the naivety or trust of an employee. The victim is tricked into sharing some sensitive information or sometimes sharing their credentials through which attackers get direct access to information.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phishing<\/span>:<\/span> Phishing is when a misleading email or message is sent to urge users to click on a link or download some malicious file or software. It is created with the intention of manipulating the user into sharing sensitive information.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Baiting or pretexting<\/span>:<\/span> Baiting is when the user is coaxed into sharing information by offering them something tempting such as free music, software, or even winning the lottery. Pretexting is a convincing victim to share sensitive information through a made-up scenario such as a bank official calling you to share OTP.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Dumpster diving<\/span>:\u00a0 <\/span>As the name suggests it is diving into the garbage that is recycled and discarded documents of an organization in the hope of finding sensitive information.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Exploiting network vulnerabilities<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Network vulnerabilities are in-built weaknesses of the network of any organization. These weaknesses are like an open door for intruders, ready to be exploited by giving access to sensitive data. This includes software vulnerabilities, configuration-based vulnerabilities, IoT or device-based vulnerabilities, <\/span>etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3. Removable storage media & IoT devices<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Even though the world has moved to cloud storage but the threat through removable storage devices <\/span>is<\/span> still <\/span>widespread. <\/span>The <\/span>storage devices can carry any virus or malware inside them making your defenses weak. <\/span>IoT devices are another technological advancement that are built with comfort in mind, ignoring security protocols, making them an <\/span>easy target of any hacker<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Once the source and method of Data Exfiltration <\/span>are <\/span>detected then <\/span>organizations execute network forensics <\/span>analysis to close any entry point for intruders<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span> Don\u2019t<\/span> know what network forensics analysis is? Check <\/span><\/span>Network Forensics: Tracking, Investigating and Identifying Threats<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The cost of Data Exfiltration <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As cyber security experts who have been in the business of protecting your data for more than 20 years, we would like to share that the cost of data breaches goes way beyond monetary damages.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Financial Impact<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It is the most immediate impact visible to the naked eye. If a data breach has occurred, then monetary damage will follow. There is a direct cost associated with a breach such as detecting and stopping the hacker. Then there are indirect costs such as loss of business. Then sometimes companies pay large ransom amounts to get access to their own data.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Reputational Damage <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The reputation of companies takes a big hit after any data breach. It breaks the trust of customers, partners, and investors. And the result of reputational damage is negative publicity and media coverage. This is a long-term impact that damages the image of the company.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Legal and Regulatory Consequences<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As the world is going digital, the laws around data <\/span>leakage prevention<\/span> are getting <\/span>stricter<\/span>. Any cybercrime due to negligence or non-compliance of such laws leads to hefty fines and lengthy lawsuits.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Operational Disruption <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A lot of times, data exfiltration leads to disruption in operations, delay in services, and even shutting down the entire system. Once the data is stolen, the organizations <\/span>must<\/span> implement new security measures and sometimes remodel the <\/span>whole process<\/span> which again leads to interruption in services.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Loss of Competitive Advantage <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Finally, we are in times where data <\/span>impacts<\/span> every decision of your business. The same data reaching the hands of your competitors will put the companies at a significant competitive disadvantage. They can gain access to your business strategies, customer lists, and other confidential information.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Other damages<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Other damages can include loss of intellectual property, identity theft, increased security costs, etc.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The impact of data exfiltration could be more severe than you can think of and can also cost millions of dollars. In fact, a study by IBM suggests that the average global cost of a data breach in 2024 is $4.88 million.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing the extent of damage data breach can cause, we should move to understanding data exfiltration prevention techniques.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How to Prevent Data Exfiltration<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When it comes to securing your data, you should never leave any stone unturned. There are certain techniques that minimize the risk of exfiltration of data. <\/span>Here is the list of the specific techniques:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Access Control<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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One of those techniques is a strong and well-planned access control system. In access control, organizations ensure that a user is only able to access data necessary to get their work done.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Encryption<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It\u2019s<\/span> also wise to use encryption,<\/span> as without the decryption key, <\/span>it <\/span>is <\/span>nearly impossible<\/span> for cybercriminals to make sense of stolen information.<\/span> Adding this <\/span>additional<\/span> layer of security <\/span>can save your data from any potential misuse.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Continuous Monitoring of Data<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Another key technique <\/span>for <\/span>data exfiltration <\/span>detection and prevention <\/span>is to continuously <\/span>monitor<\/span> data flow and user <\/span>behavior<\/span>. Any anomaly from the standard pattern should be investigated in detail. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Regular Audits<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Regular audits of network vulnerabilities are <\/span>recommended<\/span> to close any entry point of intruders.\u00a0<\/span>This will provide an overview of your network security health.<\/span> In case pf any unfortunate breach, the organization will also have forensic evidence in their <\/span>favor<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Regular Employee Training<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Furthermore, schedule employee training at regular intervals to create an environment of cyber consciousness. If employees are aware of best practices to keep data secure the threat of negligence and social engineering can be mitigated.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Fidelis Network\u00ae Data Loss Prevention Solution<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Last but not least, employ effective <\/span>Data Loss Prevention Solutions (DLP)<\/span><\/a> as it is specifically designed to protect data from unauthorized access and prevent data exfiltration.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fidelis Network\u00ae DLP provides a comprehensive solution for preventing data exfiltration that monitors and controls the data flow. It can read and analyze data on different protocols, channels, and applications being used on the network to identify any sensitive information and prevent Data exfiltration attacks. Fidelis Network\u00ae\u00a0DLP prevents data loss by:\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Monitoring Network Traffic across all possible network ports (65,535 ports in total).<\/span>Providing multiple sophisticated content analysis technologies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Fidelis Network\u00ae\u00a0DLP includes a mail sensor and web sensor to cover all protocols and ports.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Collecting metadata for up to 360 days for real-time and retrospective analysis.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Frequently Ask Questions<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What role does encryption play in preventing data exfiltration?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Encryption is a process that converts your data into a code language that can only be understood by the sender or receiver. It is a digital lock that protects your data from being misused as even if the data is intercepted and stolen, the attacker won\u2019t be able to read the information without the decryption key.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hence, encryption plays a vital role in preventing data exfiltration as it significantly reduces the risk of data breaches.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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What are the consequences of failing to prevent data exfiltration?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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The consequences of failing to prevent data exfiltration can be severe and result in significant losses. Financial loss is the most immediate impact of any data breach. Controlling the breach attempt, legal fines, cost of disruption of services, and enhanced security features cost big bucks that burden the organization.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there are some indirect long-term effects that may cost way more than money like decline in brand reputation, loss of intellectual property, competitive disadvantage, and compliance pressure.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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How does multi-factor authentication help prevent data exfiltration?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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To use Microsoft 365 DLP, one needs to have a minimum of Office 365 Enterprise E3\u00a0or\u00a0Microsoft 365 E3\u00a0license. Organizations can also choose advanced office DLP featured\u00a0in higher-tier licenses such as\u00a0Office 365 Enterprise E5\u00a0or\u00a0Microsoft 365 E5.<\/div>\n
For small and medium-sized businesses, Microsoft 365 Business Premium also offers\u00a0basic DLP with basic features.<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The post How to Prevent Data Exfiltration<\/a> appeared first on Fidelis Security<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is Data Exfiltration? When someone steals important information, usually with the intent of misusing it, the process is called Data Exfiltration. The information can be anything from your customers\u2019 data and financial records to intellectual property.\u00a0 Data Exfiltration otherwise known as Data theft or data exportation refers to the unauthorized transfer of data from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=312"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cybersecurityinfocus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}