It depends on who you ask.
According to Gartner Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is technology "for defining sensitive information, finding and identifying it on enterprise networks and in storage, and controlling its use and distribution." (Gartner Magic Quadrant for Content Monitoring and Filtering and Data Loss Prevention, 2Q2007)
According to some vendors, DLP is identifying, monitoring and protecting data in motion, at rest and in use through Deep Content Inspection (DCI) and anything else isn’t DLP.
According to CIO DLP is also "a great tool for awareness - it trains users to use secure means of transmission where necessary and it trains IT departments to provide secure means of transmission where they are needed but do not exist." (Data Leakage Prevention Going Mainstream, Sep 1, 2009)
However, CIO warns that "Identifying and blocking all sensitive information is neither possible as an outcome nor wise as a goal."
At Janusnet we take a pragmatic view. We see 100% DLP as an ideal theoretical maximum, but as you approach the maximum of 100% the Law of Diminishing Return applies. It becomes progressively more difficult and expensive to keep getting closer to the 100%. We designed Janusseal to be a practical, cost-effective solution that:
- achieves at least 75% DLP by eliminating accidental loss
- makes comprehensive DLP solutions like DCI more cost effective and easier to implement
- provides 75% DLP for significantly less than 25% of the cost
- enables any organization to reduce data loss immediately.
A recent UK survey1 revealed that, while most enterprises have email gateways to prevent entry of unwanted incoming traffic, 94% had no way to block exit of confidential material via outgoing traffic.
If no protection represents 0% on the DLP scale and 100% can't be achieved, the Janusseal model that delivers over 75% protection and is affordable for any business, makes practical good sense.
No wonder Janusseal is so frequently chosen as the first line of defence in DLP.
Which Janusseal product
How Janusseal simplifies DLP
1. Mimecast Survey, July 2008.
