Protecting valuable data resources is a top priority for companies in virtually every business in every industry. Failure to keep sensitive information secure can destroy a company from a financial and reputational perspective. Data loss prevention (DLP) software provides a reliable and automated method of protecting an organization’s data assets.
Symantec DLP is a data protection tool that provides companies with a viable solution for securing their valuable data. We’re going to look at its features and how Next DLP offers a better, human-centric approach to data loss prevention compatible with today’s remote work and work-from-anywhere environments.
In this article:
Important features of Symantec DLP
Symantec DLP is a comprehensive data loss prevention solution that helps mitigate data breaches and maintain regulatory compliance. The tool includes data discovery, monitoring, and protective features that provide visibility and control over information resources throughout an organization’s computing environment. Symantec DLP employs a single pane of glass console for policy management, incident response, reporting, and administration.
Symantec DLP is built upon four foundational pillars:
- Critical data protection that keeps sensitive and confidential data safe from accidental or deliberate data breaches.
- Visibility and control over data resources at rest and in transit. Symantec DLP monitors data in the cloud, at endpoints, in storage, and when transmitted over the web or via email.
- A unified policy framework that reduces the complexity of identifying and remediating on-premises and cloud-based incidents.
- Regulatory compliance promoted with support for global data protection laws and standards.
Symantec DLP use cases
Symantec DLP’s foundation enables it to address a wide range of use cases for businesses of any size. Following are some of the most beneficial ways companies can use Symantec DLP.
Discovering where data resides
Symantec DLP scans network file shares, endpoints, and any other data repository to provide complete visibility and control over sensitive information. Its content-aware detection technologies reduce false positives and false negatives for enhanced protection. The data classification techniques employed by the tool include:
- Exact data matching
- Indexed document matching
- Described content matching
- File-type detection
- Sensitive imagery recognition
Monitoring data movement and usage across the environment
Symantec DLP provides information regarding the use and movement of sensitive information. The tool delivers insight into who is using data resources, scanning everything from laptops to cloud applications such as Office 365 and Salesforce to offer full visibility into how data is used in a company’s infrastructure. Specific aspects of Symantec’s monitoring capabilities include:
- Local scanning, detection, and real-time monitoring
- Monitoring of sensitive data being transmitted or copied
- Inspection of corporate emails for confidential data
- User notification of anomalies with pop-up windows that block forbidden actions
Preventing data leakage
With Symantec DLP, companies can prevent data leakage from malicious insiders or cybercriminals. Enforcing a single set of data protection policies keeps sensitive data from being leaked or stolen. The tool also protects against configuration errors made by inexperienced cloud users. It provides real-time data blocking, quarantining, and monitoring of risky behavior.
Remediating incidents
Symantec DLP provides multiple features that enhance automated incident response procedures. These features include:
- The ability to perform User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to assign a risk score for individuals and specific behaviors
- Integration with ServiceNow to streamline issue resolution
- Routing emails to encryption gateways
- Encryption and digital rights enforcement for files transferred to USB devices
- The capability to redirect or block messages based on their attributes or sensitive content
Meeting regulatory requirements
Maintaining compliance with regulatory standards like HIPAA and GDPR is an essential feature of a DLP solution. Symantec DLP promotes compliance by:
- Identifying sensitive information through predefined policy templates and data identifiers
- Monitoring for policy violations and enforcing data protection policies to control where sensitive data is used and stored
Next Reveal: what's in a better data loss prevention solution?
Legacy data loss prevention was a complex task that required all sensitive data to be pre-classified. Data was controlled on corporate networks and systems. Reaching the desired level of data protection typically required months or years and implementing the solution was a burden on employees.
Next offers a data loss prevention solution that provides a modern, human-centric approach to data loss prevention. It implements real-time data classification on-the-fly that addresses all data resources at rest and in transit. In addition to content-based classification, Next DLP provides context-based classification that can determine data sensitivity by who created it or from what application the information was generated.
The Reveal Platform by Next is a cloud-native solution that is easy to purchase, install and use effectively. It offers DLP functionality straight out of the box incorporating machine learning and smart remediation that works even when endpoints are disconnected from the network, a must for today’s work-from-anywhere climate. The tool’s lightweight agent doesn’t hinder productivity or slow down your employees’ computers and is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux machines.
Built-in and customizable data protection policies let your company start protecting its valuable resources right away. The tool’s reporting capabilities identify careless and malicious activity related to sensitive data so modifications can be made to security controls. Next DLP also provides incident-based user training when a policy violation is detected to inform employees of their mistakes and to improve data security throughout the organization.
Other DLP Tool Alternatives:
Book a demo with the Next DLP team today and find out how easy it is to protect your valuable data with this innovative approach to data loss prevention.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main challenges of using legacy DLP solutions like Symantec DLP?
Legacy solutions like Symantec DLP require more IT resources for deployment, especially because they need extensive data pre-classification. They use rigid policies that are difficult to adjust and can slow down systems, affecting user productivity.
Plus, these legacy solutions don’t often support remote environments, which is critical in the age of remote and hybrid work.
How does Next Reveal handle data classification differently from Symantec DLP?
Reveal uses both content-based and context-based classification. Content-based classification identifies sensitive data based on its content, such as keywords or patterns.
On the other hand, context-based classification determines data sensitivity based on factors like who created the data or the originating application. This dual approach enhances accuracy and effectiveness in identifying and protecting sensitive information in real time.
How does Next Reveal handle incident response and user training compared to Symantec DLP?
Reveal offers incident-based user training, which educates employees in real time when a policy violation occurs. This immediate feedback helps employees understand their mistakes and improves overall data security awareness.
Reveal’s incident response capabilities include automated actions such as blocking, quarantining, and alerting to address potential data breaches and minimize risks quickly.
How does Symantec DLP’s single pane of glass console compare to Reveal’s management interface?
Symantec DLP’s single-pane glass console provides centralized management for policy administration, incident response, and reporting.
Reveal’s management interface offers a unified view of data protection activities, too, but it also emphasizes ease of use and intuitive navigation. It streamlines the management process, making it accessible for organizations with varying levels of IT expertise.
What’s the benefit of switching from Symantec DLP to Reveal?
Not all DLP solutions are created equally. Organizations should consider switching to Reveal for several reasons:
- It’s quicker and simpler to deploy, thanks to real-time data classification.
- It offers better support for remote work.
- Reveal offers incident-based training that improves user engagement and policy adherence.
Reveal leverages machine learning to detect and remediate issues in real time, reducing the burden on IT staff.
