Your Company’s Data: Maximise Collaboration & Minimise Risk

System protection has historically focused on securing the infrastructure

Technology has dominated the discussion. Now, for many enterprises, the security emphasis has shifted towards protecting data and the flow of information.

This requires a shift in thinking

We’re not simply protecting the infrastructure, but rather the value that runs through that infrastructure. We’re not blocking bad traffic or files, but rather securing mission critical information throughout its life cycle. And, most important, your approach and focus starts with your business needs rather than arbitrary technologies.

This mindset runs hand-in-hand with the reality of today’s successful enterprises: you need to increase collaboration while reducing risk. This may seem paradoxical – diametrically opposed goals – but that’s the challenge that today’s business landscape demands.

For any business that sees itself as an “information machine”, there’s really no choice. Data has to flow and collaboration must occur. At the same time, you have to respond to outsiders targeting your IP, threats from insiders and honest accidents when people just do their job.

When we talk to clients, we often hear two types of mistakes

Some will under-invest in security and some will over-invest.

If you are one of the former, the key is to apply the right controls in the right way as you increase investment.

If you are over-invested, you may be facing so much control that you are out of control.

As you evaluate the best practices and devise a strategy to safeguard your company’s data, we suggest four points of focus

They are:

1. Data Loss Prevention Assessment
   This means understanding your business and using automated tools to find sensitive and important data. We recommend identifying the highest risks and applying solutions to your priorities.
2. Policy Definition and Enforcement
   This means establishing policies and applications to stop data leaks, encrypting your whole disk to protect “loose” devices, controlling data at the point of use, and leveraging best practices to enforce regional and industry privacy laws.
3. Monitoring and Reporting Services
   This involves tracking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, monitoring across your environment, performing pre-audit and remediation services and ensuring integration of solutions across control points.
4. Emergency Services and Professional Services
   This involves designing mechanisms for immediate response to incidents and linking to.

In short, best practices and intelligent strategy will help you establish reasonable security to achieve that most demanding but rewarding goal:

Maximum collaboration and minimum risk