Hindsight is 20/20. After getting over the initial shock of a bad experience, one of our first thoughts is often how we may have prevented the situation from happening in the first place. We want to learn from our mistakes, it’s part of what makes us human.

And while that’s all well and good, when it comes to your company’s sensitive business data it’s better to avoid a “learning experience.” Putting your organization’s reputation and the confidential clients’ information on the line can make or break your business. The goal is to avoid being put in that position at all costs.

Good news is, data loss prevention (DLP) helps your company be proactive, as opposed to reactive, when it comes to protecting your business data. Here are three ways that data loss prevention protocols can help your business thrive.

Maintaining Compliance

Data privacy regulations require your business to keep sensitive data safe. However, “44% of organizations do not measure the effectiveness of their policy management programs.” Essentially, they have no idea whether or not they work. While that may be fine this very moment, it could lead to major trouble down the line.

Imagine if some place like your credit reporting agency wasn’t aware of a potential risk to your valuable, personal data. Now, imagine if that were your own company, and something happened. Brace yourself for the violation fines and angry customers… a lot of them.

Adopting a strong data loss prevention strategy will help your company avoid these potential headaches and fines by protecting your sensitive data.  

Conserving Resources

Let’s say one of your employees decides to finish up a report from their personal laptop at home. They send it to themselves and leave for the day. Once home, they open their personal email and click through a few messages before opening the one containing the report. Unbeknownst to them, one of the emails they clicked launches ransomware that is now installing itself on their computer. In a matter of minutes, the malicious software takes over their computer. Oy. Your sensitive data is now compromised.

In order to get it back unscathed, you’re likely going to have to spend a hefty sum and possibly put in some man hours trying to figure out how to get your data back.

Data loss prevention will help you save valuable resources in a situation like this. DLP software prevents employees from sending sensitive information outside of your company’s network, in the first place. Additionally, employee training in security best practices may have nipped the situation in the bud entirely.

Saving Your Reputation  

You’re on a business trip in Chicago, in a cab on the way to your hotel after a long flight. You’re tired and ready to order room service and then call it a night. Senses compromised, you accidentally leave your work phone in the taxi. It’s the next morning by the time you figure it out, and someone has already broken into your phone and gotten ahold of your company’s data. Now you’re violating compliance AND you’re unprepared for your meetings.

Rather than spending hours trying to track down who stole your phone and how to save the data on it, encrypt your data and increase your device security. This way, you’ve still got the data and unauthorized eyes won’t be able to access it. Score.

Protect Your Business Data

“31% of customers said they discontinued their relationships with a breached entity and 65% said they lost trust in an affected organization.” Without customers, you don’t have a business.

Not to worry! We can help your company create a custom data loss prevention strategy that addresses your security concerns and protects its sensitive information. For more information, contact us today. We’d love to help you safeguard your data.