What Is Data Exfiltration and How Can You Prevent It?
Discover what data exfiltration is and how it can pose a serious threat to your organisation. Learn about common methods used by attackers and effective prevention strategies to safeguard your sensitive data.
Key points
- Data exfiltration involves the unauthorised transfer of sensitive information.
- Cybersecurity threats can arise from both insider and outsider attacks.
- The consequences of data exfiltration can be severe for organisations, impacting reputation and finances.
- Metomic offers comprehensive data security solutions to help prevent data exfiltration and safeguard your critical data
As businesses lean more on technology to manage their information, having solid data security measures in place to protect against data exfiltration is essential.
Data exfiltration is something every organisation should be aware of. It’s all about the unauthorised transfer of sensitive information, and it can lead to some pretty serious consequences.
With cyber threats becoming more common, it’s crucial to understand how data can be compromised and what steps can be taken to protect it.
Protecting sensitive data not only helps maintain your organisation’s reputation but also ensures you stay compliant with regulations and keep your clients' trust, safeguarding their valuable information.
Explain what data exfiltration is in terms of cyber security
Data exfiltration is essentially the unauthorised transfer of sensitive information from an organisation to an outside party.
Imagine someone sneaking out your company’s confidential data—like customer details or trade secrets—without permission. It can happen in various ways, whether through insider threats or attacks from cybercriminals lurking outside.
The implications for cybersecurity are pretty serious. It’s not just about losing data; it can have huge financial consequences, hurt your reputation, and make customers think twice about trusting you. That’s why data exfiltration is such a big concern for organisations today.
In the UK alone, 50% of businesses and 32% of charities reported facing some form of cybersecurity breach or attack in the last year. Those numbers are a wake-up call, and they really underline the need for effective data protection strategies to keep sensitive information safe.
Understanding and tackling the risks of data exfiltration is crucial for any organisation that wants to protect its data and maintain its credibility.
Who is usually responsible?
When it comes to data exfiltration incidents, responsibility can often lie with both insiders and outsiders. Insiders, like employees or contractors, might misuse their access to sensitive information, whether intentionally or accidentally. In fact, insider threats account for around 60% of data breaches, making them a significant concern for organisations.
Common profiles of individuals involved in these breaches can vary widely. For instance, a disgruntled employee might seek revenge by leaking confidential information, or a departing employee may wish to take proprietary company information with them.
Alternatively, a well-meaning team member could inadvertently share data due to a lack of awareness about security protocols. This highlights the need for comprehensive training and clear communication around data security.
On the flip side, outsiders typically include cybercriminals or hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities in a company’s systems. They might use techniques like phishing or malware to gain access and steal data.
How can it happen? What are the warning signs?
Data exfiltration can happen in a variety of ways, and it’s essential for organisations to stay alert. Some of the most common methods include phishing attacks and malware.
Phishing often involves sending fraudulent emails that look legitimate, tricking employees into providing sensitive information. Meanwhile, malware can infiltrate systems, quietly stealing data without anyone noticing.
Recognising the warning signs early can make all the difference. For instance, if employees report unusual activity on their accounts or you notice an uptick in data transfers, these could be red flags. It’s also vital to watch for failed login attempts or access from unfamiliar devices—these could indicate that someone is trying to breach your system.
It's important to be aware that, on average, It takes an average of 292 days to detect and contain a data breach — Almost a year — highlighting the need for proactive monitoring and quick response strategies to mitigate potential damage before it escalates.
What are the risks and consequences?
Data exfiltration can lead to significant risks and consequences for organisations, making it a serious concern in today’s digital landscape.
1. Financial loss
The average cost of a data breach is a staggering $4.88 million. This figure encompasses not just the direct costs associated with the breach, such as remediation and technical investigations, but also indirect costs like lost revenue and increased insurance premiums.
2. Reputational Damage
When sensitive data is compromised, customer trust can plummet. Clients may think twice about partnering with an organisation that has experienced a breach, which can lead to long-term financial implications.
Companies often find themselves spending considerable resources on public relations efforts to repair their image — And it may not even work, as 66% of consumers say they wouldn’t trust a company following a data breach.
3. Legal Implications
Data breaches can lead to hefty fines and legal action, particularly if an organisation is found to be non-compliant with data protection regulations.
This is especially relevant in regions with strict laws, such as Europe’s GDPR, which imposes substantial penalties for mishandling personal data.
What are the different types of data exfiltration?
Data exfiltration can happen in all sorts of ways, so it’s important to know what to watch out for.
Let’s take a look at some common methods, both physical and digital.
Physical methods
- Removable media: USB drives and external hard drives are convenient but risky. An insider could easily copy sensitive data onto one and walk out with it.
- Physical theft: Sometimes, it’s as simple as someone snatching a laptop or device that holds critical information. Just leaving your tech unattended can open the door to theft.
Digital methods
- Malware: This sneaky software can slip into your network and quietly steal data, often without anyone noticing.
- Phishing attacks: Those dodgy emails that look trustworthy? They’re designed to trick employees into giving away sensitive information. One click can open the door to the attackers. .
- Network breaches: Cybercriminals love exploiting weak spots in networks—like simple passwords or outdated software—to gain access and grab what they can.
- Cloud storage exploitation: With many businesses relying on cloud services, unsecured accounts are a tempting target for attackers.
- Insider threats: A significant risk comes from within. Departing employees downloading data, or simply busy employees leaving files unsecured. For instance, in the US, 43.75% of insider threat incidents involve forwarding emails to personal accounts, while 10.71% involve downloading sensitive data.
Alarmingly, data exfiltration attacks surged by 39% in 2023, with 64% of organisations reporting this increase. Being aware of these methods helps organisations protect their sensitive information. The more you know, the better you can guard against these threats.
How can organisations prevent it from happening?
Preventing data exfiltration is all about being proactive. Here are some practical steps organisations can take to keep their sensitive information safe:
- Monitor user activity: Keep an eye on who accesses what data and when. Spotting unusual behaviour early can help catch insider threats before they escalate.
- Oversee data activities: Regularly check how data is accessed and shared. This visibility helps identify risky practices, like downloading sensitive files to personal devices.
- Set clear access policies: Make sure everyone knows who can access what. Use role-based access controls so employees only see the information they need for their jobs.
- Train your team: Educate employees about the risks of data exfiltration and how to recognise threats like phishing. Regular training keeps security top of mind, with online learning shown to boost information retention by 25-60% while requiring 40-60% less employee time.
- Use encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest. Even if data is stolen, it’ll be much harder for anyone to make sense of it without the keys.
- Invest in DLP tools: Data loss prevention solutions can help monitor and protect sensitive information, alerting you to any suspicious activities. In fact, 72% of organisations use 2 or more DLP solutions as part of their data security strategy.
- Keep software updated: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities, making it tougher for cybercriminals to exploit your systems.
By taking these steps, organisations can significantly reduce the risk of data exfiltration. The key is to stay vigilant and create a culture of security awareness—after all, a proactive approach goes a long way in protecting your valuable data!
How can Metomic help?
Metomic offers a range of features designed to prevent data exfiltration and enhance your organisation's security posture:
- Monitoring sensitive data: Metomic scans various applications to identify and classify sensitive information, giving you clear visibility of where your critical data resides and its potential vulnerabilities.
- Automated access controls: With Metomic, you can enforce access controls automatically, reducing the risk of sensitive data being exposed to those who don’t need it.
- Real-time alerts: Metomic provides immediate notifications when potential data exfiltration attempts are detected, allowing your team to respond swiftly.
- Customisable policies: Every organisation has unique needs, and Metomic enables you to configure specific policies tailored to your requirements, ensuring your data protection measures are as effective as possible.
- Monitoring and auditing data usage: Metomic keeps detailed logs on how data is accessed, used, and shared within integrated applications. This not only supports compliance audits but also aids in internal investigations by making it easier to trace any issues back to their source.
By implementing these features, Metomic helps organisations effectively reduce the risk of data breaches and enhance overall data security.
Getting started with Metomic
Starting with Metomic is straightforward and can significantly enhance your organisation’s data security.
Here’s how you can begin:
Free risk assessment
We provide complimentary risk assessments to help you uncover potential insider threats and data security vulnerabilities within your SaaS applications, such as Google Drive and Slack.
Book a personalised demo
Curious to see how Metomic works in more detail? Book a personalised demo with one of our data security experts or simply get in touch to start the conversation. We’ll guide you through how Metomic can be customised to address your organisation’s unique data protection requirements and strategies for preventing insider threats.
