Key Points

• Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is critical for ensuring that sensitive data like Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and healthcare records are secure, monitored, and protected, helping organisations meet GDPR requirements.
• DLP tools help monitor and control sensitive data across platforms, ensuring timely detection of suspicious activities, thereby preventing data breaches and enabling organisations to meet GDPR’s 72-hour breach reporting mandate.
• Metomic aids organisations by automatically discovering sensitive data, implementing access controls, and generating compliance reports, making it easier to adhere to GDPR while reducing data security risks.

With regulatory standards like GDPR becoming increasingly strict, Data Loss Prevention tools are becoming essential for keeping data safe and avoiding costly penalties.

Since GDPR came into force in 2018, organisations have racked up a total of 2,185 fines for violation of the legislation, leading to an astounding €4.92 billion in penalties paid out.

While Data Loss Prevention (DLP) isn’t explicitly mentioned in GDPR requirements, it’s an important tool for protecting sensitive personal data and blocking unauthorised access to it.

By using a DLP solution, organisations can better comply with GDPR requirements, and minimise the risk to their data in the process.

In this article, we’ll explore how DLP helps with GDPR compliance, why it matters, and how Metomic can support your efforts.

What is DLP?

DLP stands for Data Loss Prevention. It refers to tools and procedures that prevent sensitive data getting into the wrong hands, minimising the risk of data leaks and breaches.

Organisations that need to comply with industry standards such as GDPR will often have a DLP product in place as part of their requirements to protect sensitive data such as health information, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), or company data.

Why is DLP important?

DLP is key for organisations that handle sensitive information such as customer details, healthcare records, or financial data. It ensures that such data is secure, and access to confidential files is restricted.

Organisations use DLP for:

1. Data Mapping and Classification: Understanding where their sensitive data is stored, and classifying it to understand the risk associated with each asset.
2. Compliance: Monitoring their sensitive data enables them to comply with industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
3. Data Minimisation: Reducing the amount of data stored in SaaS applications or other insecure locations can minimise the risk of data breaches or leaks, which can lead to financial loss and reputational damage.

What is GDPR?

GDPR stands for the General Data Protection Regulation. It was brought into law within the EU in 2018, and gives individuals more control over their privacy rights.

Organisations who fail to comply with GDPR face hefty fines of up to €20 million or 4% of their global turnover—whichever is the highest.

Under GDPR, any organisation handling the data of EU citizens must gain explicit consent from individuals before collecting or processing their data, as well as giving them the right to access, amend, or delete it.

If an organisation complying with GDPR encounters a data breach, they have to report it to authorities, and affected individuals within 72 hours.

Data that isn’t monitored can be involved in a data breach without a security teams’ knowledge, and it could take weeks or months to discover. According to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2024 report, it takes on average 292 days to identify and contain breaches involving stolen credentials.

With this in mind, having a DLP product in place can also ensure companies adhere to this important part of GDPR law.

How can DLP solutions like Metomic contribute to complying with GDPR?

DLP solutions like Metomic help organisations comply with regulations like GDPR by giving them tools to monitor, protect, and control the flow of sensitive data across various platforms.

For instance, Metomic automatically discovers and classifies sensitive data across SaaS applications, making it easier for organisations to identify and protect personal data, in line with GDPR requirements.

Security professionals also use DLP products to manage access to sensitive data, putting tight restrictions such as Role Based Access Controls (RBAC) in place to ensure confidential personal or special category data is secured, minimising the risk of unauthorised data exposure.

The added benefit of using a DLP product with real time alerts is that any suspicious activity or data flow can be caught quickly, and addressed by the security team, to ensure sensitive data isn’t leaked or breached by unauthorised users.

Finally, the reporting capabilities of DLP products like Metomic make it easy to produce compliance audits so that organisations can demonstrate their adherence to GDPR and other data protection regulations.

How can Metomic help?

Metomic helps organisations enhance data security and compliance, particularly in environments involving sensitive data such as healthcare and finance. Here's how:

• Data discovery and classification: The platform automatically identifies and classifies sensitive data across various platforms, ensuring organisations are aware of where their data resides and how it is being used.
• Access controls: Metomic provides tools to enforce granular access controls, ensuring that only authorised individuals can access sensitive information.
• Real-time alerts: These allow organisations to respond swiftly to potential threats, reducing the risk of data loss and ensuring compliance with regulations that mandate timely breach notification, such as GDPR.
• Automation: Finally, Metomic automates many aspects of compliance reporting, making it easier for organisations to demonstrate adherence to regulatory requirements.

To find out more about how Metomic can help your organisation, get in touch with one of our data security experts, or request a personalised demo of the platform.