Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
Organizations globally are facing significant risks due to endpoint data security gaps, which are exacerbated by data sprawl, remote work, and advanced cyber threats. A recent survey found that many organizations struggle to implement effective data governance policies and practices, leading to sensitive information being vulnerable to unauthorized access. Despite having policies in place to prohibit storing sensitive data on endpoints, the reality falls short as data like PII, IP, and financial information continue to reside on endpoints. This gap between security policies and practices poses operational risks, with data damage taking precedence over financial, compliance, reputational, strategic, and legal risks. To address these gaps, organizations must align security practices with business needs and user requirements, closing the vulnerabilities that put sensitive data at risk.
Article:
Endpoint data security has become a critical concern for organizations worldwide, with a recent survey by the SANS Institute on behalf of Crash Plan Group highlighting the risks posed by data sprawl, remote work, and advanced cyber threats. Data sprawl, the accumulation of vast amounts of data, makes it challenging for organizations to enforce data governance policies effectively. The shift to remote work further complicates the issue, with many companies facing visibility gaps in monitoring devices off-network, increasing the risk of data breaches.
Despite having policies in place to prohibit storing sensitive data on endpoints, a significant number of organizations still report data like PII, IP, and financial information residing on endpoint devices. This discrepancy between security policies and actual practices poses operational risks, with data damage being a primary concern. To address these gaps, organizations must understand the reasons behind the discrepancies, align security practices with business needs, and prioritize a human-centric approach to safeguarding data.
Closing these gaps and ensuring endpoint data security will require organizations to update policies, controls, and approaches in collaboration with end users. By prioritizing the alignment between security practices and business needs, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with storing sensitive data on endpoints, ultimately safeguarding against unauthorized access, theft, and misuse.
