Symantec bakes DRM control into data protection
DLP software offers third party encryption security
By Ellen Messmer | Network World US | Published: 15:21, 27 October 2009
Symantec has updated its Data Loss Prevention Suite so that if the software finds a data issue that needs fixing, it can apply third-party encryption and digital-rights management controls to the problem.
Announced today, Symantec DLP Suite v. 10 adds what's called the "Flex-Response" capability to find sensitive data that has been left unprotected in the enterprise and apply security controls through encryption and DRM products from vendors such as PGP, Oracle, GigaTrust, Liquid Machines and Microsoft.
Symantec is also publishing a set of open APIs and a software development kit (SDK) to facilitate support for security controls through additional products, says Rob Greer, senior director of product management at Symantec.
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"Suppose I scan a file server, finding information not secured, not encrypted. For remediation I could apply PGP encryption," Greer says. The data can also be brought under the control of various DRM products so there can be controls placed on viewing, printing or adding to content.
Symantec DLP v.10, expected to ship in December, will have a workflow process that can alert managers to data that's out of compliance with corporate DLP policies, let them choose to apply encryption and DRM and confirm that security policies have been enforced.
Other changes in DLP Suite v. 10 are expected to tighten ties with other Symantec products. For instance, the updated version will be integrated with Symantec Security Information Manager for centralised collection and correlation of event and log data to determine security status. There will also be integration with Symantec's Control Compliance Suite for risk assessment of operating systems and applications. "You will get a full risk position view," Greer says.
Symantec has already begun adding ways to trigger policy-based DLP actions on its Symantec Endpoint Protection security software, such as "making [a desktop] a brick" if it's determined sensitive data is at high risk, Greer says. Other automated actions are also being added to DLP v. 10 to allow interaction between Symantec's DLP and its flagship security software.
