Rethinking DLP: Introducing The Forrester DLP Maturity Grid

by Heidi Shey and John Kindervag

DLP is one of the hottest topics and key challenges for any security professional today. It is a key technology to help prevent the leakage and exfiltration of toxic data. However for every dream DLP deployment, there is a nightmare one.

This Forrester Research Inc. report outlines how security professionals can assess the current state of DLP efforts against data loss vectors and process maturity, and ensure long-term data control strategies are in place to prevent against sensitive data loss.

A critical part of this strategy is the adoption of Data Classification and classification tools, which apply sensitivity labels to unstructured data so that solutions, such as DLP, can later protect it.

Key Takeaways:

• DLP remains a key data security technology, but satisfaction is mixed
• DLP should be part of a broader information risk and control strategy
• Data classification is one of the 5 key stages for DLP success