This is How eScan Enterprise DLP Prevents Data Loss in Mergers and Acquisitions

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Over the years, M&As have led to a significant amount of data exchange, which is very sensitive in nature and while preparing for it or even during the M&A process companies are exposed to easy ways of getting data breached. In wake of this scenario, eScan Enterprise Data Loss Prevention (DLP) becomes an essential factor in protecting sensitive corporate data. This blog will highlight the ways in which eScan DLP performs by their functionalities and real-world use-case specially during mergers or acquisitions to secure the enterprise data.

Data Security Challenges in Mergers

Businesses are most vulnerable during times of major change, and a merger or acquisition is one such event. The merger of two or more organizations often includes hundreds, if not thousands, of IT systems and processes. A complex operational environment requires tight data security control on the following fronts:

• Data Integration Challenges: As different IT infrastructures merge, disparate data formats and systems can create risks. Risk of data breach: Poor data mapping and integration can be vulnerable to breaches.
• Constraint: The parties to an M&A (the acquiror and the target company) are complex organizations which typically have multiple stakeholders involved, including business partners, advisors or consultants and employees of both organizations. Keeping tracks of who has access to what data in this process is very important but often goes horrendously wrong.
• Complex Environment for Adversaries: The disruption that the chaos of combining operations causes creates a wide array of targets that cyber adversaries have to choose from. Whether the target of a hacker is an M&A transaction, with companies often having numerous vulnerabilities due to the transition or integration process.
• Data Mismanagement Risks: Employees may accidentally or maliciously expose confidential information. Aside from the potential for error, human fallibility is only exacerbated during times of organizational change, like in M&As.
• Regulatory Compliance Challenges: While merging entities trade sensitive data and information, the two parties must comply with regional and international data protection regulations. Failure to comply can have major financial and reputational impacts on an organization.

Safeguarding Confidential Information with eScan DLP

To overcome the difficulties outlined, eScan offers a comprehensive data protection solutions specifically optimized to support M&A activities via eScan Enterprise DLP. This is how eScan DLP secures enterprise data security:

• Data Discovery and Classification: It means eScan DLP is used for scanning sensitive information throughout organization & classifying. Knowing what the sensitive data is and where it resides makes security policies enforcement more efficient.
• Security Policies: It enforces different security policies as per need and prevents how data should be accessed, shared. This guarantees that only privileged personnel are allowed to work with sensitive data.
• Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts: eScan DLP, constantly monitors data transactions in the network. This instantly makes you aware of any suspicious data and follows up with the necessary actions to stop the threat.
• Data Encryption: eScan DLP uses robust encryption technique to secure and maintain privacy of data at rest and in transit.
• Access Control and User Activity Analysis: eScan DLP analyzes user activity to detect anomalies and control access according to user roles, following least privilege principle.
• Audit and Reporting: It produces full audit trails and reports that are critical to compliance audits as well as internal investigations.

DLP in Mergers and Acquisitions

Case Studies

Case Study 1: Financial Sector Mergers

A midsized bank merger with a large financial institution Throughout the M&A process, both of them were worried that sensitive financial data about their clients could be exposed. The company decided to deploy a solution such as eScan DLP for securing their client information. The bank used data classification and access control features of eScan DLP to make sure that the sensitive data was never accessed by someone not meant for it. This helped a lot to reduce the occurrence of data breaches and met regulatory standards for financial data protection.

Case Study 2: Healthcare Sector Alignment

The scenario in question was two healthcare businesses getting ready to merge and clean up the way they were managing patient data. A data breach could have been epic as patient records are a hot commodity with cybercriminals. They have used eScan DLP solution to monitor the movement of data and ensure a vigorous compliance with health regulations, especially HIPAA. With the Modern Business Data Platform that enSilo has implemented for these companies, including real-time monitoring and data encryption of the sensitive files, the merger could be conducted assurance that data security is in a good state.

Data Security Checklists / M&A Best Practices

M&A should do its best to ensure that sensitive data is not left unprotected. Before we get into the list, keep those best practices in mind.

• Implement Cybersecurity Audit: Perform a sneaky investigation into the cybersecurity lands of both organizations to flesh out any weaknesses while working on setting them right before proceeding with an M&A transaction.
• Develop a Security-Centric Culture: Drive security awareness culture between both teams Employee training to ensure data protection can avoid any data privacy slip-ups during M&As.
• Implement a Robust DLP Solution: Using an all-encompassing DLP solution such as eScan DLP becomes essential for data Security. It should consist of features around data classification, policy enforcement, and real-time monitoring.
• Role-Based Access Control: Define clear access controls to prevent employees from getting in where they do not belong. Organizational structures change – be sure to periodically review and update these controls.
• Encrypt Sensitive Data: Building on data storage, encryption is important for sensitive items at rest and in transit. Maintain strong and up-to-date encryption standards.
• Perform Ongoing Security Training: Continuously update employees about what the latest threats to be aware of and best practices for data security. Ensure proper data protection policies are in place and everyone is aware of it.
• Setup Detailed Incident Response Plan: Create an exhaustive incident response plan, for quick handling of data security incidents. Make sure everyone knows what they are supposed to be covering within that plan.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are crucial inflection points in the lifecycle of a business, fraught with peril and promise. Through the deployment of the eScan Enterprise DLP, businesses can eliminate data security risks, safeguard sensitive information and successfully overcome M&A challenges. With the proper use of DLP solutions in addition to best practices, organizations can operate on infrastructure while ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability business goals are safely met.