Every day, companies deal with a growing amount of unstructured data, or information not organized in a predefined way. We know that such vast collections could result in companies missing out on the value such information could bring them.
Even worse, it could cause security risks, especially if the unstructured data does not have access controls that align with regulatory standards.
Fasoo is a company that assists its clients with protecting unstructured data. It offers a solution called Data Radar that finds and monitors unstructured data, then automatically encrypts it. Data Radar also manages user access. At the heart of the tool is something called Pac and Tag technology. It embeds a unique identifier in each file and allows users to trace it at any time.
There is also a remote expiration feature that enables revoking file access regardless of location. That offering makes sense for companies that need to keep files for designated amounts of time, and it could help them apply the proper access controls when employees leave the business.
Create Filters to Find Sensitive Data
One of the things we think sets Fasoo apart from other options is that it allows users to set data filters. Data Radar then scans their files for information that matches those parameters. It’s also possible to put the filters into groups and create sensitivity thresholds associated with regulatory and corporate governance requirements. Users can then make labels to classify the files matching those filters.
Additionally, Data Radar allows viewing the details of all detected files and then sorting them to meet needs. For example, it can specify the desired encryption levels and remediation approaches applied to files with sensitive data.
An Option That Meets Modern Needs
We talked to John Herring, president and CEO of Fasoo, and he shed some light on why his solution is so necessary and welcome in today’s world.
When discussing the final step of the process, which involves giving each file a unique ID, Herring says, “… no matter where that file travels, you know what device has touched it, what individuals touched it [and] the action they took on that.” As such, Fasoo gives high-level visibility organizations can trust.
He continues, “… we’re able to remotely kill that file at third-party locations. So, for things like GDPR where you have regulations on [the] right to be forgotten, our approach provides that kind of deep visibility that is often lacking in other systems which just monitor the data and not protect it.” Herring also mentions that Data Radar is unique among other data companies because Fasoo offers a unified approach to how it works.
Other solutions only monitor the content, but Fasoo takes care of many needs within one platform. In addition, it uses a file-centric approach.
Herring mentioned that from the user side, a person doesn’t have to do anything special to encrypt the files while working with them. Instead, Fasoo shows an icon that indicates it is working in the background. It reviews the data as a person works and then encrypts them as needed based on the presence or lack of sensitive information. Data Radar even works with file derivatives, such as duplicated or renamed content even if the file extension is changed, for example, from a word file to pdf.
Complete Protection for Files Across Locations
One of the problems with many single-solution file management options is that the protection offered does not persist when the files travel. When people use Data Radar, security is constant no matter where the information is accessed. They also don’t need to do anything differently when saving the content.
Once someone clicks on a file, Data Radar verifies that the person has the authorization to view it and validates that they can decrypt the file. Then, after the individual works with a file and ends their session, it gets encrypted again. This approach suits people who want to access data in various locations and not have to worry about keeping them secure.
Fasoo Offers Even More Control Over Individual Files
Data Radar certainly has promising features that make it stand out compared to other tech solutions in the marketplace. Fasoo doesn’t stop there, though. It also has a tool called Wrapsody eCo, which it showcased along with Data Radar at San Francisco’s 2019 RSA Security Conference in March.
Wrapsody eCo caters to clients who often share data with third-party companies. It allows them to specify the amount of security and control for each file, including the actions recipients can take after viewing them. Like Data Radar, Wrapsody eCo uses the Pac and Tag technology. It allows companies to maintain control over their information without interfering with collaboration among multiple parties.
Helping Companies Excel at Data Management
We know that, as the amount of information collected by companies goes up, many of them have trouble managing it. If they even know the location of unstructured data, they often don’t classify it correctly or do so with a consistent system.
Tools from Fasoo, such as Data Radar, could help businesses manage their information better by finally understanding where it resides and knowing it stays protected according to the filters users create.
One thing that’s certain about how companies collect and use data is that the amount they deal with isn’t likely to decrease in the foreseeable future. Instead, it’ll likely increase substantially.
That means enterprises need to investigate ways to get a handle on their unstructured data in ways that make sense for their business needs. Fasoo can help them achieve that aim.
Kayla Matthews writes about cybersecurity and technology for publications like Malwarebytes, Security Boulevard, InformationWeek and CloudTweaks. To read more from Kayla, visit her blog: ProductivityBytes.com.