The Hidden Threat: Addressing Security Holes in
IRM and DRM Encryption

Information rights management (IRM), also known as digital rights management (DRM), and encryption are not all they’re cracked up to be, and organizations need to account for their well-known unintended security vulnerabilities. They have been developed to manage access to data and allow only the people holding the rights to view, copy, print, or save sensitive data. They can even limit access by things like ranges of IP addresses or MAC addresses, adding another level of control.

But IRM and encryption can still be compromised, especially when working with “frenemies”—people who can access files but misuse the permissions they have. The issue, however, is that these systems tend to depend on vulnerable policies. An authorized user could create a policy that lets users go around the data and email it to a private address or save it to a memory stick or USB to take home with them, circumventing the security measures in place.

In much the same way, encrypted files, which are already protected by a password, can also be exploited. In response, many organizations have sought to mitigate this risk by quarantining encrypted files upon detection. The other files are flagged for review, and the user is prompted to enter the password to complete the transmission. In the U.S., however, it’s not clear whether the practice is fully legal, especially when it comes to using users’ private data.

The Solution to this Security Hole:
GTB’s Data Security that Works^® Platform

How GTB Data Security That Works^® Can Prevent These Vulnerabilities

GTB’s Data Security approach is 360-degree, preventive, protecting sensitive data from all risks. Although IRM and encryption add layers of protection, they do not always remove the potential for accidental internal misuse or unauthorized access. This is where GTB’s cutting-edge security features integrate and fill these gaps.

Behavioral Analytics

Using proprietary algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, GTB detects users who pose a high risk. It can also identify threats stemming from compromised accounts or malicious insiders by monitoring encrypted data or IRM (Information Rights Management) systems.

Encryption Management with Increased Flexibility 

Encryption is one of the more important security tools in one’s arsenal for the user but also for the malicious insider.   GTB’s platform provides additional control to make sure that encrypted files can’t be too easily mismanaged. In addition to encrypting the data, GTB also enforces stringent policies dictating how and where encrypted data may be accessed or transferred. This lowers the potential for data to be leaked or mismanaged by malicious users.

Fine-Grained Access Control and Monitoring

GTB provides even more compared to basic IRM; you can use GTB to have finer-grained, role-based access and monitoring, so you can define exactly what you have permission to do, and continuously monitor who can access the data, at what time, from where. This adds another level of protection because it means that even if a user has access to data, the actions they are performing are always tracked and logged, so you have complete visibility on anything that may be unauthorized.

Automated Incident Response

If suspicious activity is detected, the system can automatically trigger incident response protocols to contain the threat. If, for example, an encrypted file is improperly being transmitted/IRM policies are being bypassed, the system automatically quarantines the data, notifies the appropriate team, and takes steps to prevent further data loss—while informing the user of what they need to do.

Regulatory and Legal Considerations

GTB also helps to guarantee that all data security measures are compliant with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and others. Instead of merely pointing out suspected breaches, GTB allows you to set standards that will also help to verify that processes like quarantining encrypted data, and blocking suspicious data exfiltration/infiltration, are in compliance and limit the risk of a potential lawsuit.

In Conclusion

At the same time, IRM and encryption create exploitable attack vectors if they are not administered correctly. GTB’s Data Security system protects against gaps these tools don’t address, going beyond IRM. GTB provides advanced monitoring, behavioral analytics, encryption management, and automated incident response, all to protect your sensitive data from internal or external threats.

GTB is not only a solution but a pioneer in security!   With data being the heartstoppers of organizations in the new world, GTB effectively prevents sensitive data breaches and strengthens the overall security of your organization.