How Financial Firms Can Strengthen Data Protection: Insights from Our DLP Webinar

Data loss prevention (DLP) remains a critical priority for financial services firms, as evolving regulations, insider threats, and the risks associated with AI adoption continue to challenge cybersecurity strategies. On February 25, 2025, Abacus Group hosted an insightful webinar, Protecting Financial Services: Best Practices for Data Loss Prevention, where industry experts shared their perspectives on the evolving DLP landscape, practical implementation strategies, and key considerations for compliance.

Understanding the Role of DLP

Our panel of experts—Travis DeForge, Director of Offensive Cybersecurity, Mick Grayson, Manager of GRC, and Dave Florey, Director of Professional Services—joined moderator Tom Cole, Managing Director of EMEA, to discuss how DLP protects financial firms from unauthorized data access, accidental leaks, and regulatory risks.

During the session, speakers highlighted the growing challenge of securing sensitive financial and client data, particularly as cybercriminals become more sophisticated. Attendees gained insights into common data exfiltration tactics, such as unauthorized email forwarding, cloud storage misuse, and double extortion ransomware attacks.

Tailoring DLP to Your Firm’s Needs

One of the key takeaways from the discussion was that DLP is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Financial firms must align their DLP strategy with their unique risk profile, regulatory requirements, and business workflows.

Practical recommendations included:

• Identifying and classifying sensitive data – Understanding what data needs to be protected is the first step in building an effective DLP framework.
• Assessing security gaps – Organizations must evaluate where data is stored, who has access, and which applications interact with it.
• Defining and enforcing policies – Whether leveraging default policies or creating customized rules, firms should implement controls that align with their business needs.
• Phased implementation – Rolling out DLP in monitoring mode first allows firms to assess potential disruptions before enforcing policies.

Addressing DLP for AI and Large Language Models

As AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT become more widely used, firms are grappling with new risks related to data security. The discussion emphasized the importance of managing AI access controls, as overly permissive settings could lead to unintended data exposure.

Key mitigation strategies include:

• Implementing strict access policies for AI tools
• Using AI-specific DLP controls to monitor and restrict data access
• Conducting regular audits of AI-generated content to ensure compliance

Regulatory and Compliance Considerations

With regulators such as the SEC placing a heightened focus on DLP controls, compliance remains a key driver for implementing robust data security measures. Our panelists explored how firms can align their DLP strategies with evolving regulatory expectations, including:

• Establishing clear audit trails and logging mechanisms
• Integrating DLP within broader incident response plans
• Conducting regular policy reviews to maintain compliance

Implementing DLP Without Disrupting Workflows

One of the most common concerns around DLP is the potential for disruption. The session concluded with practical guidance on how to balance security with business efficiency.

Best practices for seamless implementation included:

• Deploying DLP in phases, starting with a monitoring mode before enforcing strict controls
• Providing employee training to prevent workarounds and improve adoption
• Automating data labeling and policy enforcement to reduce friction
• Ensuring the right teams are in place to manage alerts and refine policies

Watch the Recording

Data security is an ongoing journey, and implementing an effective DLP strategy requires continuous assessment and adaptation. If you weren’t able to attend the live session, you can access the webinar recording to explore these topics in greater detail.

For more insights on cybersecurity and data protection, contact us today