• Rushing your DLP rollout means skipping fine-tuned policies and program testing, which can lead to costly disruptions when it’s time to scale.
• Governance can make or break DLP programs, so you’ll need the right metrics to keep stakeholders happy and make documentation a breeze.
• People and process are a huge part of a successful DLP launch, but without certain features from a strong DLP solution, your program may fumble. 

Now that you’ve secured executive buy-in for your Data Loss Prevention (DLP) program, next comes the brunt of the work. It’s time to start executing and (ultimately) scaling your program across systems, people and workflows. First, we need to lay down the groundwork for a strong foundation. 

When a DLP program is missing structure, building on it can lead to unexpected surprises and complications; including data leaks, disruptions and reputational damage that’s hard to earn back. Considering the cost of a data breach continues to soar (we’re up to $4.88M USD), these next steps are crucial for your business’ success and continuity. 

Even when many DLP rollouts stumble or fail, yours can thrive. You just need the right technical groundwork and governance. That means holding off on scaling until you’ve built a resilient, structured foundation that can support your long-term growth. Let’s jump into the best practices for quickly executing and monitoring your DLP program that won’t put your data or business at risk. 

Lay the plumbing before you start building 

A successful rollout starts with a solid technical foundation. That means clearly mapping your data flows, identifying gaps in coverage and defining policies early.

Here’s a quick checklist to go over before you start scaling:

1. Use data flows and network diagrams to spot any blind spots in coverage, visibility or response. 

2. Identify assets where DLP is needed (e.g., laptops, mobile devices, cloud applications) and test how it’ll extend to your users. 

3. Define and classify sensitive data early, giving your policies better precision.

4. Set unified policies across environments to prevent conflicts; even a small, well-tuned ruleset will do wonders at the time of scaling. 

Once you’ve got these covered, use a “test and tune” model to help you test policies and tune alerts before enforcement to avoid alert fatigue and operational interruptions.

At this phase, success will rely on:

• People: DLP architects and engineers to design and own the rollout, and analysts who manage and resolve incidents
• Process: Clear documentation of policies, data types, possible escalation paths and rollout steps
• Tech: A solution with unified policy enforcement and visibility across all environments for smoother scaling

If you can’t see how your program is working, small roadblocks in the process can quickly turn into sinkholes. But with the right governance, you can heal hairline cracks before anything breaks. 

Track the metrics your stakeholders actually care about

Following rollout, your DLP program will need continuous monitoring and reporting to stay effective and prove its value to leadership and end-users alike. And that starts with a solid governance framework with clearly defined owners across security, legal, IT and risk teams. Once roles and processes are in place (who handles alerts, how escalation works and what actually gets reported), you can really start shaping your program’s metrics. 

To maintain buy-in, tailor KPI reports to each of your stakeholders’ priorities. Here’s how: 

• Security teams care about risk. Track alert volumes, policy coverage and incident escalation trends to fine-tune rules and surface gaps.
• IT teams are interested in toolset uptime. Show reliability and stability with constant monitoring and policy enforcement that doesn’t cause disruptions.
• Risk leaders look at the bigger picture. Focus on how DLP controls map to KRIs and spotlight the ways DLP reduces how much data moves unprotected.
• Compliance and legal teams want quick visibility into incidents. Offer insight into how the program keeps the business compliant. Preparing accurate, timely reports (for audits) will send these teams over the moon. 

Just like in the execution phase, governance needs a reliable structure built on people, process and tech to stay sustainable. To maintain this structure, route all DLP alerts through your SOC to keep incident handling all in one place. To speed up response times (everyone’s favorite), automate processes wherever you can and centralize visibility across dashboards and APIs. You’ll also want to document response workflows and schedule regular program reviews to keep everything (and everyone) on track.

Whatever you do, make sure to document everything. Detailed records are what turn metrics into actionable insights, making your program repeatable and scalable.  

Scale without creating cracks

Scaling your DLP program is the real test of its mettle. Using a phased rollout that starts with high-risk departments or sensitive data helps you secure what matters quickly without breaking or disrupting business—and the metrics are what helps you prove it. While automation can speed along workflows, don’t overlook the necessity of regular reviews and tuning to keep track of what’s working (and what’s not). 

That’s where industry leading solutions like Symantec DLP stand out. With 62% of Fortune 500 companies relying on Symantec for cloud-based DLP, we’re trusted by businesses that are constantly growing in high-stakes environments. With built-in dashboards and customizable reporting, it’s easier to track the right metrics across endpoints, cloud and network. Whether it’s streamlining AI governance for risk management or compliance for legal, we can help you target the metrics that actually deliver value. 

Join the Fortune 500 companies that get it. For a detailed guide to the right way to scale, download the whitepaper, Be a DLP Hero: How to Quickly Deliver Value from Your DLP Program and Set It Up for Future Success.