RSA, Microsoft Partner on Data Loss Prevention

Security solution-provider RSA (the security division of EMC) and Microsoft are partnering to embed data loss prevention (DLP) technology into Microsoft products. A nonexclusive agreement gives Microsoft licensed access to RSA technology that automatically detects sensitive data using organization-defined policies. The technology will eventually be built into Microsoft’s products, such as Windows Server, Exchange, and SharePoint. In addition, RSA will immediately integrate Microsoft’s Rights Management Services (RMS) with its DLP Suite 6.5. The combinations will enable organizations to define information security policy centrally, automatically identify and classify sensitive data, and use various controls to protect data anywhere in the infrastructure.

Data Loss Prevention

Organizations facing the challenge of protecting sensitive information must address two key issues: what information to protect, and how to restrict access to that information. RSA has technology that helps with the former by automatically classifying information based on the content. Microsoft’s RMS can help with the latter by enforcing rules on who can see it or what can be done with it; for example, RMS enables users to place restrictions (such as “do not print”) on documents and messages and ensures that those restrictions are enforced across multiple computers and domains. The two companies have entered into a nonexclusive agreement to integrate the technologies with each others’ products.