Data leak protection

• US 9,319,417 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortinet Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fortinet Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Michael D., Xie, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, ANTHONY D
• Application Number:
  US13/536,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20140007246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 30
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0245 Filtering by information in the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0643 Hash functions, e.g. MD5, SHA, HMAC or f9 MAC

Abstract

Methods and systems for Data Leak Prevention (DLP) in an enterprise network are provided. According to one embodiment a data leak protection method is provided. A network device receives information regarding a watermark filtering rule, including a sensitivity level and an action to be applied to files observed by the network device matching the watermark filtering rule. The network device scans a file attempted to be passed through the network device by locating a watermark embedded within the file and comparing a sensitivity level associated with the watermark to the sensitivity level of the watermark filtering rule. If the sensitivity levels match, then the network device performs the action specified by the watermark filtering rule.

Claims

1. A data leak protection method comprising:

receiving, by a network filtering device, via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the network filtering device information regarding a watermark filtering rule, including a plurality of filtering parameters, including a file size threshold, an indication regarding one or more file types and a sensitivity level, and an action to be taken by the network filtering device when files observed by the network device satisfy the plurality of filtering parameters of the watermark filtering rule;

scanning, by the network filtering device, a file attempted to be passed through the network filtering device, by locating a watermark embedded within the file and identifying a file type and a size of the file;

comparing (i) a sensitivity level associated with the watermark to the sensitivity level of the watermark filtering rule;

(ii) the identified file size to the file size threshold of the watermark filtering rule; and

(iii) the identified file type to the indication regarding one or more file types of the watermark filtering rule, wherein the sensitivity level is selected from a group comprising critical sensitivity, high sensitivity, medium sensitivity and low sensitivity; and

if the comparing results in a determination that all of the plurality of filtering parameters are satisfied by the file and the watermark embedded therein, then performing, by the network filtering device, the action specified by the watermark filtering rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the watermark filtering rule includes a company identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said scanning, a separate client program, embedding the watermark into the file responsive to the file being identified as a file to be protected.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving, by the separate client program, watermark content, including information regarding a sensitivity level of the file and a company identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying, by the separate client program, a file type of the file; and

wherein said embedding the watermark into the file is based upon the file type.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising generating, by the separate client program, the watermark based on the watermark content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the watermark comprises a hash value or a message digest of the watermark content.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the watermark comprises a plain text representation of the watermark content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network filtering device comprises a gateway.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the file type is one of a text document, a Portable Document Format (PDF) document, a Microsoft Windows Office document, an open office document, and a Macintosh OS document.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises blocking the file at the network filtering device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises passing the file through the network filtering device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the file is attached to an electronic mail (email) message or is being transferred via a file transfer protocol from a source device to a destination device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises logging information regarding one or more of a user associated with the source device, an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the source device, a time, a date and an interface of the network filtering device on which the file was received.

15. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a network filtering device, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by one or more computer processors of the network filtering device to perform a method of data leak protection, the method comprising:

receiving, via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the network filtering device, information regarding a watermark filtering rule, including a plurality of filtering parameters, including a file size threshold, an indication regarding one or more file types and a sensitivity level, and an action to be taken by the network filtering device when files observed by the network device satisfy the plurality of filtering parameters of the watermark filtering rule;

scanning a file attempted to be passed through the network filtering device, by locating a watermark embedded within the file and identifying a file type and a size of the file;

comparing (i) a sensitivity level associated with the watermark to the sensitivity level of the watermark filtering rule;

(ii) the identified file size to the file size threshold of the watermark filtering rule; and

(iii) the identified file type to the indication regarding one or more file types of the watermark filtering rule, wherein the sensitivity level is selected from a group comprising critical sensitivity, high sensitivity, medium sensitivity and low sensitivity; and

if the comparing results in a determination that all of the plurality of filtering parameters are satisfied by the file and the watermark embedded therein, then performing, by the network filtering device, the action specified by the watermark filtering rule.

16. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the information regarding the watermark filtering rule includes a company identifier.

17. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein prior to said scanning, a separate client program, embeds the watermark into the file responsive to the file being identified as a file to be protected.

18. The program storage device of claim 17, wherein the separate client program, receives watermark content, including information regarding a sensitivity level of the file and a company identifier.

19. The program storage device of claim 18, wherein the separate client program:

identifies a file type of the file; and

embeds the watermark into the file is based upon the file type.

20. The program storage device of claim 19, wherein the separate client program generates the watermark based on the watermark content.

21. The program storage device of claim 20, wherein the watermark comprises a hash value or a message digest of the watermark content.

22. The program storage device of claim 20, wherein the watermark comprises a plain text representation of the watermark content.

23. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the network filtering device comprises a gateway.

24. The program storage device of claim 19, wherein the file type is one of a text document, a Portable Document Format (PDF) document, a Microsoft Windows Office document, an open office document, and a Macintosh OS document.

25. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises blocking the file at the network filtering device.

26. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises passing the file through the network filtering device.

27. The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the file is attached to an electronic mail (email) message or is being transferred via a file transfer protocol from a source device to a destination device.

28. The program storage device of claim 27, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises logging information regarding one or more of a user associated with the source device, an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the source device, a time, a date and an interface of the network filtering device on which the file was received.

29. A data leak protection method comprising:

receiving, by a network filtering device, via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the network filtering device information regarding a watermark filtering rule, including a plurality of filtering parameters, including a file size threshold, an indication regarding one or more file types and a sensitivity level, and an action to be taken by the network filtering device when files observed by the network device satisfy the plurality of filtering parameters of the watermark filtering rule;

scanning, by the network filtering device, a file attempted to be passed through the network filtering device, by locating a watermark embedded within the file and identifying a file type and a size of the file;

comparing (i) a sensitivity level associated with the watermark to the sensitivity level of the watermark filtering rule;

(ii) the identified file size to the file size threshold of the watermark filtering rule; and

(iii) the identified file type to the indication regarding one or more file types of the watermark filtering rule;

if the comparing results in a determination that all of the plurality of filtering parameters are satisfied by the file and the watermark embedded therein, then performing, by the network filtering device, the action specified by the watermark filtering rule;

wherein the file is attached to an electronic mail (email) message or is being transferred via a file transfer protocol from a source device to a destination device; and

wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises logging information regarding one or more of a user associated with the source device, an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the source device, a time, a date and an interface of the network filtering device on which the file was received.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the information regarding the watermark filtering rule includes a company identifier.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising, prior to said scanning, a separate client program, embedding the watermark into the file responsive to the file being identified as a file to be protected.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising receiving, by the separate client program, watermark content, including information regarding a sensitivity level of the file and a company identifier.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

identifying, by the separate client program, a file type of the file; and

wherein said embedding the watermark into the file is based upon the file type.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising generating, by the separate client program, the watermark based on the watermark content.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the watermark comprises a hash value or a message digest of the watermark content.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the watermark comprises a plain text representation of the watermark content.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the sensitivity level is selected from a group comprising critical sensitivity, high sensitivity, medium sensitivity, and low sensitivity.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the network filtering device comprises a gateway.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the file type is one of a text document, a Portable Document Format (PDF) document, a Microsoft Windows Office document, an open office document, and a Macintosh OS document.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises blocking the file at the network filtering device.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises passing the file through the network filtering device.

42. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a network filtering device, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by one or more computer processors of the network filtering device to perform a method of data leak protection, the method comprising:

receiving, via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the network filtering device, information regarding a watermark filtering rule, including a plurality of filtering parameters, including a file size threshold, an indication regarding one or more file types and a sensitivity level, and an action to be taken by the network filtering device when files observed by the network device satisfy the plurality of filtering parameters of the watermark filtering rule;

scanning a file attempted to be passed through the network filtering device, by locating a watermark embedded within the file and identifying a file type and a size of the file;

comparing (i) a sensitivity level associated with the watermark to the sensitivity level of the watermark filtering rule;

(ii) the identified file size to the file size threshold of the watermark filtering rule; and

(iii) the identified file type to the indication regarding one or more file types of the watermark filtering rule;

if the comparing results in a determination that all of the plurality of filtering parameters are satisfied by the file and the watermark embedded therein, then performing, by the network filtering device, the action specified by the watermark filtering rule;

wherein the file is attached to an electronic mail (email) message or is being transferred via a file transfer protocol from a source device to a destination device; and

wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises logging information regarding one or more of a user associated with the source device, an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the source device, a time, a date and an interface of the network filtering device on which the file was received.

43. The program storage device of claim 42, wherein the information regarding the watermark filtering rule includes a company identifier.

44. The program storage device of claim 42, wherein prior to said scanning, a separate client program, embeds the watermark into the file responsive to the file being identified as a file to be protected.

45. The program storage device of claim 44, wherein the separate client program, receives watermark content, including information regarding a sensitivity level of the file and a company identifier.

46. The program storage device of claim 45, wherein the separate client program:

identifies a file type of the file; and

embeds the watermark into the file is based upon the file type.

47. The program storage device of claim 45, wherein the separate client program generates the watermark based on the watermark content.

48. The program storage device of claim 47, wherein the watermark comprises a hash value or a message digest of the watermark content.

49. The program storage device of claim 47, wherein the watermark comprises a plain text representation of the watermark content.

50. The program storage device of claim 42, wherein the sensitivity level is selected from a group comprising critical sensitivity, high sensitivity, medium sensitivity, and low sensitivity.

51. The program storage device of claim 42, wherein the network filtering device comprises a gateway.

52. The program storage device of claim 46, wherein the file type is one of a text document, a Portable Document Format (PDF) document, a Microsoft Windows Office document, an open office document, and a Macintosh OS document.

53. The program storage device of claim 42, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises blocking the file at the network filtering device.

54. The program storage device of claim 42, wherein the action specified by the watermark filtering rule comprises passing the file through the network filtering device.