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Protecting and Managing Sensitive Data in Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, PDF Files, Email, Web Pages, and Multi-Media Formats Is Key to Collaboration

According to the latest research, companies are currently facing a significant challenge with respect to safeguarding their critical data in unstructured formats (i.e. in documents and file systems), a problem made worse by the ubiquity of web-based portals and collaboration tools such as Microsoft SharePoint. A new research report published by Aberdeen Group, shows that companies who share and collaborate using unstructured data without simultaneously taking steps to protect and manage it are not only at risk of incurring millions of dollars of cost due to data loss or exposure, but also of spending hundreds of thousands more than necessary for compliance and the cost of ongoing operations.

Companies correctly look to increase collaboration and the sharing of information as a boost to productivity and competitiveness, but to the extent that their sensitive information is contained in unstructured formats -- such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, email, web pages, and a rich variety of multi-media -- they also need to protect and manage it. Unstructured data is the liquid mercury of the information age: when it escapes from its centralized container, it is easily dispersed and travels far and fast to every nook and cranny of the extended organization. The simultaneous ability to share and protect unstructured data presents an immediate opportunity for IT Security teams to act as a vitally important enabler for supporting the strategic objectives of the business.

"Perhaps the biggest challenge with protecting and managing unstructured data is that it has steadily become so important -- and so easy -- to share," said Derek E. Brink, vice president and research fellow for IT Security, Aberdeen Group. "The research shows that use of technologies such as data loss prevention (DLP), endpoint-related encryption and associated key management, and enterprise rights management (ERM) are what currently distinguishes the companies earning Best-in-Class results."

A complimentary copy of "Securing Unstructured Data: How Best-in-Class Companies Manage to Serve and Protect" is made available in part by the support of the following research underwriters: Liquid Machines and SafeNet. To obtain a complimentary copy of the full report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=5877.

To view complimentary 30-minute webcasts highlighting findings from this and other Aberdeen IT Security research, visit http://www.brighttalk.com/channels/1209/view.

For additional access to complimentary Information Technology research, visit research.aberdeen.com.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen provides fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having queried more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market.

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