Data exfiltration detection identifies unauthorized transfer of sensitive data from an organization's network to external destinations controlled by adversaries. Exfiltration is typically the final objective of cyberattacks, whether the goal is intellectual property theft, personal data harvesting, or extortion through data leak threats. Detection requires monitoring multiple channels including network traffic, cloud services, removable media, email, and encrypted tunnels to identify data leaving the organization in unauthorized ways.
Exfiltration detection operates across multiple layers. Network-based detection monitors outbound traffic volume, identifies unusual destinations, and inspects protocol usage for anomalies like HTTP uploads to cloud storage, large DNS responses, ICMP data channels, and encrypted traffic to uncharacterized endpoints. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems inspect content for sensitive patterns (credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, source code signatures) and enforce policies that block or alert on matching transfers. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) establish baseline patterns for each user and system, flagging deviations like unusual after-hours data access, bulk file downloads, or connections to new external services. Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) monitor data movement through sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud applications. Endpoint detection tracks USB device usage, clipboard operations, and print activities.
Data exfiltration represents the monetization of a breach. While intrusion and lateral movement cause operational disruption, exfiltration creates lasting harm through intellectual property loss, regulatory penalties, and competitive disadvantage. Modern ransomware groups exfiltrate data before encrypting it, using the threat of publication as additional leverage. Detection of exfiltration attempts can stop breaches before the most damaging phase completes. Post-incident, exfiltration evidence determines notification obligations, regulatory exposure, and the true scope of organizational harm.
CDA addresses data exfiltration detection across the TID and DPS domains, recognizing that it spans both threat defense and data protection. Our C-BUILD missions deploy DLP and network monitoring capabilities, while C-HARDEN campaigns test detection effectiveness through controlled exfiltration simulations. CDA's PDM model ensures that exfiltration detection is integrated with broader data sovereignty controls in the DPS domain.