Secure data specialist Vontu will today launch a major new upgrade to its flagship suite of products, featuring new capabilities to protect firms at the endpoint.

Vontu 7 enables organisations to safeguard sensitive data stored on servers, laptops and desktops, as well as data leaving the network and at the endpoint. The update will help customers mitigate the security risks posed by today’s global, always-on business environment, the vendor said.

“This [environment] has brought tremendous increases in productivity and empowered workers and consumers, but the catch is reflected in the data breach headlines we read every day,” said Vontu’s director of corporate communications, Kit Robinson. “What’s needed is security that addresses the data itself, not the container.”

Endpoint Monitor is a new agent-based tool that can support tens of thousands of endpoints. It lets firms control the information copied to USBs and other removable media, or downloaded to local drives, to help prevent data loss.

The need to prevent endpoint security incidents was highlighted by research released last week by security specialist NCC Group.

The firm anonymously sent USB memory sticks to 500 finance directors, with an invitation to a fictitious “party of a lifetime”. Almost half inserted the devices.

In related news gateway security specialist IronPort has launched a new report outlining best practice in data leak prevention and compliance, and how to protect brand and reputation.

Data Loss Prevention Best Practices, Managing Sensitive Data in the Enterprise, includes tips such as choosing solutions which can integrate with third party products, contain sophisticated admin and reporting functionality and are scalable to cope with increasing message volumes.

IronPort also recommended firms begin their DLP strategies by first defining their compliance, IP protection and appropriate usage needs, and then focus on the most significant areas to get board-level buy-in and funding.