We’ve established data interoperability standards in Activity 4.2.2, which  emphasized developing enterprise-wide standards for how Data Rights Management (DRM) and other data protection controls (like encryption) interact, communicate, and enforce policies uniformly across diverse systems. Now, in Zero Trust Activity 4.5.1: Implement DRM and Protection Tools Part 1, we move from defining those vital interoperability standards to the direct implementation of the technologies that protect our most sensitive information.

This activity is the first phase of deploying DRM and data protection solutions, focusing on the highest priority assets. (The next phase–Part 2—comes next for all data objects).  DoD Components are directed to procure and implement DRM and Protection solution(s) as needed, following the DoD Enterprise standard and requirements established in activities like 4.2.2. The critical directive here is that these newly implemented DRM and protection solutions are applied with high-risk data objects. This means we’re targeting the most sensitive, impactful data first, leveraging our data classification efforts.

The outcome for Activity 4.5.1 Part 1 highlights this focused implementation:

1. DRM and protection tools are enabled for high-risk data repositories with protections.

The ultimate end state underscores the security benefit: No high-risk data object bypasses the compliance requirement. This ensures that the most sensitive data is always under the strict control of established protection mechanisms.

Solutions for Achieving Implement DRM and Protection Tools Part 1 (Zero Trust Activity 4.5.1)

Implementing Activity 4.5.1 requires identifying your most sensitive data, selecting appropriate DRM and protection tools that meet enterprise standards, and strategically deploying them where high-risk data resides:

1. Accurate Identification of High-Risk Data Objects: Before implementing tools, Components must precisely identify which data assets and individual data objects (files, database records) fall under the “high-risk” classification. This relies heavily on the data classification and tagging performed in previous activities.
2. Procurement and Implementation of DRM and Protection Solutions: Select DRM tools (for controlling data usage rights) and other data protection solutions (e.g., encryption for data at rest and in transit) that align with DoD Enterprise standards and requirements (including interoperability standards from Activity 4.2.2). These tools apply persistent protection to data, controlling actions like copy, print, screenshot, and share.
   
   You will also need data encryption solutions – For data at rest (e.g., full disk encryption, database encryption) and data in transit (e.g., TLS/SSL, VPNs). This ensures data confidentiality as a “protection solution.”
   
3. Applying Protections to High-Risk Data Repositories: Deploy the procured DRM and protection tools to the repositories, applications, and services where high-risk data objects are stored or accessed. This involves configuring the chosen solutions to apply the necessary DRM policies and encryption directly to these identified high-risk data objects. For example, applying a MIP label to a document that encrypts it and restricts actions based on enterprise policy.
4. Ensuring Compliance with Enterprise Standards and Requirements: Verify that the implemented DRM and protection solutions adhere to the enterprise’s interoperability standards for data sharing, policy exchange, and encryption mechanisms (from Activity 4.2.2). This ensures consistent enforcement.

Key Items to Consider

• Accurate High-Risk Data Identification: The precision of this activity depends entirely on correctly identifying and classifying “high-risk data objects.”
• Adherence to Interoperability Standards: Ensure selected DRM and protection tools comply with DoD Enterprise interoperability standards (Activity 4.2.2). This is vital for consistent policy application and data exchange across diverse systems.
• Granular Policy Application: The ability to apply policies at the individual data object level, not just at a broad repository level, is key for high-risk data.
• Performance Impact: Evaluate the potential performance overhead of applying persistent DRM and encryption to high-volume or high-transaction data.
• Key Management Strategy: A robust Key Management System (KMS) is essential for securely managing encryption keys for data protection solutions.
• User Experience: Balance security controls with a manageable user experience when interacting with DRM-protected data.
• Integration with Identity and Access Controls: Ensure that DRM policies integrate seamlessly with your existing IdP and access control mechanisms to provide comprehensive protection.

For the Technical Buyer:

Activity 4.5.1 is the first step in actively protecting your most sensitive data using Data Rights Management and other robust protection tools. Building directly on the interoperability standards established in Activity 4.2.2, this phase focuses on applying these controls to your identified high-risk data objects. For technical buyers, success here means procuring and implementing DRM solutions that comply with enterprise standards, are capable of granularly protecting your crown jewels, and ensure no high-risk data object bypasses these compliance requirements. This initial, targeted deployment of DRM and data protection is fundamental for fortifying your most valuable information assets within your Zero Trust architecture. This targeted effort then sets the stage for Activity 4.5.2, where you will expand these critical protections to all required repositories, ensuring no data object bypasses compliance.

Pillar: Data

Capability: 4.5 Data Encryption & Rights Management

Activity: 4.5.1 Implement DRM and Protection Tools Part 1

Phase: Target Level

Predecessor(s): 4.2.2 Interoperability Standards

Successor(s): 4.5.2 Implement DRM and Protection Tools Part 2