Strengthening data protection and lifecycle governance for an Irish retail bank

The Challenge

The bank needed to strengthen its information protection and data lifecycle controls to meet regulatory, internal governance, and GDPR requirements. While some data protection measures were already in place, there were gaps in how mobile data was protected and how data retention and minimisation policies were technically enforced across the organisation.

Managing data sprawl, particularly across unstructured data sources, made it difficult to ensure information was retained and deleted appropriately. Any solution also needed to balance strong compliance controls with a positive user experience for staff working across devices and locations.

Key Challenges

• Limited data loss prevention (DLP) controls for mobile devices
• Difficulty enforcing data retention and minimisation policies
• Regulatory and GDPR compliance pressure
• Growing volumes of unstructured data and data sprawl
• Need to protect sensitive data without impacting productivity

The Solution

CWSI worked closely with the bank to design and implement a comprehensive information protection and data lifecycle management framework using Microsoft security and compliance technologies. The engagement focused on translating regulatory and policy requirements into practical, enforceable technical controls.

Through a structured series of workshops and proofs of concept, CWSI designed mobile DLP controls and a retention framework that aligned with business use cases, regulatory expectations, and operational realities. This was followed by a phased implementation, supported by training and ongoing expert guidance.

Solution Components

• Design workshops to capture mobile data protection requirements and to understand data models, regulatory obligations, and constraints
• Implementation of Intune MAM DLP controls for mobile devices
• Design of Microsoft Purview retention policies and retention labels
• Proof of concept covering multiple business units and geographies
• Production rollout with full support and training for IT, compliance, and key business stakeholders

The Result

The engagement delivered a robust, regulator-ready information protection and data governance framework that improved visibility, reduced risk, and strengthened compliance across the organisation. By embedding controls directly into day-to-day workflows, the bank was able to improve security without introducing unnecessary friction for users.

Key Outcomes

• Significantly improved mobile data protection through Intune MAM DLP
• Enforced data retention and minimisation aligned to GDPR and banking regulations
• Clear, approved retention and governance design signed off by key stakeholders
• Increased confidence across IT, security, and compliance teams
• Ongoing adoption support through managed expert engagement

Why CWSI

CWSI’s deep experience in financial services security and regulatory compliance enabled the bank to move beyond policy-driven controls to practical, enforceable solutions. By combining structured design, proof-of-concept validation, and hands-on implementation, CWSI ensured the controls were effective, user-friendly, and aligned with regulatory expectations.

“Strong data lifecycle governance is critical in financial services, where regulatory expectations and customer trust go hand in hand. By implementing mobile DLP and retention controls together, we helped the organisation protect sensitive data while maintaining a seamless user experience for staff.”

Paul Conaty, Secure Data Practice Lead, CWSI