Secure data is prevented from leaving the perimeter of a network such as
an enterprise network or corporate network ("corpnet") by an arrangement
in which a hash of the secure data is periodically computed, and the
hashes are pushed out to an edge device on the network such as a firewall
where they are stored for later access. The edge device is configured so
that it has access to all traffic that flows between the enterprise
network and an external network, such as the Internet, that is located
outside the enterprise network perimeter. Whenever a user attempts to
send data to the external network, a process running on the edge device
computes a hash for the outbound data and compares it against the stored
hashes associated with the secure data. If a match is made between the
hash for the outbound data and a stored hash for secure data, then the
edge device blocks the outbound data from leaving the network perimeter.