Systems and methods for detecting, tracking, and analyzing access to digital information

A method for detecting and tracking access to digital information to identify and limit data loss, the method comprising:

• automatically receiving a signal at a host device in response to a triggering event associated with a file accessible via a network, the signal including data associated with (1) a request for a resource stored at a predetermined location within the network, (2) the file, and (3) an electronic device acting on the file;
• sending, from the host device to the electronic device, a signal associated with the requested resource such that the resource is embedded into the file;
• storing the data associated with the resource request, the file, and the electronic device in a database, the database storing data associated with a plurality of resource requests, a plurality of files accessible via the network, and a plurality of electronic devices having at least temporarily stored at least one file from the plurality of files, the data associated with the resource request, the file, and the electronic device being included in the data associated with the plurality of resource requests, the plurality of files, and the plurality of electronic devices;
• analyzing the data stored in the database associated with the plurality of resource requests, the plurality of files, and the plurality of electronic devices to define an analyzed data set;
• and
• defining a pattern of access of the plurality of files accessible via the network.

A system, comprising:

• an electronic device in communication with a network, the electronic device configured to act on a file accessible via the network;
• a beacon agent in communication with the network, the beacon agent configured to collect data associated with the file and the electronic device in response to a triggering event;
• and
• a host device in communication with the network, the host device coupled to a database configured to store data associated with a plurality of files accessible via the network and a plurality of electronic devices having acted on at least one file from the plurality of files, the host device configured to:
• receive (1) a request for a uniform resource identifier (URI) of a resource stored on the network and (2) the data associated with the file and the electronic device collected by the beacon agent,
• store the data associated with the file and the electronic device in the database,
• analyze the data stored in the database associated with the plurality of files and the plurality of electronic devices to define an analyzed data set, and
• define a pattern of access of the plurality of files accessible via the network.