What is Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software?

Data loss prevention (DLP) software helps companies ensure their sensitive data is not leaked, lost, or stolen. Data loss prevention (DLP) software provides data security by enforcing company policies that determine who can view, change, or share sensitive data. DLP tools secure data by identifying sensitive data, classifying it, monitoring its usage, and then taking actions to stop data misuse by preventing user access and actions, alerting administrators, quarantining suspicious files, encrypting data, or taking other actions to remediate when necessary. Data loss prevention (DLP) software protects data in three states—data in use, data in motion, and data at rest. Data in use refers to data that is used on an endpoint such as a laptop, mobile device, or tablet. An example would be an employee attempting to copy and paste sensitive data using their laptop. Data in motion refers to data moving over an internal or external network to a user’s endpoint. DLP software monitors when data is transmitted across networks and via email or other communication methods. Data at rest refers to data stored in databases, cloud repositories, computers, mobile phones, or other similar devices. DLP software protects data at rest by restricting it’s access to approved users, encrypts it, or deletes it based on the organization’s retention policies. Data loss prevention (DLP) software protects data using predefined policies to identify, classify, monitor, and protect data to meet business and regulatory compliance. For example, if an employee sends an email to a customer and attaches proprietary company information, the data loss prevention (DLP) software will prevent the email with protected data from being sent. In this example, the DLP software prevented data leakage. Another example would be preventing someone—whether an internal employee or a hacker who breached the company’s traditional perimeter security—from inflicting damage to the company by deleting data. Data protected by DLP software as defined by company policies would be blocked from deletion. In this example, the DLP software prevented data loss. Key Benefits of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software Identify, classify, monitor, and protect sensitive data including personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), payment card information (PCI), intellectual property (IP), confidential corporate information, sensitive research, and other important data as defined by the company Prevent data from being leaked, stolen, or lost by both internal and external actors Alert administrators or remediate incidents Help companies meet compliance requirements such as privacy, payments, health, or other global data protection regulations

Why Use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software?

Companies use DLP software to protect their sensitive data. Today’s workforce is increasingly mobile. Employees use devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, to access both on-premises and cloud-based company applications. Because of this ability to access company data while not physically in the office, organizations’ data security strategies must evolve. Companies use DLP software to help them employ a data-centric security strategy which secures the data itself, in addition to traditional network-centric security strategies which secure the perimeter, such as a network. This is particularly helpful for companies that allow employees to bring their own device to use for work. In the event of a data breach, companies that have employed DLP software can reduce the expense of recovery, especially if the breached data was not sensitive data or was encrypted, rendering it useless to other parties without the encryption keys. Companies may also be able to reduce their cyber liability insurance premiums by using data security software such as DLP software. To use an analogy on protecting the data itself, imagine a burglar robs a jewelry store by smashing in the front door and then the jewelry cases. What did the burglar take? They likely took gold, silver, and diamond jewelry, among other precious gems. Did they take the jewelry stands or any empty jewelry gift boxes laying around? No, because those have low value. Similarly, not all data is valuable; hackers are typically after sensitive data (gems). Hackers will break through network security (the doors and jewelry cases) to get to sensitive data (jewelry). But what if the data itself was protected and thus hard to steal? In the jewelry robbery example, imagine if the jewelry was bolted down in the cases, had explosive ink tags attached to it, or was locked in an overnight safe instead of left out. What then? The concept of protecting data using DLP software is similar. The main reasons companies use data loss prevention (DLP) software include: Protect sensitive data — Sensitive data is valuable to companies and therefore it is also valuable to bad actors and hackers. Companies protect their sensitive data, such as personally identifiable information (PII) like social security numbers, intellectual property (IP) such as source codes or product development maps, and other sensitive data like financial data or customer data. Enable secure data use on mobile devices — Today’s workforce increasingly brings their down devices to work or works remotely with a variety of endpoints. Companies can take more steps to secure their data by using DLP software. Prevent data leaks — DLP software prevents accidental or willful data leaks caused by employees or insider threats. Prevent data loss — DLP software prevents data loss by preventing users from deleting files they do not have permission to. Detect data breaches — DLP software can alert administrators to suspicious activity and stop data exfiltration attempts or data breaches currently in progress. Understand data usage — Sensitive data is stored in multiple databases, both on-premises and in the cloud, applications, other systems, networks, and on endpoints. DLP software discovers sensitive data, classifies it, and monitors it; this reporting gives organizations visibility into how their data is used. This information can provide key insights on a business’s data strategy. Maintain customer trust — Due to major data breaches becoming so commonplace, end users have become wary about how their data is used and want to know their data is protected by companies who store it. Using DLP tools helps companies protect customer data and ultimately protect their brands while gaining their customers’ trust. Meet business partner compliance — Not only are end users demanding better data protection from providers, but increasingly so are business partners. Many business partners contractually obligate companies to protect sensitive data or pay financial penalties. Many business partners audit the companies they do business with to ensure they have adequate data security to protect sensitive data. Comply with governmental regulations — In some jurisdictions, data protection policies are codified into law. Regulatory bodies enforcing data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) require reports from companies proving compliance with the law. If a company is found non-compliant, they can face steep fines.

Who Uses Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software?

All organizations can benefit from using DLP software, however, enterprise-level companies in highly-regulated industries such as health care, finance, manufacturing, energy, and government are the most likely to use DLP software. With the adoption of more privacy regulations codifying data security into law, such as GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA),more mid-level and small companies can benefit from DLP software. Employees within a company that may use DLP software, include: CISOs and InfoSec teams — InfoSecurity teams use DLP software to secure the business and its data. IT teams — Some IT teams may be responsible for administering DLP software. C-suite — C-level executives like CEOs and CMOs use DLP software to protect intellectual property (IP) and protect the value of the brand by securing customers’ personally identifiable information or other sensitive data. Everyday employees — Everyday employees may encounter DLP software if they try to take an action, such as sharing sensitive data, which is not allowed by their company’s policy.

Page 3 | Best Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software: User Reviews from October 2026

Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)

Protect data. Simplify compliance. Accelerate security. Safeguard your organization’s most critical assets with Fortra’s market-leading Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution. Delivered via SaaS for rapid deployment, Fortra DLP provides immediate, comprehensive visibility into sensitive data across endpoints and networks without the complexity of traditional solutions. Our platform proactively detects and blocks insider and outsider threats in real time, ensuring your intellectual property and compliance requirements are always protected. With pre-configured policies for GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS, plus audit-ready reporting through our Analytics and Reporting Cloud (ARC), compliance has never been easier. Seamless integration with existing tools and centralized dashboards delivers actionable insights for faster threat response and reduced administrative overhead. Whether you’re in finance, healthcare, tech, or government, Fortra DLP empowers you to stay ahead of risks with minimal setup and maximum protection.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 60

How Do G2 Users Rate Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

Ease of Use: 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)
Access Control: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.7/10)
Compliance: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.1/10)
Data Visibility: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

Seller: Fortra
Company Website:
Year Founded: 1982
HQ Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Twitter: @fortraofficial
2,773 Twitter followers
LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
1,784 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

Top Industries: Hospital & Health Care, Computer & Network Security
Company Size: 47% Medium, 41% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros

Users value the automatic discovery and classification of sensitive data, enhancing visibility and informing protection strategies.
Users find the deployment process easy and appreciate the understandable architecture of Fortra DLP.
Users value the automated discovery and classification of sensitive data, enhancing visibility and risk management.
Users value the comprehensive policy management capabilities of Fortra DLP for effective data protection and tracking.
Users value the cross-platform coverage of Fortra DLP, effectively securing Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.

Cons

Users experience slow performance with Fortra DLP, as dashboard insights and reporting often take longer than expected.
Users find the policy creation difficult and require extensive knowledge to effectively navigate Fortra DLP.
Users find the complexity of policy creation and learning curve challenging, hindering effective use of Fortra DLP.
Users note that the cost is quite high, which can be a barrier for smaller organizations.
Users often face false positives from Fortra DLP, which complicates alerts and requires additional tuning efforts.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

"Deep Kernel-Level DLP Visibility with Strong Cross-Platform Support"

Rating: 4.0/5.0 stars

— Emir P.

Best Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software - Page 3

How Many Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software Products Does G2 Track?

Category Stats (Oct 2026)

How Does G2 Rank Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software Products?

G2 Grid® for Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software

How Do G2 Users Rate Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

Who Is the Company Behind Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Fortra DLP (formerly Digital Guardian)?

How Do G2 Users Rate Forcepoint Data Security Cloud?

Who Is the Company Behind Forcepoint Data Security Cloud?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Forcepoint Data Security Cloud?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Forcepoint Data Security Cloud?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Forcepoint Data Security Cloud?

How Do G2 Users Rate Nightfall AI?

Who Is the Company Behind Nightfall AI?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Nightfall AI?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Nightfall AI?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Nightfall AI?

AI can help you find the answers. G2 helps you trust them.

How Do G2 Users Rate KnowBe4 Email & Collaboration Security?

Who Is the Company Behind KnowBe4 Email & Collaboration Security?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About KnowBe4 Email & Collaboration Security?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of KnowBe4 Email & Collaboration Security?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About KnowBe4 Email & Collaboration Security?

How Do G2 Users Rate Incydr?

Who Is the Company Behind Incydr?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Incydr?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Incydr?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Incydr?

How Do G2 Users Rate Mimecast Aware?

Who Is the Company Behind Mimecast Aware?

Who Uses This Product?

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Mimecast Aware?

How Do G2 Users Rate Sensitive Data Protection?

Who Is the Company Behind Sensitive Data Protection?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Sensitive Data Protection?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Sensitive Data Protection?

How Do G2 Users Rate Strac?

Who Is the Company Behind Strac?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Strac?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Strac?

How Do G2 Users Rate GAT Labs?

Who Is the Company Behind GAT Labs?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About GAT Labs?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of GAT Labs?

How Do G2 Users Rate CurrentWare?

Who Is the Company Behind CurrentWare?

Who Uses This Product?

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About CurrentWare?

Pros

Cons

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of CurrentWare?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About CurrentWare?

How Do G2 Users Rate Trustifi Email Security?