Best Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software
Data loss prevention (DLP) software, also known as data leak prevention software, is used to secure control and ensure compliance of sensitive business information. A key component of DLP solutions is distribution control, which ensures users do not send private information outside of corporate business networks. Security staff and network administrators set business rules that determine who can view, change, and share confidential data. DLP tools often control data on both the network and endpoint level to ensure policies remain consistent across the company. These tools are used to ensure the protection of data and prevent leaks by internal sources.
There are overlaps between DLP tools and some governance, risk & compliance (GRC) software, but these tools are specifically geared toward data control. DLP solutions are also used alongside backup software, but as a complement to the software rather than a replacement.
To qualify for inclusion in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) category, a product must:
Featured Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software At A Glance
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Strengthen Your Security with Check Point Gateways and Firewalls Check Point Hybrid Mesh Network Security is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution designed to protect networks from sophisticated
Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) is a network security solution that combines advanced threat prevention, application control, and deep packet inspection in a single, unified platform. Users frequently mention the product's robust security features, high performance, and the convenience of its centralized management console, SmartConsole, which simplifies policy configuration and monitoring. Reviewers mentioned the high initial cost, complexity of the licensing model, steep learning curve for new administrators, and occasional slow performance in the management console as drawbacks.
71,026 Twitter followers
Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration, protects enterprise data by preventing targeted attacks on SaaS applications and cloud-based email.
Check Point Anti-Spam & Email Security is a tool designed for the detection and prevention of spam and phishing attacks, integrating with platforms like Microsoft 365 and providing real-time threat prevention. Reviewers frequently mention the product's seamless integration with platforms like Microsoft 365, its user-friendly interface, and its effective blocking of spam, phishing, and malicious emails, which enhances productivity and reduces IT overhead. Reviewers mentioned issues such as the limited range of supported email platforms, the need for more granular control over policies and rules, and the occasional flagging of secure emails as suspicious, which can slow down workflows and require manual review.
71,026 Twitter followers
Safetica’s Intelligent Data Security protects sensitive data where teams work, using powerful AI to deliver contextual awareness, reduce false positives, and stop real threats without disrupting produ
Safetica is a security software that provides an overview of network security status, helps set security policies, and offers data protection and insider threat prevention. Reviewers appreciate the easy installation, user-friendly interface, comprehensive data protection, and the ability to generate reports on file usage and behavior without needing extensive technical knowledge. Users reported issues with slow dashboard response times, compatibility issues with Linux OS, problems with updates, and the lack of visibility in web Outlook and limited control over certain apps.
667 Twitter followers
Proofpoint, Inc. is a leading cybersecurity and compliance company that protects organizations’ greatest assets and biggest risks: their people. With an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions, Proo
Proofpoint DLP is a tool designed to protect email and data loss, with a focus on preventing sensitive data from being shared externally and customizing policies to suit specific needs. Users frequently mention the user-friendly interface, the centralized platform, the ability to work across multiple applications, and the effectiveness of the policies in preventing sensitive data from leaving the company. Reviewers experienced a number of false positives, a steep learning curve for understanding the policies, a need for a skilled security team and strong infrastructure to fully leverage it, and a challenging initial setup process.
31,106 Twitter followers
Netwrix Endpoint Protector is a sophisticated multi-OS endpoint Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution designed to provide comprehensive real-time data protection across various operating systems, includ
Netwrix Endpoint Protector is a data loss prevention solution that requires minimal third-party server support and provides functionalities such as USB enable/disable, data encryption, and device control across multiple operating systems. Reviewers appreciate the software's ability to secure endpoint assets and cloud servers, its support for major operating systems, its effective customer support, and its smart rules that go beyond simple blocking. Reviewers mentioned that the deep packet inspection feature can sometimes block all internet traffic, the user interface feels dated and is not very smooth to navigate, and the initial setup and policy implementation can be time-consuming and complex for beginners.
2,914 Twitter followers
SpinOne is an all-in-one SaaS security platform that protects your mission critical SaaS environments including Google Workplace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Slack – and now we've added 50+ more SaaS a
SpinOne is a SaaS solution that provides backup, restoration, and security services for data management. Reviewers like the user-friendly interface, broad selection of options for managing workloads, reliable backup of Google Workspace data, active and archive license features, and the consolidation of multiple security tools into a single dashboard. Reviewers mentioned issues such as costly per user license for large organizations, inability to do more granular data retention based on user groups, long time taken to refresh data from Google Workspace, lack of advanced backup management features, and issues with large backups during migrations.
769 Twitter followers
Zscaler Internet Access™ (ZIA) is the world’s leading cloud-native secure access solution that protects users, devices, and data by securing all internet traffic, regardless of location. Leveragin
Zscaler Internet Access is a cloud-based security solution that provides users with secure internet access and helps protect against threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts. Users like the cloud-native security model, zero-trust architecture, and the ability to access the internet securely from anywhere without relying on traditional on-premise hardware. Users mentioned that the initial setup and policy configuration can be complex for new administrators, and there can be minor latency depending on user location and traffic routing.
17,394 Twitter followers
Coro is the easy cybersecurity company. We designed an all-in-one platform that every lean IT team will master. While other solutions scare people into buying complicated, confusing products, we lead
Coro Cybersecurity is a product that provides a variety of cybersecurity functions through a single dashboard, including end user security, email security, and device security. Users frequently mention the ease of use, the intuitive design, the quick setup, and the dedicated customer support as standout features of Coro Cybersecurity. Users reported issues with the sensitivity of detection leading to false positives, compatibility issues with some macOS versions, and a desire for more individual configuration options and additional features.
1,900 Twitter followers
#1 Global Leader in Data Resilience We keep businesses worldwide up and running From secure backups to intelligent data insights, Veeam Data Platform is engineered to tackle the realities of t
Veeam Data Platform is a complex software solution designed for data backup and recovery across various environments including on-premises, virtualized, and cloud. Users like the platform's reliability, comprehensive features, fast and dependable backup and restore processes, and the confidence it provides in data protection. Users mentioned that the software's complexity can require a lot of research to understand, the initial setup and licensing model can be complex, and the platform can be resource-intensive.
51,585 Twitter followers
AvePoint is the global leader in data security, governance, and resilience, going beyond traditional solutions to ensure a robust data foundation and enable organizations everywhere to collaborate wit
AvePoint Confidence Platform is a data protection and management tool that offers backup, restore, governance, and compliance capabilities for cloud environments. Users frequently mention the platform's ease of use, reliable backup and restore process, comprehensive data governance, and the ability to manage everything through a single pane of glass as key benefits. Users reported issues such as the platform timing out too soon, difficulty in reinstating large files, complexity in initial setup and configuration, and occasional performance issues like slow restores or lag.
9,777 Twitter followers
Varonis is fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and de
Varonis Data Security Platform is a solution that provides visibility into data access and user behavior across file shares, cloud storage, and sensitive repositories. Reviewers like the platform's ability to identify overexposed data, excessive permissions, and abnormal access patterns, and appreciate its alerting, audit trails, and behavioral analytics that improve incident response time and help investigate insider risk, ransomware activity, and data exfiltration attempts. Users mentioned that initial deployment and tuning can be resource intensive, especially in large or complex environments, and that some alerts require careful baselining to reduce noise, with reporting customization taking time to master.
6,378 Twitter followers
Founded in 2015, BlackFog is a global AI based cybersecurity company that has pioneered on-device anti data exfiltration (ADX) technology to protect organizations from ransomware and data loss. W
BlackFog is a software designed to prevent data exfiltration, a common component of modern ransomware attacks, and is compatible with major platforms including Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. Users frequently mention the ease of deployment and management, the up-to-date threat intel available in the admin portal, and the minimal interruption to the end user as standout features of BlackFog. Reviewers experienced issues such as the inability of BlackFog to remove malicious software exfiltrating data, requiring reliance on other solutions or manual processes, and the occurrence of false positives that need clearing.
1,490 Twitter followers
Paubox is a HIPAA compliant email security platform designed for healthcare organizations. It provides outbound email encryption and AI-powered inbound email protection, helping organizations safeguar
Paubox is a HIPAA compliant email encryption service that allows users to send secure emails without taking extra steps. Reviewers like the ease of use, seamless integration with existing email platforms, and the peace of mind provided by the automatic encryption of both incoming and outgoing emails. Reviewers noted occasional issues with emails being held up in quarantine, difficulty understanding the technology, and concerns about the cost, especially for small practices.
16,536 Twitter followers
Netskope is the leader in cloud security — we help the world’s largest organizations take advantage of cloud and web without sacrificing security. Our Cloud XD™ technology targets and controls activit
11,283 Twitter followers
Kitecyber is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution designed to protect endpoint devices, users, applications, and data for organizations of all sizes. Headquartered in the Bay Area, California, Kitec
KiteCyber is a cybersecurity platform that provides device management, security controls, and compliance management features. Users frequently mention the ease of installation, intuitive user interface, comprehensive security features, and the responsive and knowledgeable support team as key benefits of using KiteCyber. Users experienced minor issues with certain features behaving unexpectedly, occasional delays in implementing high-priority action items, and a need for improvement in customization and reporting features.
Learn More About Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software
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.
Kinds of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software
There are generally four kinds of DLP software companies use.
On-premise storage DLP — On-premise storage DLP identifies and protects sensitive data in databases, servers, and file shares.
Cloud DLP — Cloud DLP is similar to on-premise storage DLP, but focuses on finding sensitive data in cloud storage. The connection to cloud storage is achieved through application programming interfaces (APIs).
Network DLP — Network DLP monitors sensitive data across a company’s network. This includes scanning email, web, social media, and other communication methods to ensure compliance with the company’s sensitive data policy. This monitoring function is achieved by using a physical appliance or by passing network traffic through a dedicated virtual machine.
Endpoint DLP — Endpoint DLP protects sensitive data on laptops, mobile phones, and other endpoints through software installed on the device. Endpoint DLP also allows companies to block certain activities, such as preventing specific file types from being loaded onto mobile devices.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Software Features
Central policy management — DLP software uses a specific company’s policies to protect sensitive data and meet specific compliance regulations. DLP software is a central place to create, enforce, and manage policies on a user-friendly dashboard.
Incident detection and management — DLP software informs administrators of policy violations in real time, and offers incident management functions that allow administrators to manage these events.
Data identification — For DLP software to protect data, it needs to know where the data is. DLP solutions offer both content analysis and context analysis.
Data classification — DLP tools categorize data based on their sensitivity and apply policies such as who should have access to it and or what actions they can take with the data.
Integrations — DLP software should include pre-built integrations with major platforms, directories, email providers, applications, and other areas where company data is stored.
Reporting — DLP software includes reporting tools, such as pre-built templates and customizable reports, which are useful for showing compliance to regulators, auditors, forensic teams, incident response teams, and other parties.
