Softonic
IT

Best DLP Solutions in 2025: Top Data Loss Prevention Tools Compared

Top DLP tools of 2025 compared: Key features, benefits, and pricing breakdown

Best DLP Solutions in 2025: Top Data Loss Prevention Tools Compared

Information security is simply essential for any business. Incalculable data flows through our endpoints, networks, and the cloud every day, all of which require protection and guarantees. Organizations rely on DLP software to protect sensitive data on endpoints, networks, and cloud environments, making DLP a critical security solution for modern enterprises.

When looking for the best Data Loss Prevention solutions, the list is extensive. So, let’s put some order into it to help us make the right decision. In today’s article, we will take a look at integrated Microsoft Purview DLP solutions and specialized suites like Forcepoint DLP, Symantec DLP, or Proofpoint DLP (among others). For each, we will evaluate their coverage in terms of Endpoint DLP, Cloud DLP, and Network DLP. We will also discuss pricing, free solutions, and much more. Our goal? Simple: to determine which DLP solution is best for us.

Which option to choose?

Comparative Table: Best DLP Solutions and Cloud Security Tools

Name

Most Notable Feature

Advantages

Disadvantages

Price

Best For

Microsoft Purview DLP

Native integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, and Copilot

Comprehensive coverage in Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Office. Advanced classification

Extensive initial configuration. Limited reach outside the Microsoft ecosystem

Included in M365/Azure E3/E5. Pay-per-use for advanced features

Microsoft-focused organizations looking for DLP without adding another vendor

Forcepoint DLP

Risk-adaptive policies and preconfigured regulatory templates

Continuous protection, even offline. Templates for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS. Adaptive risk logic

Long setup process. May require additional servers

Price based on quote. Prices vary depending on deployment and modules

Large enterprises and highly regulated industries needing comprehensive enterprise-level DLP

Symantec DLP (Broadcom)

Scalable and mature multichannel coverage

Deep visibility on endpoints and network. Advanced reporting and incident management

High resource usage. Many false positives. Price increases upon renewals

Volume-based pricing with renewal discounts

Distributed environments with skilled security teams seeking a robust solution

Proofpoint DLP

Human-centered approach for email and SaaS

Accurate detection in communications. User behavior analysis

Multiple management consoles. Lacks ready-to-use templates for every scenario

Price based on quote. Mid-range ~70,000 EUR/year

Companies prioritizing communication security and strong email DLP

Trellix DLP

Unified coverage on endpoint, network, email, web, and cloud

Automatic data discovery. Unified monitoring. Compliance reporting

Possible performance impact. Complex configuration. Alert fatigue risk

Price based on quote. Includes multiple modules

Trellix platform users needing broad DLP coverage

Palo Alto Networks DLP

Deep integration with NGFW and Prisma SASE

AI-driven data classification. Unified policies for network, cloud, and endpoint

Requires investment in Palo Alto ecosystem. High prices

Price based on quote. Part of Palo Alto security suite

Palo Alto customers seeking true AI-driven data classification

Endpoint Protector

Specialized in multiplatform endpoints (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Granular device control. Offline protection. Multiplatform coverage

Limited network and cloud capabilities compared to enterprise suites

Subscription per user/device. From 54 EUR/user/year

Companies with heterogeneous environments prioritizing insider threat mitigation and device control

Digital Guardian (Fortra)

Deep visibility into data flow and user activity

Extensive discovery. Endpoint-focused model. Excellent for forensic investigations

Complex configuration and deployment. Potential performance issues. Confusing pricing

Price based on quote

Large organizations needing detailed audits and insider threat management

Safetica

User-friendly interface, focus on insider threats

Anomaly detection. Data-at-rest discovery. Real-time training

Advanced functions only in higher plans. Limited for very large environments

Subscription. Basic plans from 54 EUR/user/year

SMBs seeking an intuitive solution for insider threat management and data-at-rest discovery

Nightfall AI

Cloud-native DLP with ML/AI for SaaS (Slack, GitHub, etc.)

Real-time detection. High accuracy. API-first. Rapid deployment

Less coverage on-premises and network than other suites

SaaS model based on quote

Cloud-native organizations needing data protection for SaaS and API

Our Evaluation Criteria

To ensure we provide a complete picture of each tool, we combine analysis of the official documentation with user reviews from G2, TrustRadius, and PeerSpot. Of course, we also rely on our own tests and experiences, focusing especially on:

  • Coverage across key vectors such as endpoint, network, cloud, data at rest, and data in use
  • Automatic data discovery and classification using OCR and coverage of sensitive information types
  • Policy enforcement and guided or automatic remediation
  • Integration with SIEMs, identity providers, and SaaS applications (such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Slack)
  • Ease of deployment, ongoing management, and resource burden (both technical and human)
  • Pricing models and cost-benefit perception, especially for quote-based models

When evaluating DLP tools, we also consider robust data protection capabilities, effective DLP implementation strategies (including both cloud and on-premises options), and best practices for DLP policy adoption. These factors are essential for organizations seeking comprehensive data loss prevention and risk management solutions that align with their security requirements.



best-dlp-solutions

Microsoft Purview DLP

Designed for Microsoft environments, it offers native policies in M365/Azure and protection for Copilot. Its data classification is based on Microsoft's proprietary LLM and sensitive information types for highly accurate detection.

Microsoft Purview DLP helps organizations maintain regulatory compliance by enforcing data protection policies and monitoring data flows to support adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. In this context, DLP operates through a combination of people, processes, and technology to detect and prevent data leaks.

Main Features of Microsoft Purview DLP

  • Native integrations with the Microsoft ecosystem: Works seamlessly in Microsoft 365, Azure, SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, Teams, and Copilot.
  • Sensitive information detection: Purview can detect and classify sensitive data such as financial information, health records, and personally identifiable information (PII) like social security numbers or credit card details.
  • Access restrictions: Microsoft Purview DLP enables access restrictions to control who can view or share sensitive data, helping safeguard information through encryption, governance, and compliance measures.
  • Data leak prevention: Purview enforces policies based on content, context, and user activity to prevent data leaks through emails, files, and chats.
  • Unified management console: Simplifies management through its Microsoft Purview portal.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Microsoft Purview

Advantages of Microsoft Purview

Disadvantages of Microsoft Purview

Coverage for SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, and Teams

Limited reach outside Microsoft environments

Intelligent classification and automatic labeling

Initial setup and policy tuning can take time

Pay-as-you-go model for advanced features like Protection in Transit

Microsoft Purview DLP Pricing and Support

The service is included in Microsoft 365 and Azure E3/E5 licenses, although some features —such as On-Demand Classification for Microsoft 365 Data— are pay-per-use (in this case, 0.50 EUR per 10,000 requests). Support is provided through Microsoft Premier, which offers 24/7 online assistance.

Is Microsoft Purview DLP Easy to Use?

The learning curve is moderate, especially if you are already familiar with Microsoft tools. The Microsoft Purview interface is well designed, but the tool requires a considerable time investment —based on our needs— to fine-tune policies and avoid false positives.

Forcepoint DLP

Its adaptive risk approach and regulatory templates facilitate data protection across web, email, network, and offline environments, adapting to our needs and compliance requirements. This approach also helps organizations protect intellectual property by enforcing policies and monitoring data movement to prevent unauthorized access or leaks.

Forcepoint DLP integrates incident response capabilities to quickly address potential data loss events, complementing its data protection and security measures. It is ideal for large enterprises seeking top-tier protection.

Key Features of Forcepoint DLP

  • Adaptive risk protection: Automatically adjusts file protection based on user behavior and risk level, reducing false positives and improving real-time response.
  • Predefined regulatory templates: Easy and fast deployment thanks to ready-to-use compliance policies such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and others.
  • Multichannel data protection: Forcepoint DLP can monitor and control data across multiple channels like endpoints, email, web, networks, and cloud environments.
  • Centralized policy management console: This solution provides a unified console to create, manage, and audit DLP policies.

Pros and Cons of Forcepoint DLP

Advantages of Forcepoint DLP

Disadvantages of Forcepoint DLP

Predefined templates for GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS

Complex deployment and tuning

Continuous protection, even offline

May require additional infrastructure resources

Unified policy management across multiple channels

Forcepoint DLP Pricing and Support

Pricing is based on quotation and varies significantly depending on the modules and number of users. Support includes access to service portals and technical guidance for advanced configurations.

Is Forcepoint DLP easy to use?

It requires technical expertise to fine-tune policies and minimize false positives. The platform is comprehensive and powerful, but complex enough to slow down the onboarding process, which requires careful planning.

Symantec DLP (Broadcom)

Its long-standing multichannel coverage and excellent scalability make it a benchmark for distributed environments. Symantec DLP helps organizations identify and close security gaps, ensuring that business-critical data is protected from potential threats. This tool provides us with broad visibility and robust reporting to track the health of the infrastructure at all times.

Main Features of Symantec DLP

  • Multichannel data protection: Protects sensitive data at endpoints, networks, email, and storage systems (cloud and on-premises environments)
  • Advanced confidential content identification: Uses robust fingerprints, exact data matching (EDM), and vector machine learning to detect confidential data.
  • Highly scalable: Symantec DLP offers flexible deployment options and integration capabilities.
  • Incident management and reporting: Symantec DLP provides incident tracking, workflow automation, and customizable dashboards.

Pros and Cons of Symantec DLP

Advantages of Symantec DLP

Disadvantages of Symantec DLP

Broad visibility on endpoints, networks, and storage

High CPU and memory consumption

Detailed reports and strong incident management

High false positives without proper tuning

Modular design for scalable coverage

Price increases on renewal under Broadcom

Symantec DLP Pricing and Support

Symantec DLP follows a volume-based pricing model, with discounts for long-term contracts. Support is provided through the Broadcom Support Portal with enterprise-level SLAs.

Is Symantec DLP Easy to Use?

Implementation requires resources and expertise. The interface is comprehensive but may feel overwhelming for smaller teams.

Proofpoint DLP

Proofpoint DLP stands out for its human-centered approach, combining content and context analysis to provide top-level protection for email and SaaS applications. It is specifically designed to detect and prevent data leakage events and respond to security incidents in real time, ensuring that sensitive information is protected against unauthorized access and exposure.

Main Features of Proofpoint DLP

  • Human-centered threat detection: Focuses on user behavior and intent to identify and prevent data leaks. These behavioral analytics help companies adjust policies accordingly, protecting them from human errors or internal threats.
  • Advanced protection for email and SaaS: Provides precise data loss prevention in email and
  • Integrated threat intelligence: Proofpoint offers enhanced accuracy in detection and contextual decision-making, easily protecting sensitive data.

Pros and Cons of Proofpoint DLP

Proofpoint DLP Pros

Proofpoint DLP Cons

High accuracy in email data detection

Multiple administrative consoles

Integration with messaging and collaboration platforms

Lack of predefined templates for some scenarios

User behavior analysis (UBA) to reduce risks

Proofpoint DLP Pricing and Support

Pricing is quote-based. According to Vendr, the annual median is around 68,000 EUR. Support includes 24/7 assistance and access to a large user community.

Is Proofpoint DLP Easy to Use?

The initial setup requires extensive tuning, but once optimized, the interface is clear and allows for quick adjustments.

Trellix DLP

Trellix DLP provides robust endpoint protection and actively prevents unauthorized data transfers, ensuring that sensitive information is protected on every device and communication channel. It also stands out for its compliance reporting features.

Main Features of Trellix DLP

  • Centralized Policy Management – Trellix gives users unified control and monitoring across all data channels through its platform.
  • Data Discovery and Classification – Identifies and tags sensitive data using advanced techniques.
  • Real-time Protection and Alerts – Blocks risky actions and provides warnings or justifications to the user.
  • Comprehensive Channel Coverage – Secures data across endpoint, email, web, USB, and cloud environments.

Pros and Cons of Trellix DLP

Pros of Trellix DLP

Cons of Trellix DLP

Automatic data discovery and classification

May impact endpoint performance

Unified monitoring on-premises and in the cloud

Complex initial setup

Exceptionally detailed compliance reports

Risk of alert fatigue without proper configuration

Trellix DLP Pricing and Support

Trellix DLP follows a quote-based model and includes several modules that can be contracted according to our needs. Technical support offers access to online portals and expert assistance for enterprise implementations.

Is Trellix DLP Easy to Use?

The platform requires expertise to adjust policies, but once configured, it centralizes control in a single console, making it very efficient to secure all communication channels.

Palo Alto Networks DLP

Palo Alto Networks DLP monitors and protects sensitive data transmitted through web traffic and various network channels, ensuring comprehensive coverage across email, endpoints, SaaS applications, and web communications. Thanks to its AI-based data classification, results are fast and reliable.

Main Features of Palo Alto Networks DLP

  • Delivered from the cloud with quick and easy deployment – Deploys as a centralized service across networks, clouds, SaaS, and endpoints within minutes, requiring no additional infrastructure.
  • AI/ML and contextual data classification – Uses classifiers powered by LLM, OCR, regex patterns, and custom ML models for high-precision detection of structured and unstructured data.
  • Unified policy engine – A single set of consistent policies and real-time incident enforcement across all checkpoints (networks, cloud, email, SaaS, browser, endpoints)
  • Comprehensive channel coverage – Protects data in use, in motion, and at rest through PA Series firewalls, VM-Series, Prisma Access, Prisma SaaS, and Prisma Cloud

Pros and Cons of Palo Alto Networks DLP

Advantages of Palo Alto Networks DLP

Disadvantages of Palo Alto Networks DLP

AI-driven data classification

Requires full investment in the Palo Alto ecosystem

Unified security operations

High cost for those not using Palo Alto products

Coverage across network, cloud, and endpoint

Pricing and Support for Palo Alto Networks DLP

The service follows a quote-based model as part of its broader security suite. Support is provided under enterprise SLAs depending on the chosen plan.

Is Palo Alto Networks DLP Easy to Use?

The interface is consistent with other Palo Alto tools, making adoption easier if you are already using NGFW or Prisma. Some prior training is needed to fully leverage its potential.

Netwrix Endpoint Protector (CoSoSys)

Formerly known as CoSoSys, Netwrix Endpoint Protector specializes in multiplatform endpoints. It provides data loss prevention for USB devices and mobile devices, helping to prevent data leaks and data exfiltration across all endpoints. It also offers granular device control and offline coverage.

Main Features of Netwrix Endpoint Protector

  • Device Control – Endpoint Protector offers granular management of USB and peripheral ports, with blocking or real-time monitoring by device type, serial number, or user group, enabling organizations to manage and secure data transfers across all connected devices.
  • Content-Aware DLP – The platform scans and controls data transfers by analyzing both file content and context across endpoints. All of this is done simply and in real time.
  • Forced Encryption – This solution automatically encrypts approved USB storage using AES-256 to secure data at rest or in transit.
  • eDiscovery on Operating Systems – Searches for sensitive data at rest on Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing actions such as encrypting or deleting flagged content.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Endpoint Protector

Pros of Endpoint Protector

Cons of Endpoint Protector

Granular control over all devices

Limited network and cloud capabilities

Guaranteed offline coverage

May produce false positives without proper adjustments

Compatibility with Windows, macOS, and Linux

Endpoint Protector Pricing and Support

The license is subscription-based per user or device. The Essentials package starts at 54 EUR/user/year. Support includes setup guides and regular updates.

Is Endpoint Protector easy to use?

The interface is very intuitive, which speeds up deployment, although careful tuning is needed to reduce unwanted alerts.

best-dlp-solutions

Fortra Guardian Digital

Guardian Digital provides us with detailed visibility over data flows and user activity at access points, networks, and the cloud, being especially useful for forensic investigations. This visibility helps protect organizational data against data threats, including sensitive financial data, ensuring secure ways to store data across all environments. Its endpoint-centric model allows for high-resolution audits.

Main Features of Fortra Guardian Digital

  • Comprehensive data visibility: Fortra captures and analyzes system, user, and data events at access points, networks, and cloud environments. This enables Guardian Digital to provide deep insights into movements of sensitive data.
  • Automated data classification: Automatically classifies sensitive data, including intellectual property and regulated information such as PII, PCI, and PHI.
  • Flexible data protection controls: Offers customizable policies that can log, block, or require user justification for actions involving sensitive data. Guardian Digital is specifically designed to protect sensitive information against unauthorized access or exfiltration, ensuring compliance without disrupting workflows.
  • Native cloud deployment: Establishes a multi-tenant architecture delivered from the cloud and powered by AWS. This enables rapid deployment, high scalability, and drastically reduces infrastructure costs.

Pros and Cons of Fortra Guardian Digital

Advantages of Digital Guardian

Disadvantages of Digital Guardian

Deep data discovery

Complex deployment and configuration

Powerful endpoint-centric model

Possible performance impact due to deep inspection

High-resolution audit logs

Confusing pricing and licensing structure

Digital Guardian Pricing and Support

Digital Guardian DLP follows a quote-based pricing model. Support includes access to the Fortra portal and assistance with advanced configuration.

Is Digital Guardian Easy to Use?

It requires a dedicated team to manage policies and infrastructure, but offers precise control over data flows.

Safetica

Safetica combines data loss prevention with real-time user training to collaboratively reduce risks. To avoid accidental exposure of sensitive data, it alerts users about risky actions and promotes strong security practices among employees. Although some features are only available in higher-tier plans, its anomaly detection capabilities are remarkable.

Main Features of Safetica

  • Comprehensive data visibility: Safetica provides real-time monitoring and auditing of data access and usage on endpoints, cloud services, and network environments.
  • Dynamic Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Safetica employs context-aware policies that adapt to user behavior, allowing precise control over data transfers and preventing unauthorized sharing.
  • Insider risk management: Safetica integrates user behavior analytics to detect and mitigate human errors and potential internal threats.
  • Integration with Microsoft 365: Allows monitoring and securing data activities in applications such as OneDrive, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Safetica

Pros of Safetica

Cons of Safetica

Anomalous behavior detection

Advanced features only in higher-tier plans

Real-time coaching and alerts

Less comprehensive in large-scale environments

Data discovery at rest

Safetica Pricing and Support

The Essentials plan starts at 54 EUR/user/year, with customized Pro and Premium plans available. Support includes access to help portals and online training resources.

Is Safetica Easy to Use?

The learning curve is gentle thanks to its user interface and built-in guides, which facilitate onboarding and daily management.

Nocturna AI

Nocturna AI is a cloud-native DLP software designed to protect data on SaaS platforms and mobile phones, ensuring that sensitive information is secure across multiple endpoints. With high accuracy and rapid deployment, it is a very attractive option.

Main Features of Nocturna AI

  • Real-time Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Nocturna AI offers immediate alerts and actions to prevent unauthorized data sharing or leakage of sensitive information, helping organizations prevent data breaches. This ensures compliance and data security.
  • AI-driven Sensitive Data Detection: Nocturna uses machine learning to identify and classify sensitive information such as PII, PHI, PCI, and secrets across various platforms.
  • Highly Scalable: Due to its cloud services nature, Nocturna AI is a highly scalable platform, making it suitable for modern and dynamic IT environments.

Pros and Cons of Nocturna AI

Pros of Nightfall AI

Cons of Nightfall AI

High accuracy in detecting PII and secrets

Limited coverage on premises and network

Fast deployment through API, without heavy agents

Fewer mature modules compared to other suites

Automatic cloud scalability

Nightfall AI Pricing and Support

Pricing is based on quotes following a SaaS model. The cost depends on the volume of data and the covered applications. Support includes SLA and detailed documentation.

Is Nightfall AI Easy to Use?

Implementation is very fast, with just API configuration and SaaS connectors. It is ideal for teams that prioritize the cloud, as it requires no local infrastructure.

Other Perspectives: AI and DLP

Talking about DLP means talking about how AI has revolutionized data loss prevention, even against AI itself. We have already seen how some tools like Palo Alto Networks DLP and Nightfall AI are leading the way with what we now call AI-driven detection to identify sensitive data. Antivirus software often integrates with AI and DLP tools to enhance threat detection and data protection, forming a comprehensive cybersecurity framework.

Whether we are dealing with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, detecting data within interactions with AI tools and dynamically adapting to new patterns is critical. This way, we can prevent employees from inadvertently revealing confidential information in their conversations with different AIs — something not all DLPs are equipped for, but certainly something we want in ours.

What about other complementary tools?

There are several specialized solutions that can complement a traditional DLP suite but were not directly covered above. For example, Varonis DLP focuses on file system monitoring and anomaly detection, while CrowdStrike DLP extends visibility on endpoints with a lightweight but powerful agent.

It’s also worth mentioning McAfee DLP, Sophos DLP, Check Point DLP, Cyera DLP, and Mozilla’s OpenDLP. These solutions help prevent unauthorized user access to data through advanced monitoring and policy enforcement.

While these tools offer interesting features, they are not always complete solutions and generally require their own integrations to fully complement more comprehensive DLP suites.



Which option to choose?

What are the best data loss prevention solutions in 2025?

Choosing the best DLP solution means selecting the one that best fits our needs. Although they all share a common goal, each takes a different approach. With Microsoft Purview DLP, we get seamless integration with M365, while Forcepoint DLP and Symantec DLP offer the best coverage for highly regulated environments. Proofpoint DLP, in contrast, is ideal when human error is the main concern within the company.

Ultimately, data loss prevention is simply essential for any modern business. With the right tool, we will be laying the foundation for strong protection policies, regulatory compliance, and peace of mind — both for our teams and our customers — knowing that our data is well protected.

Softonic may earn a commission —at no extra cost to you— if you download the software via links on this page. Read more about.

David Bernal Raspall

Architect | Founder of hanaringo.com | Apple Technologies Trainer | Writer at Softonic and iDoo_tech, formerly at Applesfera

Editorial Guidelines
Icon of program: Microsoft Purview

Microsoft Purview

Visit Website