What is the purpose of data loss prevention (DLP) solutions?

Data loss prevention (DLP) solutions are specifically designed to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or transmission. This includes identifying, monitoring, and controlling data that is at risk of being leaked, whether it is being stored, transmitted, or accessed. DLP technologies help organizations prevent data breaches by enforcing policies that restrict how sensitive information is handled. This may involve the encryption of data, alerting security personnel when sensitive data is at risk of being transmitted outside the organization or informing users when they attempt to transmit sensitive data inappropriately.

While ensuring compliance with regulatory standards is an important aspect of DLP, which can help organizations meet legal and regulatory requirements related to data protection (such as HIPAA or GDPR), the primary function of DLP is the protection of sensitive data itself. On the other hand, enhancing system performance and managing network traffic pertain to different aspects of IT operations that are not the main focus of DLP solutions.