What is Data Loss Prevention (DLP)?

What is DLP Simply?

Data is one of your most valuable business assets — and one of the hardest to protect. Whether it’s customer records, intellectual property, financial data or strategic plans, a single incident of unauthorised access or loss can cause lasting damage to revenue, reputation and resilience.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a set of tools, processes and practices designed to detect, monitor and protect sensitive data, so it doesn’t leave your organisation in the wrong way, at the wrong time or in the wrong hands.

Why DLP Matters

Every business, no matter the size, faces the risk of data loss. This can happen through:

  • Accidental actions — such as sending the wrong file to the wrong person

  • Insider threats — intentional or unintentional leaks by staff or contractors

  • Cyber attacks — ransomware, phishing or malware designed to steal or encrypt data

  • System vulnerabilities — unpatched software or poorly secured cloud services

A well-implemented DLP program reduces these risks by applying both technology controls and business rules that prevent data from leaving authorised boundaries.

How DLP Works

DLP solutions operate across three main areas:

1. Data In Use:

Protecting data currently being worked on — for example, stopping staff from copying confidential files to a USB drive or personal email account.

2. Data In Motion

Monitoring and controlling data being transmitted — such as emails, file transfers or cloud uploads — to prevent unauthorised sharing.

3. Data At Rest

Securing stored data — on servers, cloud platforms or devices — so it’s only accessible to authorised users and is encrypted where necessary.

The Business Benefits of DLP

  • Protects revenue by reducing the risk of costly breaches, fines or lost intellectual property

  • Preserves reputation by demonstrating strong governance and compliance to customers, partners and regulators

  • Supports compliance with privacy, industry and contractual requirements

  • Improves operational visibility by showing where sensitive data is, who’s using it, and how it’s moving

Common Misconceptions of DLP

  • “DLP is just a piece of software.”

    DLP is a combination of technology, policy and process. Without the right rules and user awareness, the software won’t be effective.

  • “We’re too small to need DLP.”

    Smaller businesses are often targeted precisely because they lack strong controls. DLP can be scaled to suit your size and budget.

  • “It will slow our business down.”

    Modern DLP solutions can be configured to balance security with productivity, avoiding unnecessary blockages while still protecting key data.

Where to Start With DLP

A strong DLP program begins with:

  1. Data discovery — identifying where sensitive data lives and who can access it

  2. Risk assessment — understanding how data could be lost or stolen

  3. Policy creation — setting rules for how data should be handled

  4. Technology implementation — deploying DLP tools to enforce those rules

  5. Monitoring and review — ensuring the system works and evolves with your business needs

Approaching DLP

Cyber Wyze offers Managed DLP Services that combine policy design, technology deployment and ongoing monitoring to protect your data without disrupting business operations. We work with you to:

  • Discover and classify sensitive information

  • Develop practical policies aligned to your compliance needs

  • Deploy DLP controls across devices, networks and cloud platforms

  • Provide real-time monitoring, reporting and response

Looking for help?

Cyber Wyze DLP Solutions