What is DLP?
Data Loss Prevention
A set of technologies that detect and prevent unauthorized transmission of sensitive data by inspecting content at rest, in motion, and in use against predefined and custom data patterns.
DLP within a SASE/SSE platform inspects traffic inline (data-in-motion) and via API integrations (data-at-rest) to identify sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, source code, or proprietary documents. Detection methods range from basic regex and keyword matching to advanced techniques like exact data matching (EDM), indexed document matching (IDM), optical character recognition (OCR) for images and screenshots, and machine learning classifiers trained to recognize sensitive content in context.
In a cloud-delivered model, DLP policies are enforced at the SWG (web uploads), CASB (SaaS activity), ZTNA (private application access), and sometimes at the email gateway. The policy engine should be unified, meaning a single DLP rule that flags PCI data applies consistently across all channels without duplicating configuration.
The most persistent challenge with DLP is false positive management. Overly broad policies generate alert fatigue and drive users to find workarounds, undermining the control entirely. Start with detection-only mode on a narrow set of high-confidence patterns (exact data matches for known sensitive records), tune thresholds based on real traffic, and expand coverage incrementally. DLP is an ongoing program, not a one-time deployment.
The security half of SASE, delivering SWG, CASB, ZTNA, and DLP as cloud-delivered services without the SD-WAN networking component.
A security control point between users and SaaS applications that provides visibility into shadow IT, enforces data protection policies, and detects threats across cloud services.
A cloud or on-premises proxy that inspects all web-bound traffic for malware, enforces URL filtering policies, and prevents data exfiltration over HTTP/HTTPS.
The use of unsanctioned applications, cloud services, and devices by employees without the knowledge or approval of the IT or security team.
US federal law that mandates security and privacy protections for protected health information (PHI), with specific technical safeguards that SASE platforms can enforce.
A set of security standards for organizations that handle cardholder data, requiring network segmentation, access controls, encryption, and monitoring — all addressable through SASE.
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