Best Practices for Data Leak Prevention in Enterprises

Every year, cyberattacks grow more sophisticated—and so do the consequences of poor data security. In fact, the average global cost of a data breach in 2024 reached $4.88 million, according to IBM. While many organizations focus on defense against external hackers, most leaks originate from within—whether through employee mistakes, poor configurations, or malicious insiders.

This is why data leak prevention (DLP) has become a critical priority for CEOs, CISOs, and IT leaders alike. In this article, we’ll explore what data leak prevention means, why it matters, the strategies and tools that work, and what the future holds.

What is Data Leak Prevention?

Data leak prevention is the process of identifying, monitoring, and protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access, transmission, or exposure. Unlike a data breach, which usually involves an external attack, a data leak can be:

• Accidental (e.g., emailing confidential files to the wrong recipient ...