Data loss prevention (DLP) is a strategy for detecting and preventing potential data breaches. It makes sure that end users do not maliciously send sensitive or critical information outside the corporate network. The term is also used to describe software products that help a IT professionals control what data end users can transfer.

DLP software products use business rules to classify and protect confidential and critical information, so that unauthorized end users cannot accidentally or maliciously share data whose disclosure could put the organization at risk.