DLP in the AI Era

This report examines the operational reality of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) programs across enterprise security organizations, drawing on survey responses from practitioners and leaders with direct DLP exposure. It assesses program effectiveness, channel coverage — including emerging exposure through generative AI tools and unmanaged devices — analyst investigation burden, enforcement posture, and the role of data classification as a prerequisite to active protection. The findings characterize where DLP is delivering proportional value, where coverage gaps are widening, and where the operational and financial costs of running these programs are outpacing the protection they provide. The research is intended to inform security leaders evaluating DLP strategy against a shifting data-exfiltration landscape.