Data Loss Prevention Pricing

TL;DR

• Data loss prevention (DLP) software is crucial for protecting sensitive information and preventing costly breaches. 
• DLP solutions vary widely in pricing, typically using per-user, per-volume of data, or per-module models. 
• Key cost factors include the number of users, data volume, chosen modules, cloud vs. on-premises deployment, customization, and vendor pricing. 
• Tips for getting the best value include identifying specific needs, considering long-term costs, leveraging volume discounts, and comparing multiple vendors. 

Data loss prevention (DLP) software is a critical tool for protecting sensitive information and preventing costly data breaches. However, DLP solutions vary widely in features, capabilities and price. This article provides a comprehensive overview of DLP pricing models, factors that impact cost, and tips for getting the best value.

How Data Loss Prevention Software Is Priced

There are three primary pricing models for DLP software:

Per User

This model charges a license fee for each user or endpoint that accesses the DLP software. Fees typically range from $10 to $90 per user per year. Per user pricing is common for cloud-based DLP solutions.

Per Volume of Data

Some DLP tools charge based on the amount of data analyzed and protected. Volume is measured in gigabytes or terabytes per month. Data volume pricing ranges from around $1,000 to $4,000 per terabyte.

Per Module

Module-based pricing charges separately for specific DLP capabilities like network monitoring, endpoint protection or cloud app security. Modules are priced individually but are also available in bundled suites.

In addition to the core software fees, DLP tools have extra costs for setup, configuration, maintenance, support and professional services.

Key Factors That Impact Data Loss Prevention Pricing

Several variables influence the total cost of a DLP solution:

Number of users: More users mean higher licensing fees.

Data volume: Solutions based on data volume have higher costs when protecting larger data sets.

Modules used: Selecting more DLP modules increases functionality but also boosts pricing.

Cloud vs on-premises: Cloud DLP is convenient but often more expensive long-term than on-prem solutions.

Customization: Extensive configuration and custom policies add to implementation and support costs.

Service and support: Ongoing maintenance, upgrades and technical support carry additional fees.

Vendor: Prices vary significantly between solutions from different vendors.

Tips for Getting the Best Value

Follow these tips to maximize value and minimize DLP costs:

- Clearly identify your specific DLP needs before getting quotes. This allows you to avoid paying for unnecessary capabilities.

- Consider both short-term costs and long-term TCO when evaluating solutions.

- Leverage any volume discounts available based on number of users or data volume.

- Start with core functionality, then add other modules over time if needed.

- For cloud DLP, closely monitor data volume and stay under allowance limits.

- Limit customization to keep professional services fees in check.

- Consider bundled suites rather than individual modules to reduce costs.

- Negotiate service and support costs by committing to longer contract terms.

- Compare pricing from at least 3 vendors to get the best deal.

Data Loss Prevention Pricing Examples from Leading Vendors

To illustrate the range of DLP software costs, here are some real-world pricing examples from leading vendors:

Symantec DLP charges around $50 per user annually for endpoint and network protection, plus implementation fees of $150,000 or more for large enterprises.

McAfee DLP comes in a suite priced at $85 per user per year including maintenance. Professional services add $100,000 or more.

Digital Guardian costs $95 per user annually for their full data protection platform. Multi-year contracts reduce per-user pricing.

Forcepoint DLP offers per-user pricing starting at $30 with additional fees for setup, maintenance and support.

Zscaler offers DLP as part of their cloud platform for $5 per user monthly, with 500GB of data scanned included.

As you can see, DLP solutions range from around $10 to $100 per user annually for basic functionality. However, advanced features, extensive customization and professional services can rapidly increase costs for enterprise-wide deployment. Carefully evaluating your specific requirements and comparing vendor pricing is crucial to finding the right DLP software at the best value.

Evaluating Data Loss Prevention Vendors and Features

When comparing DLP solutions, you'll want to look at key factors like:

• Breadth of coverage: How many channels does the DLP tool monitor and protect? Email, endpoints, cloud apps, networks, databases, etc.
• Detection methods: Does it rely just on regex, dictionaries and exact data matching? Or does it also use machine learning and behavioral analysis?
• Policy and rule customization: Can you tune rules and policies to your specific data security needs?
• Automation capabilities: Does it automatically discover sensitive data and apply encryption and access controls?
• Incident workflows: Does it integrate with security operations tools? Can it automatically trigger responses and alerts?
• Ease of use: How intuitive is the management console? How much training is required?
• Customer support: Is training, maintenance and technical support included? What do support fees cost?
• Scalability: Can the solution easily expand to support more users, locations and data as your business grows?

Prioritizing must-have features and nice-to-haves will help determine the best solution for your budget.

When comparing data loss prevention solutions, it's crucial to consider modern, comprehensive approaches. Strac's DLP solution offers a wide range of features including AI-powered detection, custom data element configuration, and deep content inspection across various file formats, providing robust protection for sensitive data across multiple platforms.

Making the Business Case for DLP Investment

Gaining executive buy-in for a DLP solution requires building a compelling business case focused on risk reduction and ROI. Be sure to cover:

• Cost of data breaches: Highlight potential financial losses, legal liabilities and reputational damages.
• Compliance mandates: Note where DLP can help avoid regulatory fines for non-compliance.
• Current vulnerabilities: Document where sensitive data lives, how it's used, and existing protection gaps.
• Efficiency gains: Time and effort saved on manual data protection tasks.
• Quick ROI: With the right solution, DLP pays for itself by preventing just one breach.
• Beyond prevention: DLP also enables safe data use for innovation and smarter business decisions.

With thoughtful analysis of needs, costs, benefits and alternatives, you can get leadership onboard with investing in DLP.

Adopting a Data-First Security Strategy

To maximize value from DLP deployments, organizations should take a strategic, data-centric approach to security. Core tenets of this model include:

• Discover: Identify and classify sensitive information wherever it lives.
• Protect: Apply adaptive access controls and encryption tied directly to data.
• Detect: Monitor data usage and movement to spot suspicious activity.
• Respond: Automate incident response and remediation workflows.
• Analyze: Gain visibility into data risks with reporting and analytics.
• Educate: Train employees on safe data handling.

By focusing security efforts on protecting critical data itself, rather than just infrastructure, companies can enable secure information use to drive business success. Evaluating DLP solutions in the context of this larger strategy ensures maximum security and value.

DLP Pricing: The Bottom Line

DLP tools' varying capabilities and models make it essential to take a strategic approach to selecting and budgeting for the right solution. 

Following best practices around pricing models, cost factors, and vendor comparisons helps maximize value. Prioritizing critical features over unnecessary extras keeps costs contained. With the proper due diligence and planning, organizations can implement DLP capabilities that enhance data security in a budget-friendly manner.

Ready to explore a data loss prevention solution that offers competitive pricing and comprehensive protection? Book a demo with Strac to see how our advanced DLP capabilities can fit your budget and security needs.