What does "data loss prevention" (DLP) refer to?

Data loss prevention (DLP) refers to a comprehensive set of policies, procedures, and technologies designed to prevent the unauthorized sharing, access, or loss of sensitive data. In a cybersecurity context, DLP focuses on safeguarding confidential information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, and intellectual property, from data breaches, leaks, and theft.

The techniques involved in DLP often include monitoring data usage, implementing encryption, setting up access controls, and establishing user activity monitoring to detect and respond to potential data exfiltration attempts. By proactively managing how data is stored, accessed, and transmitted, DLP helps organizations mitigate risks and protect their critical information.

The other options relate to different aspects of data handling or management but do not capture the essence of what DLP accomplishes. For example, increasing data storage or improving transmission speeds does not inherently concern the protection of sensitive information, while simplifying data management addresses organizational efficiency rather than security.