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Microsoft Purview DLP vs Symantec DLP comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 2, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.3
Users benefit from Microsoft Purview DLP due to seamless integration, cost savings, productivity boosts, and enhanced security without extra expenses.
Sentiment score
6.2
Symantec DLP increases ROI by reducing costs, improving response times, and enabling efficient data monitoring and policy configuration.
We save a lot of time for legal by using Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention when searching data for legal and HR and employee issues.
Staff Systems Administrator at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
In these days of data breaches and data leakages that result in huge regulatory fines, we have not had any data breaches that could result in such fines.
Head of Geographies; Data Protection Officer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
The fact that we are not being fined is crucial.
Cloud Architecture Lead at bolder inc
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
5.9
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention support experiences vary, with praised documentation but mixed reviews on response time and effectiveness.
Sentiment score
6.3
Symantec Data Loss Prevention support is mixed, with responsive staff but concerns over slow responses and knowledge gaps.
I rate it a ten because they are very quick to respond and very quick to escalate if needed.
Cloud Architecture Lead at bolder inc
Once we got to the Microsoft engineers, the experience was great.
Director of Cyber Security
In terms of support, it's top-notch and always available to help us with any support issues we raise.
Head of Geographies; Data Protection Officer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
The support provided from both Symantec Turkey and distributor companies enables us to support customers and partners effectively.
Technical Team Leader at Redington (India) Ltd
The support team changed from MTechPro to a different partner, affecting our experience.
Information Security Engineer 4 at Amadeus
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is scalable for medium to large organizations but faces integration challenges with non-Microsoft systems.
Sentiment score
7.6
Symantec Data Loss Prevention is highly scalable, favored by enterprises, though some face challenges with virtualization and browser integrations.
The policy working and detection technology need enhancements.
Solution Architect at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention scales well with the growing needs of our organization.
Head of Geographies; Data Protection Officer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention scales effectively.
Director, IT Infrastructure at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
When using native proxy solutions, scalability issues are minimized, and the solution remains stable.
Information Security Engineer 4 at Amadeus
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.7
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is stable and reliable, with minor configuration issues but overall positive user feedback.
Sentiment score
7.7
Symantec Data Loss Prevention is stable and reliable, with minor glitches and maintenance needs primarily on Windows and cloud features.
I would assess the stability and reliability of Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention as high.
Co-Owner and Principal Consultant at BriComp Computers
The stability and reliability of Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is great.
Senior Infrastructure Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
I assess the stability and reliability of Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention as quite good because I don't think it's ever gone down, unlike other parts of Azure.
Director, IT Infrastructure at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Purview DLP requires improvements in integration, stability, AI, licensing, language support, documentation, compatibility, and OCR features.
Symantec Data Loss Prevention struggles with complexity, costly pricing, integration challenges, and requires improvements in support, features, and detection.
Business Premium users can get the data loss prevention features of E5, which is fantastic.
Senior Infrastructure Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Implementing a degree of severity ranking is essential.
Director of Cyber Security
More guides, more examples, and more compliance frameworks such as NIST or even PCI compliance would be great.
Director, IT Infrastructure at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Symantec responded by creating an OCR module, enabling the capability to search within images.
Technical Team Leader at Redington (India) Ltd
They can improve their product and the features mainly to focus on how we can prevent that data within the organization, over the cloud, whatever it is, as that is important.
System Manager at Randstad
A main disadvantage of Symantec DLP is its reliance on Oracle.
Information Security Engineer 4 at Amadeus
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention in E5 licenses offers competitive pricing and value with bundled security features and flexible options.
Symantec Data Loss Prevention has high pricing, with costs varying by deployment, database needs, and licensing options, suitable for enterprises.
In terms of pricing, I would say it's unlimited value because it's bundled in our A5 and E5 licensing situation.
Director, IT Infrastructure at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
The pricing for Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is generally set; E5 is required, but it comes with all other products, so I would say it is fine.
Security Engineer at baseVISION
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that it is very straightforward because we are all using E5 licenses, so we are covered.
Cloud Architecture Lead at bolder inc
Symantec Data Loss Prevention is more expensive compared to competing solutions.
Technical Team Leader at Redington (India) Ltd
If it is a large target, then of course your cost will be high.
System Manager at Randstad
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention excels in data protection, compliance, and productivity through integration and machine learning capabilities.
Symantec Data Loss Prevention provides comprehensive features, including data monitoring, machine learning, endpoint protection, network DLP, and advanced management.
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention prevents users from sharing sensitive information outside the organization based on the configurations that we've implemented.
Head of Geographies; Data Protection Officer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Purview has helped improve our organization's ability to discover sensitive data significantly as we use eDiscovery Purview, which is incredibly helpful.
Staff Systems Administrator at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention usually performs well, except for endpoint Data Loss Prevention, which may need improvements.
Solution Architect at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Symantec's OCR module enhances image analysis, crucial for detecting data loss via screenshots, improving the overall security posture against data breaches.
Technical Team Leader at Redington (India) Ltd
Symantec Data Loss Prevention has proprietary metadata and is well-suited for endpoint-level security.
Information Security Engineer 4 at Amadeus
The centralized management console in Symantec Data Loss Prevention helps me understand the data flow analysis part from each and every department.
System Manager at Randstad
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Purview Data Loss...
Ranking in Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
31
Ranking in other categories
Microsoft Security Suite (13th)
Symantec Data Loss Prevention
Ranking in Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
3rd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
61
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is 8.9%, down from 15.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Data Loss Prevention is 4.2%, down from 6.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention8.9%
Symantec Data Loss Prevention4.2%
Other86.9%
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
 

Q&A Highlights

VK
ISR Service Manager Data Security Services - Cybersecurity at Standard Chartered Bank
Mar 23, 2023
 

Featured Reviews

ClayHampton - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Infrastructure Engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Protects sensitive data across devices and helps address client compliance needs proactively
The reporting in Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is a little easier than most Microsoft portals. I understand the licensing cost, especially if you're a Business Premium or in the SMB world, and a lot of clients run with a Business Premium. That comes with data loss prevention in a manual process, whereas E5 gives automation. Microsoft has said, 'Okay, here's your Microsoft 365 E5 compliance add-on that can go on the Business Premium.' So Business Premium users can get the data loss prevention features of E5, which is fantastic. That was the big point that they were missing, and I'm glad that they actually have an add-on now that makes it possible. So truly, I don't think there's a downside. Maybe more reporting, but that's it.
OT
Technical Team Leader at Redington (India) Ltd
Experienced implementation enhances security with robust detection and centralized management
A significant case highlighted an improvement need when a banking company lost 500 customer information pieces through screenshots. The data theft occurred through individual screenshots of credit note pages rather than taking complete PDF files. This incident led to the suggestion for implementing image detection methods, as Data Loss Prevention solutions needed to analyze image details. Symantec responded by creating an OCR module, enabling the capability to search within images. The pricing structure remains an area for improvement. We lost a POC despite installing 2,000 endpoints because Symantec Data Loss Prevention is more expensive compared to other solutions. Although the competing product couldn't match all the best practices, the price difference influenced the final decision.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions are best for your needs.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Answers from the Community

VK
ISR Service Manager Data Security Services - Cybersecurity at Standard Chartered Bank
Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023
Data loss prevention (DLP) is an important security technology that can help organizations protect their data from unauthorized access, misuse, and data loss. DLP solutions are designed to detect data breaches and alert companies about the possible security risks associated with data storage. They can be used to block data transfers or restrict access to data stored in cloud-based data stores. ...
See 2 answers
Muhammad Ejaz ul Hassan - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Mar 13, 2023
Go with Symantec DLP. If you have any questions let me know @ Ejaz.hassan@risetechno.com. 
Remy Ma - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Services at ACE Managed Securty Services
Mar 23, 2023
Data loss prevention (DLP) is an important security technology that can help organizations protect their data from unauthorized access, misuse, and data loss. DLP solutions are designed to detect data breaches and alert companies about the possible security risks associated with data storage. They can be used to block data transfers or restrict access to data stored in cloud-based data stores. In addition, DLP solutions can be used to monitor data usage and detect malicious behavior such as data theft or data leakage. By implementing data loss prevention technology, companies can protect their data from external threats and unauthorized access. When it comes to Email Cloud Security, Symantec DLP, Proofpoint DLP, and Microsoft Purview DLP are all strong contenders. But which solution is the right one for you? Well, that depends on your specific needs. If you prioritize ease of use and scalability in your Email Cloud Security solutions, then Symantec DLP is the right choice. If, on the other hand, you value data privacy and protection then Proofpoint DLP is a better option. Finally, Microsoft Purview DLP stands out for its comprehensive analytics tools that give users greater insight into their Email Cloud Security performance. So which Email Cloud Security solution do you pick? Choose wisely! It could make all the difference.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
15%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Insurance Company
5%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Computer Software Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
10%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business14
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise15
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business23
Midsize Enterprise12
Large Enterprise28
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention?
The pricing of Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention is acceptable for us.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention?
I think that a feature on the side where you could click on something with a question mark, and then if you click on it, it would open up a new window and give you more information on that, almost ...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention?
My main use case is to upload mailboxes. We're using Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention to upload mailboxes. The migration tool that's built into the Microsoft Hybrid isn't working on our domai...
What do you like most about Symantec Data Loss Prevention?
It can prevent copying and encoding of HTTP data to various sites like Google, and Webex.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Symantec Data Loss Prevention?
I am not aware of the licensing cost for Symantec Data Loss Prevention because the licensing cost is up to senior management's decision. I really don't know what the cost of that is. It is based on...
What needs improvement with Symantec Data Loss Prevention?
In future updates of Symantec Data Loss Prevention, I would like to see improvements based on the many attacks happening around the world. They can improve their product and the features mainly to ...
 

Also Known As

Microsoft Endpoint Data Loss Prevention, MS Endpoint DLP, Microsoft Endpoint DLP
Symantec DLP
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Hadassah University Hospital, Her Majestys Government (HMG), United Kingdom, Hitachi Consulting Software Services India Pvt Ltd., Hua Nan Bank, Hyundai Department Store Group,JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Lake Health, McCann Erickson Israel, Molina Healthcare Inc., PGi, Quilvest Switzerland Limited, State of Nevada Public Employees Benefits Program, Symantec Corporation (Enterprise Security), The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust (DLP), The Saudi Industrial Property Authority, TSO cloud, Visa, Yunnan Power Grid Company
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention vs. Symantec Data Loss Prevention and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.