Forcepoint Alternatives for Data Security in 2024

Forcepoint is a cybersecurity company specializing in data loss prevention (DLP) solutions. Using Forcepoint, businesses can monitor, detect, and prevent unauthorized data transfers across various channels, including email, web, cloud applications, and endpoints. Companies choose Forcepoint for DLP because of its established position in the market.

While Forcepoint has useful features for businesses looking to secure their data, it may not be the right solution for every organization. In this article, we review Forcepoint's capabilities and shortcomings and compare them against top competitors in the marketplace today so you can make an informed decision about choosing the right data security solution for you.

Limitations of Forcepoint

User-generated reviews help distill Forcepoint’s limitations:

• “My support experiences have not met expectations and product has limitations. Lack of visibility, high learning curve when compared to other products, slow response to support calls.” (Gartner)
• “The issue for me is the lack of logging and policy configuration rules." (Gartner)
• “Endpoint solution with outdated technology. None of the functionalities work properly and product [has a] lot of bugs.” (Gartner)
• “We have had problems with compatibility with the Operating Systems we choose to use being supported with the Endpoint agent. Performing updates and hotfixes of on-prem servers can be time consuming. We have had some issues with the actions when blocking DLP events with application monitoring and prompting users with repetitive prompts. This is because of the way Windows accesses files. The application monitoring seems to be a little rudimentary and it doesn't seem like Forcepoint allocated a lot of development efforts to that portion of the product.” (Gartner)
• “Often the services drop rendering the filtering useless and allowing traffic through.” (G2)

Summary of limitations

These insights provide a comprehensive view of the challenges and limitations that users face when implementing and using Forcepoint, which are crucial for potential users to consider in their decision-making process.

Steep learning curve

• Initial setup is described as complex and time-consuming, requiring significant effort and resources. This complexity can be a barrier for new users or those unfamiliar with the system.
• While integration with other Forcepoint products is seamless, managing and integrating with other third-party systems can be complex and may require additional resources.

Workflow interruptions

• There are occasional instances where Forcepoint DLP may block applications unnecessarily, affecting user workflows.

High cost of ownership

• Forcepoint DLP may require substantial system resources, impacting overall performance. This aspect is highlighted as a potential drawback for organizations with limited IT infrastructure.
• Endpoint-based DLP solutions may exhibit extensive resource utilization at times, potentially impacting system performance.
• The solution is considered financially costly compared to other products in the market. This can be a significant consideration for organizations evaluating budget constraints versus functionality.

Limited support

• Responses from support are reported to be untimely, often leading users to resolve issues independently. This slow response can hinder operational efficiency and timely issue resolution.

Issues with CASB solution

• The CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) solution is criticized for not meeting enterprise-level requirements and lacking necessary capabilities, such as comprehensive data identification across multiple SQL servers.

Inadequate logging and policy configuration

• Users note a lack of detailed logging and challenges in configuring policies effectively. This can lead to difficulties in monitoring and managing incidents accurately.

Specific functional issues

• Users mention specific functional issues such as problems with machine learning, fingerprint detection, OCR features, and rule tuning that remain unresolved for extended periods.

Heavyweight deployment model

• ​​Forcepoint's product architecture requires the customer to spin up their own server on their cloud account to connect to Forcepoint's on-premises component. This additional setup means maintaining a server and allocate manpower to support it. The pricing doesn't include this hidden cost.

Alternatives to Forcepoint

Nightfall AI

Nightfall AI is the comprehensive, AI-native data security platform that helps organizations to discover and protect sensitive data where end-users work in the modern enterprise: across SaaS, email, AI apps, and endpoint devices. Whether you’re looking to prevent secret sprawl, stop data exfiltration, or secure AI usage, Nightfall’s industry-leading detection engine and flexible APIs cover a wide variety of use cases.

Powered by advanced AI and machine learning techniques, Nightfall’s PII, PCI, PHI, secret, and IP detectors have 2x greater precision and 4x fewer false positives than legacy DLP solutions, which are built on regular expressions (regexes) and heuristics. This increased accuracy means that security teams can respond to high-priority alerts in near-real time, and maintain continuous compliance with leading standards like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR. 

Get a demo of Nightfall here.

Proofpoint DLP

Proofpoint DLP offers data protection across various channels, including email, web, cloud applications, and endpoints. Its integration with Proofpoint's email security solutions is a notable strength. Customers may choose Proofpoint over Forcepoint due to Proofpoint’s deep roots in email security, making it a reasonable choice for organizations prioritizing email-based data loss prevention. Proofpoint’s threat intelligence and user experience may also rival Forcepoint.

However, Proofpoint can be complex to set up and manage, especially for smaller organizations. Some users report high false positive rates, requiring frequent fine-tuning. Pricing can be expensive, particularly for comprehensive coverage. Finally, Proofpoint has limited customization options for specific industry needs.

Symantec DLP

Symantec DLP is part of a broader security ecosystem, offering data protection across multiple channels. Customers may choose Symantec over Forcepoint due to Symantec’s comprehensive security suite. Organizations already using other Symantec products may benefit from the seamless integration and unified management console. Symantec’s roots are in endpoint security, which may translate to more robust endpoint DLP capabilities.

However, Symantec can be resource-intensive, potentially impacting system performance. Users report a steep learning curve and complex configuration process. Support quality has been inconsistent, with some users experiencing long response times. Finally, integration with non-Symantec products can be challenging.

Trellix DLP

Trellix DLP (formerly McAfee) uses behavior analytics for data protection across cloud services, email, and endpoints. Customers may choose Trellix over Forcepoint due to their focus on XDR, which can provide broader endpoint security.

However, some users report frequent false positives, requiring ongoing adjustment. The interface can be unintuitive, making policy management challenging. Updates and patches can be disruptive to operations. Trellix provides limited flexibility in customizing rules for specific business needs. McAfee has acquired a number of vendors over the years, posing a challenge from a product integration and seamlessness perspective.

Fortra's Digital Guardian

Digital Guardian offers data protection across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. Customer’s may choose Digital Guardian over Forcepoint when they are looking for more robust data discovery capabilities or an endpoint-centric approach.

However, the solution can be complex to deploy and manage effectively. Some users report performance issues, especially on endpoints. Pricing structure can be confusing and potentially expensive for full feature set. Digital Guardian provides limited integration capabilities with certain third-party tools.

Final thoughts

When choosing a data security solution, it's crucial to consider your organization's specific needs, budget, and existing infrastructure. While all the mentioned alternatives offer robust features, Nightfall AI stands out as the most innovative and effective option, particularly for organizations prioritizing cloud security and AI-driven protection.

Nightfall's use of generative AI (GenAI) and advanced machine learning techniques provides superior accuracy in detecting sensitive data, with significantly fewer false positives compared to traditional solutions. Its ability to secure both SaaS and GenAI applications, along with email and endpoints, makes it a versatile choice for modern enterprises.

However, each solution has its strengths. Ultimately, while Forcepoint remains a viable option for some organizations, alternatives like Nightfall AI offer more advanced technologies and better accuracy, potentially providing more value and stronger protection in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape. We recommend thoroughly evaluating each solution, with particular attention to Nightfall AI's cutting-edge features, before making a final decision.