Microsoft Purview Alternatives for Data Security and Data Loss Prevention in 2024

Microsoft Purview is a unified data governance solution that helps organizations manage and protect their data across on-premises, multi-cloud, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) environments. It includes data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities as part of its broader data governance features. Companies often choose Microsoft Purview for its integration with other Microsoft products and its comprehensive approach to data management.

While Microsoft Purview offers robust features for data governance and protection, it may not be the ideal solution for every organization. In this article, we review Microsoft Purview's capabilities and limitations, comparing them against top competitors in the market to help you make an informed decision about your data governance and loss prevention solution.

Limitations of Microsoft Purview DLP

User-generated reviews help illustrate Microsoft Purview's limitations:

• “Overall, very limited functionality and flexibility as compared to the industry-leading DLP products… Technical Support is terrible and the DCR process needs an overhaul. The product is not yet enterprise ready as compared to the industry-leading DLP products.” (Gartner)
• “I feel it is hard to use. I believe it is a chaotic mess. In my experience, it has terrible documentation.” (TrustRadius)
• “The Data Loss Prevention tools don't seem to integrate well with other DLP tools Microsoft provides, like those built into Exchange Online. Data is missed when it should be blocked from being sent. The way Purview contributes to the overall Microsoft Security Score can be a bit difficult to tell, it's not clear what is being applied to improve the score and other management windows need to be accessed to address suggestions.” (TrustRadius)
• “Lacks functionality compared to [other] products.” (Azure Marketplace)
• “Shows promise, but at this stage it is still a Data Catalogue tool rebranded as a Data Governance tool.” (Azure Marketplace)

Summary of limitations

These insights provide a comprehensive view of the challenges users face when implementing and using Microsoft Purview, which are crucial for potential users to consider:

Limited integrations

• Users cite limitations in customization and adaptability with third-party services.
• Users encounter challenges with integrations in complex data environments outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Poor integration even with other Microsoft DLP tools, such as those in Exchange Online.

Complex setup

• Time-consuming setup and configuration, especially for organizations with diverse data sources.
• Steep learning curve for users, particularly in complex management systems.
• Poor documentation exacerbates the difficulty in implementation and use.

Steep cost

• Pricey licensing costs can pose a barrier for organizations considering adoption.
• Cost may be prohibitive for scaling the solution across an organization.

Challenging UI

• Users report that the UI isn't particularly user-friendly or intuitive.
• Difficulties in navigating through the UI and managing policies.
• Lack of clarity in how Purview contributes to the overall Microsoft Security Score.

Limited functionality

• Perceived as lacking functionality compared to industry-leading DLP products.
• Some users view it as a rebranded data catalogue tool rather than a comprehensive data governance solution.

Poor technical support

• Users report terrible technical support experiences.
• The DCR (Design Change Request) process is criticized as needing an overhaul.

Alternative solutions to Microsoft Purview

Nightfall AI

Nightfall AI is the comprehensive, AI-native data security platform that enables organizations to discover and protect sensitive data where end-users work in the modern enterprise: across SaaS and AI apps as well as email andendpoint 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 deliver greater accuracy 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 across the SaaS ecosystem (not just within Microsoft products), and maintain continuous compliance with leading standards like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR. 

You can get a demo of Nightfall here.

Google Cloud DLP

Google Cloud DLP offers data loss prevention capabilities as part of its broader cloud security platform. Customers might choose Google Cloud DLP over Microsoft Purview for its strong integration with Google Cloud services and its advanced machine learning-based content inspection.

Google Cloud DLP provides features such as data discovery, classification, and de-identification across cloud storage, databases, and big data processing frameworks. It offers flexible API access and can be integrated with various data pipelines and applications.

However, Google Cloud DLP may be less suitable for organizations that are heavily invested in a heterogenous SaaS ecosystem beyond the Google suite of products or those looking for a comprehensive data security solution beyond DLP.

Forcepoint DLP

Forcepoint DLP offers data protection across various channels, including cloud, network, and endpoint. Customers might choose Forcepoint over Microsoft Purview for its strong focus on user behavior analytics and its ability to provide context-aware security policies.

Forcepoint's DLP solution includes features such as optical character recognition (OCR), machine learning-based classification, and robust policy management. It also offers flexible deployment options, including on-premises, cloud, and hybrid setups.

However, some users report that Forcepoint's DLP can have a steep learning curve and may require significant tuning to reduce false positives. The solution's pricing structure can also be complex, potentially leading to unexpected costs.

Proofpoint DLP

Proofpoint DLP secures sensitive data across various channels, including email, web, cloud applications, and endpoints. Customers might choose Proofpoint over Microsoft Purview for its strong email security heritage and its comprehensive approach to information protection.

Proofpoint leverages advanced machine learning and sophisticated content inspection techniques to identify, monitor, and control data. Its user-friendly interface and detailed reporting capabilities allow security teams to manage policies, investigate incidents, and generate compliance reports with ease.

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.

Symantec DLP

Symantec DLP, now part of Broadcom, offers a comprehensive data protection solution across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments. Customers might choose Symantec DLP over Microsoft Purview for its longstanding reputation in the security industry and its broad range of deployment options.

Symantec DLP provides features such as content-aware detection, user risk scoring, and automated incident response. It offers strong integration capabilities with other security tools and supports a wide range of data types and formats.

However, some users find Symantec DLP to be resource-intensive and complex to manage, especially in large, diverse environments. The solution may also require significant investment in other Broadcom security products to realize its full potential.

Final thoughts

When choosing a data governance and loss prevention 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 Microsoft Purview remains a viable option for some organizations—particularly those deeply invested in the Microsoft ecosystem—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.