Palo Alto Networks Alternatives for Data Security and DLP in 2024

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) offers Enterprise Data Loss Prevention (DLP) as part of its broader security platform. Customers might choose Palo Alto Networks for its comprehensive security ecosystem and strong network security heritage. However, while PANW provides robust features for cloud security and data protection, it may not be the ideal solution for every organization. In this article, we review PANW's limitations and compare it against top competitors in the market to help you make an informed decision about your DLP solution.

Limitations of PANW DLP

User-generated reviews help illustrate PANW's limitations:

• “It's a good product if you are already a Palo Alto shop due to the ease of integration, but it is not a market leader in the space." (Gartner)
• “The solution needs improvement in stability. There has been feedback regarding the accuracy of file categorization.” (PeerSpot)
• “Look somewhere else if you want a more robust DLP solution.” (Reddit)
• “Palo doesn't meet their own SLAs. There's endless comments on [this] sub about needing to get a hold of the account manager to get anything out of [Palo] support.” (Reddit) 

Summary of limitations

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

Documentation and maintenance

• Users express a need for improved documentation regarding product maintenance, automatic updates, and policy management. 
• Users find the current documentation lacking in detail and context.

Lack of scalability

• The solution's scalability is reported to be below par compared to other DLP solutions.

Heavy agents

• The DLP agents are considered heavy, which may impact system performance.

External backup requirements

• Users need to implement an external solution for backup purposes, as the built-in capabilities may not suffice.

Stability issues

• There have been concerns about the solution's stability and the accuracy of file categorization.

Accuracy of file categorization

• Users have provided feedback that the accuracy of file categorization needs improvement.

Alternatives to PANW Enterprise DLP

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, 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 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, and maintain continuous compliance with leading standards like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR.

You can get a demo of Nightfall here.

Netskope DLP

Netskope is favored for data security due to its robust cloud-native framework and seamless integration with cloud services like SaaS, IaaS, and web environments. It offers in-depth visibility and control over data, providing real-time threat protection and DLP. This helps organizations maintain compliance with regulatory standards while ensuring robust security against advanced threats. Netskope's granular policy controls and user behavior analytics enhance its ability to protect sensitive information, facilitating secure collaboration and remote work environments.

However, Netskope has its drawbacks. Its complex and time-consuming deployment can be challenging for larger organizations. Users often face issues with the Netskope Agent failing to stay active, risking exposure to malicious websites. The logging dashboard falls short, providing inaccurate and incomplete information. Performance issues, including bandwidth degradation, also impact user experience. Additionally, Netskope's high cost and clunky, user-unfriendly interface make it less appealing compared to other solutions.

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.

Zscaler DLP

Zscaler DLP is part of Zscaler's broader cloud security platform, offering data protection across various channels. Customers might choose Zscaler over Netskope for its integrated approach to cloud security and its global cloud architecture, which can provide better performance and scalability.

Zscaler's DLP capabilities include content inspection, policy enforcement, and incident management. Its cloud-native approach allows for seamless integration with other Zscaler security services.

However, some users report that Zscaler's DLP can be complex to configure and manage, especially for organizations with diverse data protection needs. The solution may also require significant investment in other Zscaler products to realize its full potential.

Final thoughts

When choosing a data security and DLP 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 advanced AI and 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.

We recommend thoroughly evaluating each solution, with particular attention to Nightfall AI's cutting-edge features, before making a final decision on your data loss prevention strategy.