Define "data loss prevention" (DLP).

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) refers to a set of strategies, tools, and technologies designed to ensure that sensitive information is adequately protected from unauthorized access, misuse, or potential leakage. This encompasses measures that organizations employ to monitor, manage, and protect data, particularly sensitive information such as personal identification numbers, financial records, or proprietary business data.

DLP solutions analyze data in transit, at rest, and in use to detect and respond to any attempts to handle sensitive information inappropriately. This can include blocking unauthorized sharing of such data, alerting security teams about potential breaches, or enforcing compliance with legal and regulatory standards regarding data privacy.

The other options highlight related concepts but do not accurately define DLP. For example, the process of recovering lost data is not part of what DLP addresses; rather it focuses on prevention. Similarly, automating data backups or securely archiving old data are important practices in data management but fall outside of the primary goal of DLP, which is to prevent sensitive data from being compromised.