As businesses move more workloads to cloud apps like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and dozens of SaaS tools, the biggest question becomes: “How to keep business data stored on cloud apps safe?”
With employees accessing cloud apps from different devices, networks, and locations, the risk of data exposure growns significantly.
To address this, many organizations rely on two key security solutions: Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) and Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Both are powerful, but they protect data in very different ways.
Naturally, this leads to common questions: Which one does my business actually need? What’s the real difference between CASB and DLP?
Let’s break it down in the simplest, most practical way possible.
What is CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker)?
A Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) solution is a security tool that helps businesses secure their data stored on cloud apps from data breaches, malware, and unauthorized user access to the data. Think of it as a smart security checkpoint that ensures the right people, with the right device, under the right conditions, access your cloud data.
Key Features of CASB
1. See everything happening in cloud apps
CASB gives you complete visibility into user logins, file downloads, sharing actions, and unusual access patterns so you always know who is doing what in your cloud environment.
2. Control who can access what
It lets you block risky logins, enforce device-level restrictions, and apply role-based permissions so only authorized users can reach your business data.
3. Prevent cloud threats and account compromise
Detects suspicious activities like impossible travel logins, abnormal session behavior, or malware-infected files and stops them before they cause damage.
4. Protect business data inside cloud apps
Confidential files stay secure by blocking unauthorized sharing, restricting risky downloads, and preventing data exposure inside cloud platforms.
5. Follow compliance requirements
CASB enforces cloud-specific security policies aligned with GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and other standards to help your organization stay compliant without extra effort.
What is DLP (Data Loss Prevention)?
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a solution that protects your business data and controls the transfer of this data outside the company network. For example, the solution prevents malicious emails that ask for your personal information, send unknown email attachments, and use risky links.
Key Features of DLP
DLP solutions are designed to:
1. Identify business data
They automatically detect confidential information such as PII, PHI, financial documents, and customer records across your systems.
2. Monitor how it moves inside and outside your network
DLP tracks every interaction with business data, whether it’s being viewed, copied, shared, or transferred, to flag unusual activity.
3. Block risky data transfers
They stop data from being sent to personal email accounts, copied to USB drives, or uploaded to unapproved websites to prevent accidental or intentional leaks.
4. Protect data across devices, networks, and cloud apps
DLP ensure your business information stays secure no matter where it’s stored or accessed, on endpoints, internal systems, or cloud platforms.
5. Prevent insider threats and careless mistakes
They detect suspicious behavior and stop employees from unknowingly or intentionally mishandling business data.
Unlike CASB, which focuses mainly on cloud applications, DLP protects data everywhere, including:
- Endpoints (laptops, PCs, devices)
- Internal networks
- Local storage
- Email systems
- Cloud apps
It reduces the chances of data leaks, whether caused by human error or malicious intent.
Differences Between CASB and DLP
If you compare CASB vs DLP, the easiest way to understand the difference is this:
- CASB protects cloud usage
- DLP protects data everywhere
Both are important, but they solve different problems.
1. Protection Scope
- CASB: Cloud apps like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce
- DLP: All internal data, including devices, networks, and endpoints
2. Purpose
- CASB: Controls cloud access and cloud behavior
- DLP: Stops unauthorized data movement or leaks
3. Core Functions
CASB:
- Detect cloud threats
- Monitor and restrict cloud usage
- Enforce cloud-based policies
DLP:
- Identify business info
- Block risky transfers
- Monitor endpoint activity
4. Result
- CASB: Better cloud security posture
- DLP: Stronger protection for business information
CASB vs DLP: Difference and Comparison Table
| Factors | CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) | DLP (Data Loss Prevention) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Monitors and controls cloud applications | Monitors, detects, and blocks data leakage |
| Visibility | Provides visibility into cloud usage | Provides visibility into data handling |
| Compliance | Helps ensure compliance with cloud usage | Ensures compliance with data protection laws |
| Threat Protection | Protects against cloud-specific threats | Protects against data breaches and leaks |
| User Activity Monitoring | Monitors user activities in the cloud | Monitors activities related to data |
| Policy Enforcement | Enforces security policies for cloud apps | Enforces data protection policies |
CASB vs DLP Use Cases
A) Business Use Cases of CASB
1) Blocking logins from unauthorized devices
CASB ensures only approved and secure devices can access your cloud apps, preventing risky or unknown devices from logging in.
2) Preventing risky file-sharing in OneDrive or Google Drive
It monitors how files are shared and blocks public links or external sharing that could expose business documents.
3) Stopping unauthorized downloads from Teams or Outlook
CASB restricts data downloads from cloud apps so users can’t take confidential files to unmanaged or personal devices.
4) Monitoring shadow IT usage
It detects unapproved or unknown cloud apps being used by employees and helps you block or control them before they become a threat.
5) Detecting unusual cloud sessions
CASB identifies suspicious behavior, like logins from unusual locations or rapid data access, and alerts the security team instantly.
B) Business Use Cases of DLP
1) Blocking customer data from being emailed externally
DLP scans outgoing emails and prevents employees from sending business information to personal or unverified addresses.
2) Preventing uploads of business info to cloud storage
It stops confidential files from being uploaded to unauthorized cloud platforms such as personal Google Drive or Dropbox.
3) Stopping USB data transfers
DLP blocks copying or transferring protected data to USB drives or external storage devices to prevent offline leaks.
4) Monitoring insider activity
It tracks how employees interact with business data and alerts you when behavior looks unusual or risky.
5) Protecting financial and personal data
DLP identifies and protects credit card numbers, customer IDs, health information, and other regulated data across your systems.
How to Choose Between CASB and DLP
Your decision mainly depends on what problem you're trying to solve. Both solutions serve different layers of security, so choosing the right one starts with understanding your immediate risks.
Choose CASB if you need:
Control over how users interact with cloud apps
Get granular rules over logins, downloads, file-sharing, and access behavior inside cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
Visibility into cloud behavior
Monitor everything happening inside SaaS apps, from suspicious logins to unauthorized data access, so nothing goes unnoticed.
Protection for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Strengthen your security posture across apps like Outlook, SharePoint, Gmail, and Drive using policies tailored specifically for cloud environments.
Real-time cloud threat monitoring
Detect anomalies such as impossible travel, unusual access locations, or high-risk file activity before they turn into security incidents.
Choose DLP if you need:
To stop data from leaking outside the company Ensure business files can’t be copied, shared, uploaded, or emailed to unauthorized recipients.
Endpoint-level monitoring
Track data movement on laptops, desktops, and other devices to stop risky actions at the source.
Compliance with data protection laws
Enforce controls required by regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS across all your environments.
Data classification across systems
Identify, tag, and organize business information so you always know where your critical data lives and how it’s being used.
How CASB and DLP Work Together
CASB and DLP solve different parts of the security puzzle, and when combined, they create a powerful, end-to-end protection strategy across your entire environment.
CASB secures cloud apps
It gives you complete insight and control over how users access and interact with SaaS platforms, ensuring cloud activity stays compliant and threat-free.
DLP secures data everywhere
It protects business information across endpoints, networks, email systems, storage, and cloud apps, no matter where the data lives or moves.
Together, they eliminate blind spots across devices, networks, and cloud platforms
By merging cloud behavior monitoring with deep data protection, you gain visibility into areas that would otherwise go unchecked.
This combined approach helps organizations detect threats early, prevent data leaks, enforce compliance, and maintain a strong security posture across every touchpoint in the digital workspace.
Final Word
Understanding DLP vs CASB becomes much easier when you look at what each tool protects. CASB strengthens cloud security by monitoring user behavior, controlling access, and blocking risky actions. DLP ensures business data stays protected across devices, apps, and networks.
Together, they help businesses stay ahead of cyber threats, meet compliance needs, and protect business information in a cloud-first world.
If you want an all-in-one cloud security solution, miniOrange provides powerful CASB and DLP capabilities that work seamlessly across Microsoft 365 and other cloud apps.
Ready to secure your cloud environment? Book a demo or email us at uemsupport@xecurify.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are DLP and CASB the same?
No. CASB secures cloud user activity, while DLP prevents business data from leaving the organization.
What is the difference between Cloud DLP and CASB?
Cloud DLP protects business data inside cloud apps, while CASB monitors cloud usage, enforces access policies, and detects cloud threats.
Cloud DLP vs CASB, when do you need each?
Use cloud DLP to stop data leaks and use CASB to monitor and control cloud behavior. Most businesses benefit from using both.
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