What type of system is designed to monitor data while in use, in transit, or at rest to detect attempts to steal data?

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems are specifically designed to monitor and protect sensitive data while it is in use, in transit, or at rest. These systems implement a set of policies to detect and prevent unauthorized data access or data leaks. DLP solutions analyze data flows and can block actions that may lead to data breaches, such as copying sensitive data to external drives or sending it over unsecured channels.

DLP effectiveness lies in its ability to continuously monitor where sensitive information resides and how it is being handled, ensuring that potential threats are identified and mitigated proactively. This capability is critical in regulatory environments where protecting personally identifiable information or financial data is paramount.

While other options like Access Control Lists, Intrusion Detection Systems, and Encryption Tools serve important security roles, they do not specifically focus on the monitoring and prevention of data loss in the same comprehensive manner that DLP does. Access Control Lists manage user permissions, Intrusion Detection Systems focus on identifying unauthorized access attempts, and Encryption Tools secure data through encoding rather than monitoring behaviors related to data usage.