DefinitionSecurityDLP

What is data loss prevention for AI?

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a security practice that detects and blocks sensitive data — like PII, credentials, and confidential information — from being sent to AI models. It is the critical safety net between your team and third-party AI services.

By Eric Campton·Founder, TeamPrompt·Updated June 2026

DLP Capabilities

How DLP for AI works

Every feature designed to help your team work smarter with AI.

01

Real-time scanning

Every prompt is scanned for sensitive data patterns before it leaves the browser and reaches any AI model.

02

Pattern detection

Detect SSNs, credit card numbers, API keys, email addresses, phone numbers, and custom patterns specific to your organization.

03

Block or warn

Configure DLP to block prompts containing sensitive data entirely, or warn users and let them decide whether to proceed.

04

Custom rules

Define organization-specific patterns and keywords to catch industry-specific sensitive data like patient IDs or account numbers.

05

Incident reporting

Track every DLP detection with details on what was caught, when, and by whom for security auditing and compliance.

06

Policy enforcement

Apply DLP rules consistently across every team member and every AI tool without relying on individual vigilance.

Benefits

Why teams need DLP for AI tools

Prevent accidental exposure of sensitive data to third-party AI services
Meet compliance requirements for data protection regulations like GDPR and HIPAA
Protect API keys, credentials, and secrets from leaking through prompts
Enforce data security policies consistently across the entire organization
Reduce risk without slowing down AI adoption or productivity
Maintain audit trails of all DLP detections for compliance reporting

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What types of data does TeamPrompt's DLP catch?

Out of the box: SSNs, Luhn-validated credit card numbers, AWS access keys (AKIA/ASIA), generic API key prefixes (sk_, pk_, ghp_, glpat-, xoxb-, SG.), JWTs, PEM private keys, IBANs, ICD-10 codes, MRN labels, dates of birth, US street addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses. Custom patterns add organization-specific terms.

Does DLP scanning slow down prompt insertion?

No. Pattern-based scanning runs in 1-10 milliseconds entirely client-side, with no network round-trip. Users experience zero perceptible delay. Heavier ML-based detection adds 50-200ms and is best reserved for categories where accuracy matters more than speed.

Can I customize DLP rules for my industry?

Yes. The rule editor accepts keyword, regex, and exact-match patterns. Compliance packs ship pre-built rule sets for HIPAA (the 18 identifiers), PCI-DSS (PAN + service codes), GDPR, SOC 2, and EU AI Act. Custom rules can be added to any pack with per-severity action (block, warn, redact).

How is DLP for AI different from traditional DLP?

Traditional DLP watches email, file uploads, and cloud storage — channels where data leaves as files. AI DLP watches the chat composer in the browser, scanning prompt text before submission. Same detection logic, different integration point. Network and endpoint DLP do not see prompts; they see HTTPS request bodies to api.openai.com.

What happens to detected data — is it stored?

By default no — TeamPrompt logs the detection event (timestamp, user, AI tool, category, severity, action taken) but stores only a redacted version of the prompt or just the category, depending on the org's logging mode. Full-prompt logging is an opt-in setting for organizations that need it for compliance audits.

How it works

Three steps from install to full AI security coverage.

1

Install

Add the browser extension to Chrome, Edge, or Firefox — or deploy it to your whole team via MDM. No proxy or VPN needed.

2

Configure

Enable the compliance packs for your industry, set DLP rules, and add your team's prompts to the shared library.

3

Protected

Every AI interaction is scanned in real time. Sensitive data is blocked before it leaves the browser. Your team has a full audit trail.

Want help getting set up?

Tell us where you are with AI today and we'll walk you through the right setup for your team. No demo gating, no pressure.

Free for up to 3 members. No credit card required.