Which software solution is designed to detect and prevent sensitive information from being used, transmitted, or stored inappropriately?

The software solution designed specifically to detect and prevent sensitive information from being used, transmitted, or stored inappropriately is Data Loss Prevention (DLP). DLP technologies focus on identifying, monitoring, and protecting sensitive data throughout its lifecycle—whether it is in use, in transit, or at rest. By implementing DLP, organizations can enforce policies that prevent unauthorized access or sharing of sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, or intellectual property.

DLP solutions typically utilize a variety of techniques to achieve their goals. These might include content inspection, contextual analysis, and user behavior monitoring. The ability to enforce rules and provide alerts ensures that organizations can proactively protect their data, reducing the risks of data breaches and compliance violations.

While other options like network intrusion prevention systems (NIPS) and network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) focus on monitoring and managing network traffic for malicious activity, they do not specifically address the unauthorized use or storage of sensitive data. File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) is used to ensure that files have not been altered inappropriately, but it does not inherently prevent unauthorized transmission or usage of sensitive information. Therefore, DLP is the most appropriate choice for the task at hand.