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Digital Guardian vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention comparison

Fortra and McAfee are both solutions in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) category. Fortra is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.0, while McAfee is ranked #27 with an average rating of 7.7. Fortra holds a 3.4% mindshare in DLP, compared to McAfee’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 77% of Fortra users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 76% of McAfee users who would recommend it.
Digital Guardian
Read 11 Digital Guardian reviews
  • 1,824 Views
  • 1,147 Comparison Views
77% willing to recommend
McAfee Total Protection for...
Read 29 McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention reviews
  • 489 Views
  • 353 Comparison Views
76% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 3, 2024

McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention and Digital Guardian are key players in the data security category. Digital Guardian appears to have the upper hand due to its advanced data classification and protection features.

Features: McAfee offers a single-agent platform, easy configuration, and effective endpoint monitoring. Its administration is user-friendly, helping to streamline security management. Digital Guardian delivers advanced data classification, protection across multiple vectors, and impressive analytics, enhancing its capability to secure sensitive data.

Room for Improvement: McAfee is criticized for heavy resource use on virtual machines, high support costs, and a complex interface. It also experiences bugs and inconsistent support in some regions. Digital Guardian needs to improve agent stability, integration with Mac and Linux, and browser support, while users seek better policy management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: McAfee is usually on-premises but can be deployed on public clouds, earning mixed customer service reviews, especially regarding third-party dependencies. Digital Guardian is flexible across on-premises, public, and hybrid clouds, with generally responsive support but requires better regional coverage.

Pricing and ROI: Both products are expensive, though McAfee is seen as more cost-effective, with competitive pricing for full suites. Digital Guardian, while pricier, can justify costs with professional services for tailored data loss prevention. ROI for McAfee tends to be higher, whereas Digital Guardian's ROI is reliant on specific deployment configurations.

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To learn more, read our detailed Digital Guardian vs. McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Digital Guardian vs. McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Digital Guardian
Ranking in Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
13th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
Endpoint Encryption (8th), Mobile Data Protection (6th), Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (24th), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (41st)
McAfee Total Protection for...
Ranking in Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
27th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
29
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) category, the mindshare of Digital Guardian is 3.4%, down from 4.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is 1.0%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
 

Featured Reviews

Sandeep Jopat - PeerSpot reviewer
Highly customizable, helpful support, and multiple modules available
Digital Guardian is generally considered stable, with its robust data loss prevention capabilities being highly valued by organizations. However, as with any complex software solution, there may be occasional challenges in terms of compatibility with certain operating systems or applications. In such cases, it may be necessary to modify settings or entries within Digital Guardian to ensure optimal performance. Overall, Digital Guardian is a stable solution that can be highly customized to meet the specific needs and requirements of organizations. As with any software solution, regular maintenance and support from a team of experts is necessary to ensure optimal performance and stability.
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VivekGupta7 - PeerSpot reviewer
Versatile with good patching and a straightforward setup
There is some fine-tuning needed, even once you define something. We need to do a lot of configuration. It would be easier if they made the configuration simpler, especially in the beginning. They need to give the user more choices and provide more guidance to help avoid problems later on. We'd like some more built-in predictive analytics so we can be prepared for what might happen in the future. We did have some bandwidth issues during setup. If your update fails, you may have stability issues. We find it difficult to reach higher levels of support when we face larger issues.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It has been scalable."
"We have been able to monitor access to files from each of our workstations."
"Some of the features that are highly appreciated are its robust data loss prevention capabilities, flexible deployment options, and the ability to monitor data transfer across multiple vectors."
"It can scale from 100 to 10,000. There's no problem with the scalability."
"I like the solution's adaptive inspection and container inspection."
"There is a built-in endpoint detection response that helps save money."
"The technical support is really terrific."
"The feature we call desktop recording is the most valuable aspect of the solution. Not only can we collect data from the user's usage, but we also capture his screenshots when he is trying to steal the data."
More Digital Guardian pros
"The most valuable feature of McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is data loss prevention."
"The solution has good stability and endpoint."
"The most valuable feature is the ability to control access to USB drives and other external devices."
"The ability to block all USBs from the McAfee portal has been great."
"I am impressed with the tool's firewalls and web protection."
"The solution is very user-friendly and valuable."
"This solution has a rich set of policies."
"Enables customization of file types and for different scenarios."
More McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention pros
 

Cons

"Digital Guardian is an excellent solution but our experience with the partner has been the most horrible experience we have ever had with any partner."
"Technical support could be better."
"It would be helpful if there was an on-premise version of the solution for companies that cannot use the cloud, such as government sectors."
"The solution has complexities around policy creation and deployment."
"The initial setup is a bit more complex than other solutions."
"I would like to see the workflow, to get all the rules and policies set up, be less complicated."
"Some features on Mac and Linux are not complete currently. For example, some device control features haven't been transferred over to the other systems. If they could have their Windows features also available on Mac and Linux, that would be perfect. Some of our customers have a Mac environment for their RD environment. Having the solution fully capable of handling everything in a Mac environment is crucial."
"If the client uses Windows 10 or 11 and Microsoft updates the operating system's version, Digital Guardian must update their product to match compatibility."
More Digital Guardian cons
"In my experience, it's not really user-friendly for me, in terms of how I navigate with the ePolicy Orchestrator. They need to upgrade their management console."
"The support from McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is good. However, if they provided 24 hours a day seven days a week support that would be a helpful addition."
"There are a lot of vulnerabilities and viruses and malware can proliferate."
"We need to do a lot of configuration."
"It could improve how it deals with solar data."
"Integration with other vendors could be improved. For example, with Chrome or Firefox."
"The solution needs an easier integration in heterogeneous and dynamic environments."
"McAfee needs to clarify its rules."
More McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If I compare Digital Guardian with Symantec, the license cost is lower, but McAfee can be cheaper than Digital Guardian. It depends on how many licenses you plan to buy and how big the project is. The cost is not so high as Symantec, but not as cheap as McAfee. They can easily sell the solution for price."
"I rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten because Digital Guardian is expensive."
"The price of Digital Guardian is on the higher end compared to other vendors."
"Digital Guardian has both, subscription and perpetual licenses, but I think when everything (all technologies) will go to the cloud they will only offer subscriptions."
"The cost was around $300,000."
"The price of Digital Guardian is expensive."
"The price is high for this type of product."
"I'm paying the license for McAfee Total Protection yearly. It could be cheaper, but it's fine."
"The price of McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is expensive. It is not the most expensive solution but it is typically 15 to 20 percent higher than other solutions. There is no additional cost to using McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention."
"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."
"There is an annual license to use this solution."
"If the client purchases the entire suite of McAfee Endpoint, the license is included."
"It's not a cheap option."
"The pricing seems expensive both for the license and the support."
More McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Healthcare Company
6%
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Retailer
7%
Real Estate/Law Firm
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Digital Guardian?
I like the solution's adaptive inspection and container inspection.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Digital Guardian?
Technical support is included in the subscription package. But if, during the subscription, our clients want to include the professional services of a Digital Guardian engineer, the price changes. ...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Digital Guardian?
If the client uses Windows 10 or 11 and Microsoft updates the operating system's version, Digital Guardian must update their product to match compatibility.
See all answers
What do you like most about McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention?
The tool focuses on endpoints rather than networks. Endpoints cover everything. It wouldn't be possible to steal confidential information from endpoints.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention?
McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is expensive.
See all answers
What needs improvement with McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention?
The product’s pricing could be cheaper.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention vs Digital Guardian Logo
Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention vs Digital Guardian
Compared 26% of the time
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention vs Digital Guardian Logo
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention vs Digital Guardian
Compared 8% of the time
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Digital Guardian Logo
CrowdStrike Falcon vs Digital Guardian
Compared 7% of the time
Symantec Data Loss Prevention vs Digital Guardian Logo
Symantec Data Loss Prevention vs Digital Guardian
Compared 6% of the time
Datto Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) vs Digital Guardian Logo
Datto Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) vs Digital Guardian
Compared 5% of the time
More Digital Guardian Competitors
HP Wolf Security vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention Logo
HP Wolf Security vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
Compared 81% of the time
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention Logo
Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
Compared 5% of the time
Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention Logo
Forcepoint Data Loss Prevention vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
Compared 4% of the time
Symantec Data Loss Prevention vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention Logo
Symantec Data Loss Prevention vs McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
Compared 3% of the time
More McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Digital Guardian
June 2025
Digital Guardian reportDownload Digital Guardian product report
Buyer's Guide
McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
May 2025
McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention reportDownload McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
McAfee Total Protection for Data, McAfee Total Protection for DLP, Total Protection for Data, Intel Security Total Protection for Data
 

Overview

Digital Guardian is proud to be part of Fortra’s comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio, and one of the Data Protection family of products. Fortra simplifies today’s complex cybersecurity landscape by bringing complementary products together to solve problems in innovative ways. These integrated, scalable solutions address the fast-changing challenges you face in safeguarding your organization. With the help of the powerful protection from Digital Guardian and others, Fortra is your relentless ally, here for you every step of the way throughout your cybersecurity journey.

Fortra
McAfee Total Protection for Data solution suite protects your data using a combination of powerful encryption, access control, and user-behavior monitoring.
McAfee
 

Sample Customers

The Fifth Avenue Theatre, Jabil Circuit
Kleberg Bank
Buyer's Guide
Digital Guardian vs. McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
June 2025
Free Report: Digital Guardian vs. McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention
Find out what your peers are saying about Digital Guardian vs. McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
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