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McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention vs Symantec Data Loss Prevention comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

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

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
Symantec Data Loss Prevention
Ranking in Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
3rd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
59
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 McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is 1.0%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Data Loss Prevention is 6.3%, down from 10.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
 

Featured Reviews

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.
ARAVINDAN K - PeerSpot reviewer
Strengthened security operations with endpoint-level protection but database flexibility could improve
Symantec Data Loss Prevention has proprietary metadata and is well-suited for endpoint-level security. It stands out for supporting multiple protocols like email and SMTP without needing user profile login for endpoint agents. Once policies are downloaded to the local system, they function independently of a user's login. The solution helps enhance security operations when integrated with ServiceNow and offers robust incident response capabilities.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature is strong data leak prevention for data protection."
"You can manage your compliance in line with legislation such as GDPR and POPIA."
"The interface showcases threat incidents very well."
"The most valuable feature of McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is data loss prevention."
"This solution has a rich set of policies."
"Everything in this DLP is great. It"
"The product is largely stable."
"The whitelisting works well."
"The most valuable feature of Symantec Data Loss Prevention is the ease of modification."
"One of the most valuable aspects of this solution is its integration capabilities with Office 365."
"They have a feature on the management side called the document indexer. Let's say you have a unique document with many near identical versions, which have one or several values that change, while the rest of the content stays the same. You can collect 50 of those documents and put them into this feature of the Symantec DLP system. It will compress them and create a profile specifically for that document."
"I have never experienced any stability issues during the eight years of using the solution."
"All of the features are really important, including DLP for the OCR and endpoint. It will be all of the combined features that will give you the strength to control the data. Every feature has its own uniqueness, different control and will help you to protect the data."
"There's only one policy needed to implement for all channels."
"The most valuable aspect of Symantec DLP is its powerful policy system."
"I'm able to track everyone who is trying to send information outside the environment and to know if they are not supposed to be sending it. I'm also able to see the people who are accessing or maybe try to access the information they are not supposed to be accessing based on their level of classification. It gives me overall control of who has got access to what and at what point. And who can do what with specific information."
 

Cons

"There needs to be support for blocking the sending of files by email because even if you block or remove an external disk, the files are not protected."
"We need to do a lot of configuration."
"McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention needs to improve the resources it uses for CPU and RAM."
"There are a lot of vulnerabilities and viruses and malware can proliferate."
"When this solution is used it requires a lot of administration because the users can have difficulties using it and require assistance. The administrators are continuously modifying the policies for the users. Technical support will be used frequently."
"The user interface is messy and could be simplified."
"Our client is not very happy with the lack of support, the skills, and the effectiveness of the tool."
"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."
"Technical support is pathetic."
"Symantec Data Loss Prevention could improve by having better system resource management, cloud option, and more features."
"The product must improve its interface."
"The enforce service is difficult to understand, and free courses made available on the internet would be useful."
"I do have a problem with the database."
"Their support program needs a lot of improvement. If you are stuck somewhere, getting their support can be difficult."
"The database is a problem for us, as it's running on Oracle and not everybody likes that."
"Where things could be improved is that product engineering takes time to respond when we make a request. They get on a call for troubleshooting, but fixing the issue takes time."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."
"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."
"I would rate the solution's pricing a six out of ten."
"McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is an expensive solution."
"The pricing seems expensive both for the license and the support."
"McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention is expensive."
"If the client purchases the entire suite of McAfee Endpoint, the license is included."
"The product charges a little on the higher side."
"The pricing and licensing are based on per user endpoints."
"In terms of pricing, Symantec DLP offers reasonable rates compared to other products like Forcepoint or Jargill, making it a good investment for ROI, typically seen within two years."
"The pricing is competitive and not pricey. We also receive corporate discounts."
"I think it is an expensive tool."
"The tool's licensing costs are yearly."
"The pricing is reasonable."
"The price is a bit high."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Retailer
7%
Real Estate/Law Firm
6%
Financial Services Firm
21%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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.
What do you like most about Symantec Data Loss Prevention?
It can prevent copying and encoding of HTTP data to various sites like Google, and Webex.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Symantec Data Loss Prevention?
I do not have an idea about pricing, as it is handled by another team responsible for procurements.
What needs improvement with Symantec Data Loss Prevention?
A main disadvantage of Symantec DLP is its reliance on Oracle, especially compared to other products like Forcepoint, which offer MSSQL database options that are more convenient.
 

Also Known As

McAfee Total Protection for Data, McAfee Total Protection for DLP, Total Protection for Data, Intel Security Total Protection for Data
Symantec DLP
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Kleberg Bank
Hadassah University Hospital, Her Majestys Government (HMG), United Kingdom, Hitachi Consulting Software Services India Pvt Ltd., Hua Nan Bank, Hyundai Department Store Group,JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Lake Health, McCann Erickson Israel, Molina Healthcare Inc., PGi, Quilvest Switzerland Limited, State of Nevada Public Employees Benefits Program, Symantec Corporation (Enterprise Security), The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust (DLP), The Saudi Industrial Property Authority, TSO cloud, Visa, Yunnan Power Grid Company
Find out what your peers are saying about McAfee Total Protection for Data Loss Prevention vs. Symantec Data Loss Prevention and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.