Data leaks are a popular attack vector for cybercriminals. They’re considered a shortcut to accessing valuable sensitive data without needing to carry out sophisticated cyber attacks.
Once an attacker discovers a data leak, they can exploit it immediately. Organizations must be vigilant against internal and third-party data leaks. Otherwise, they risk leaving an instant pathway to costly data breaches exposed.
Data leak detection software allows organizations to prevent data breaches and other serious security incidents. With many solutions offering this functionality, you may need help choosing the best solution for your organization’s needs.
This guide outlines the main considerations of effective data leak detection software and the best solutions currently on the market.
Already know what data leak detection software is? Skip ahead to our list of the top 9 data leak detection solutions.
Data leak detection software identifies an organization's data leaks – the accidental public exposure of sensitive data due to misconfigurations and poor network security. Data leaks quickly become data breaches when cybercriminals identify and exploit this exposed data.
Learn more about data leaks and data leak detection software >
Any organization that deals with sensitive data should monitor for data leaks. Data security standards are mandated by privacy and protection laws, such as the GDPR, CCPA, and SHIELD Act. Organizations that suffer data breaches face non-compliance with these legal requirements. Harsh financial penalties and reputational damage follow shortly after.
Small businesses and large multinational organizations from all industries can benefit from data leak detection software. Fast remediation is essential in industries with large amounts of confidential data. These types of data could include personally identifiable information (PII), trade secrets, intellectual property, or other confidential information.
For example:
Cybercriminals in the current threat landscape are taking advantage of third-party vulnerabilities to reach target systems. A recent global study found that 82% of surveyed CIOs believe their software supply chains are vulnerable to cyber attacks. Proactively identifying vulnerabilities in the supply chain is the key to preventing third-party data breaches.
Data leakage can occur anywhere across the all-encompassing span of the Internet. Comprehensive data leak detection solutions leverage open source intelligence (OSINT) and threat intelligence techniques to identify leaked information across the surface, deep, and dark web.
Common data leak sources include:
Fully-automated data leak solutions often discover many false positives that security teams must take the time to sift through. Organizations may consider implementing a fully-managed solution that can help streamline internal and third-party data leak remediation workflows with the support of dedicated cybersecurity analysts.
Early data leak detection helps organizations avoid serious data breaches, but preventing data leaks altogether is a much more effective strategy. A complete attack surface management tool can identify internal and third-party cyber threats that lead to data leaks and breaches.
Pairing data leak detection with complete attack surface management provides the most comprehensive coverage of data leaks across your entire ecosystem.
UpGuard offers complete data leak prevention and detection capabilities through specialized data leak detection techniques and continuous attack surface monitoring.
UpGuard helps healthcare, financial services, technology, and other industries prevent data breaches, data leaks, and third-party vendor security incidents. To learn more about UpGuard's success in the field of sensitive data protection, read UpGuard's customer testimonials and case studies.
Using proprietary security ratings, world-class data leak detection capabilities, and powerful remediation workflows, UpGuard proactively identifies security exposures for companies of all sizes.
See UpGuard in action with this self-guided product tour >
BitSight allows organizations to detect internal and third-party data leaks by monitoring the dark web and identifying exposed credentials.
BitSight partners with 2,400+ customers companies worldwide.
Panorays offers real-time insights about dark web activity and leaked employee credentials for vendors.
Panorays partners with resellers, MSSPs, and technology to provide an automated third-party security platform that manages the inherent amd residual risk, remediation, and ongoing monitoring.
SecurityScorecard’s cyber risk scores take into account potential internal and third-party data leaks by monitoring for hacker chatter and leaked credentials.
Organizations use SecurityScorecard’s rating technology for self-monitoring, third-party risk management, board reporting, and cyber insurance underwriting.
To learn more about the leading TPRM platforms on the market, see our post evaluating the top Third-Party Risk Management tools in 2025.
CyberGRX doesn’t currently have a native data leak detection solution. It relies on Recorded Future integration for third-party risk monitoring and alerting.
CyberGRX provides security professionals, risk managers, and procurement managers with ongoing analysis of their vendor portfolio.
OneTrust Vendorpedia doesn’t currently have a native data leak detection solution. It relies on integration with Recorded Future for third-party risk monitoring and alerting.
OneTrust Vendorpedia facilitates a community of shared vendor risk assessments from participating vendors for small and medium business and large enterprises.
Recorded Future discovers internal and third-party data leaks by monitoring for dark web mentions and leaked credentials.
Recorded Future provides machine-learning and human-based threat intelligence to its global customer base.
Digital Shadows provides visibility over exposed credentials, proprietary code, intellectual property, financial information, customer and employee PII, and financial data online.
Digital Shadows provides security teams threat intelligence with focused digital risk insights.
CybelAngel detects data leaks using a proprietary combination of machine learning and cyber analysis.
CybelAngel provides its global enterprise clients with digital risk protection solutions.