Key points

• While Google Workspace's built-in DLP provides a basic level of security, organisations with complex needs find it limited in scope, flexibility, and ease of use.
• Traditional DLP, including Google's native tools, struggle with the modern cloud-first world. They rely on outdated regex-based detection, leading to high false positive rates and alert fatigue.
• Metomic leverages AI and automation for accurate, real-time data protection.
• For organisations seeking a more comprehensive, flexible, and efficient DLP solution, Metomic is the ideal alternative to Google DLP. It enhances Google Workspace security and extends protection to your entire SaaS ecosystem.

Google Workspace’s native Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools provide a baseline level of security, but many organisations find them limited in scope, flexibility, and ease of use.

Modern security vendors, including Metomic, offer alternative approaches that address these gaps, providing organisations with more control, better visibility, and improved efficiency when securing their data

In this article, we’ll compare Metomic and Google DLP, break down their key features, and explore how modern DLP is transforming data security.

How data loss prevention is changing

Data security has evolved. Traditional DLP was designed to protect data within corporate networks, but with most companies now relying on cloud-based apps, sensitive information moves beyond firewalls. As businesses adopt more of these tools, the risk of data exposure grows.

In fact, 66% of security professionals say SaaS apps make their organisations more vulnerable. And with human error being responsible for 82% of all data security breaches, it’s clear that businesses need to adopt a more modern approach to data security.

The problem with legacy DLP solutions

Simply put, traditional DLP tools weren’t built for today’s cloud-first world. They rely on outdated detection methods that have the potential to create more problems than they solve.

• Too many false positives – Regex is useful for pattern recognition in text, but it struggles to accurately classify sensitive information. Because it relies on static rules rather than context, it often misidentifies harmless data as a threat, leading to false positive rates of over 90%.
• Inefficient security response – Security teams waste about 32% of their time on non-issues, slowing down real threat detection.
• Poor SaaS integrations – Legacy DLP struggles to monitor modern apps like Slack, Notion, and Google Drive, leaving gaps in protection.

Limitations of Google Workspace DLP

Google Workspace’s built-in DLP offers essential security features, but these can present challenges for businesses needing more advanced capabilities:

• Short Access Log Retention: Google Drive’s standard access logs are only available for six months, making long-term auditing and incident investigation difficult. Modern DLP vendors (like Metomic) offer continuous data storage, allowing for historic remediation and compliance tracking.
• Basic Asset Scanning: Google’s DLP primarily relies on Regex-based scanning, which can result in excessive false positives. More advanced solutions incorporate multiple layers of intelligence, reducing noise while maintaining accuracy.
• Limited Remediation Options: Google’s native DLP controls often default to blunt actions like revoking access. With Metomic, for example - we introduce a wider range of controls, such as notifying end users to take corrective actions, ensuring a more collaborative security approach.
• Classification Complexity: Google’s Gemini AI Classification is a powerful tool but requires extensive training and data input before becoming effective. Modern alternatives offer pre-configured classification models that provide immediate value.
• Challenging Policy Management: Google’s DLP policy management can be cumbersome and difficult to track. At Metomic we provide streamlined workflows, centralising policy creation, history, and reporting in a more user-friendly interface.
• Support and Specialisation: Google Workspace is a broad productivity suite, and DLP is just one of its many offerings. Specialised security vendors focus entirely on data protection, offering more tailored support and faster issue resolution.

How Modern DLP Solutions Improve Google Workspace Security

While Google Workspace DLP is a good starting point, modern security vendors enhance protection through:

1. Granular Visibility and Control

Security teams benefit from more detailed access logs, enhanced classification models, and customizable remediation options, reducing the likelihood of data leaks.

2. Improved Threat Detection

Advanced DLP solutions incorporate AI-driven detection methods that go beyond pattern-based scanning, ensuring better accuracy and reducing false positives.

3. Streamlined Compliance Management

With automated reporting and centralized policy tracking, alternative security solutions make it easier to demonstrate compliance with industry regulations.

4. Empowering Users in Security

Rather than simply blocking access, modern security platforms encourage end-user participation in securing sensitive files, distributing the security burden more effectively.

📋Comparing Metomic and Google DLP

Google DLP is a solid choice for protecting data within Google Workspace, but it has its limitations—especially in securing SaaS apps, reducing alert fatigue, and enabling proactive remediation. That’s where Metomic comes in.

Instead of replacing Google DLP, Metomic enhances it by extending coverage beyond Google apps and making data protection more efficient.

Let’s break down the key differences.

Feature comparison: Metomic vs Google DLP

🔒Choosing a DLP Vendor to Secure Your Data: Why Metomic Stands Out

Understanding the limitations of Google Workspace DLP is the first step toward better security. Whether through additional configurations or by exploring third-party tools, businesses should ensure their approach to data security aligns with their needs, regulatory requirements, and risk profile.

During the RFP process, organisations must evaluate potential DLP vendors against critical criteria, and Metomic excels in these key areas. This guide covers the key RFP elements for Data Loss Prevention (DLP) providers, including criteria, evaluation, and a free template. Learn to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and choose the right DLP solution.

Metomic in Action: Clean Up and Secure Your Google Drive in 15 Minutes

You already have sensitive data in Google account, but do you know who has access to it? Security tools often focus on preventing future risks, but what about the data that is already exposed?

In our webinar, we will walk through how you can:

• Identify and classify sensitive data across your entire Google Drive
• Fix access risks and remove unnecessary exposure in a few clicks
• Apply retention policies to keep data under control without disrupting workflows

Instead of hoping for the best, take practical steps to reduce the risk of data breaches and keep your SaaS environment secure from day one.