Comparisons
COMPARISON
Locke vs Cloud-Based Data Loss Prevention
Cloud DLP inspects traffic at a corporate gateway or through API hooks into sanctioned apps. It's mature for email, file shares, and managed SaaS. AI chat is the awkward case: prompts rarely route through the gateway, and by the time a server can inspect one, it has already left the user's device.
When Cloud-based DLP platforms fits
- You already operate a corporate proxy or CASB and need to extend coverage to a sanctioned set of SaaS apps.
- Your compliance program requires central policy enforcement and an auditable inspection record on every transmission.
- Your AI usage is funnelled through a single approved provider that exposes admin APIs.
When Locke fits
- Users routinely paste sensitive content into AI chat boxes that are not on your sanctioned list.
- You cannot route every browser session through a proxy without breaking workflows or trust.
- You want detection to happen before the data leaves the device, not after.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Locke | Cloud DLP |
|---|---|---|
| Where inspection runs | On the device, before any network call. | On a server-side gateway, after data leaves the endpoint. |
| Coverage of unsanctioned AI tools | Works on any browser-based AI chat by default. | Limited to apps the gateway proxies or has API hooks for. |
| Trust model | Zero-knowledge: vendor never sees prompt content. | Vendor inspects prompt content to enforce policy. |
| Deployment | Locke desktop app (coming soon) — minutes per user. | Network/identity integration — weeks to months. |
| Best for | AI-specific prompt leakage in regulated workflows. | Broad enterprise DLP across email, files, and managed SaaS. |
Bottom line
Cloud DLP is the right call for broad enterprise data flows. Locke is the right call for AI prompts specifically — the newest exfiltration channel, and one that usually skips your gateway entirely.
