SCREEN DLP CATEGORY

What is Screen DLP?

Traditional DLP protects data moving through networks and endpoints. Screen DLP protects data leaking through the one channel no tool has covered — the physical screen.

SEE SCREENSTOP IN ACTION
Screen DLP gap — phone camera bypasses Cloud DLP, Email DLP, and Peripheral DLP
The Gap

The Threat Traditional DLP Cannot See

📱

Phone Camera Detection

An employee points their phone at a screen showing sensitive data. Traditional DLP sees nothing — no copy, no paste, no upload. It never happened, digitally speaking.

👁

Shoulder Surfing

A colleague, visitor, or attacker reads your screen from behind or beside you. No malware, no credentials, no network activity. 91% of visual hacking attempts succeed (3M Global Visual Hacking Experiment).

🖥

Unattended Screen Exposure

A workstation left unlocked with sensitive data visible. Anyone walking past can read, photograph, or memorize it. Standard screen lock timers kick in too late.

Definition

Screen DLP: The Definition

Screen DLP (Screen Data Loss Prevention) is the security category that detects and blocks data leakage through the physical screen layer. It uses on-device AI — typically running on the endpoint's existing webcam — to detect optical threats in real time: phone cameras pointed at screens, unauthorized viewers, and unattended screen exposure. Unlike traditional endpoint DLP, which controls digital data flows, Screen DLP addresses threats that leave no digital footprint.

See also: why traditional DLP misses this

Capability Traditional Endpoint DLP Screen DLP
Detect phone camera pointed at screen
Detect shoulder surfing
Protect unattended screens ⚠️ timer only ✅ threat-aware
Block copy / paste / print ❌ different category
Detect file uploads ❌ different category
Works without network
Leaves no digital trace to detect N/A ✅ no cloud dependency
Mechanism

How Screen DLP Works

01

Detect

On-device AI monitors the screen environment via the endpoint webcam. It recognizes threat patterns: a phone being raised, a face appearing in an unauthorized position, a screen left unattended.

02

Neutralize

Before data can be captured, the screen is blacked out or blurred. The action happens in milliseconds — before the shutter fires.

03

Alert

The security team receives a timestamped alert with threat classification. No sensitive data is captured or stored in the process.

Compliance

Which Compliance Frameworks Require It

HIPAA §164.312

HIPAA Workstation Security

Workstation security requirements mandate technical safeguards for screens displaying patient health information. Screen DLP is the enforcement layer for the physical screen.

See HIPAA coverage →
GDPR Article 32

GDPR Technical Safeguards

Requires appropriate technical measures to protect personal data — including physical access controls. Screen DLP closes the gap between digital controls and physical exposure.

ISO 27001 Annex A 7.7

Clear Desk & Clear Screen

Clear desk and clear screen policy mandates that sensitive information is not left visible when unattended. Screen DLP is the technical enforcement layer for the clear screen requirement.

PCI DSS Requirement 9

Physical Security Controls

Physical security controls for cardholder data environments must prevent unauthorized access to systems displaying payment data. Screen DLP enforces this at the visual layer.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Screen DLP?

Screen DLP (Screen Data Loss Prevention) is the security category that detects and blocks data leakage through the physical screen layer. It uses on-device AI running on the endpoint's existing webcam to detect optical threats in real time: phone cameras pointed at screens, unauthorized viewers, and unattended screen exposure.

How is Screen DLP different from traditional endpoint DLP?

Traditional endpoint DLP controls digital data flows — copy, paste, print, upload. Screen DLP addresses threats that leave no digital footprint: a phone photographing a screen, a colleague reading over your shoulder, or a screen left unattended with sensitive data visible. These threats are completely invisible to traditional DLP.

Does Screen DLP require cloud connectivity?

No. ScreenStop runs entirely on the endpoint using the existing webcam. No data leaves the device. Detection happens locally in real time, with no cloud dependency required.

ScreenStop is the Screen DLP Company

We built the first Screen DLP product. Try it free — no cloud, no data leaving your endpoint.