# Preventing Sensitive Data Leaks from Company Communications > This patent describes a system that watches for unsent drafts of company communications, checks their content for sensitive data based on your current situation, and can block them or warn you if they seem risky. - **Patent:** US 9349016 - **Original title:** System and method for user-context-based data loss prevention - **Owner:** Dell Software Inc - **Granted:** 2016 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 174 - **Field:** software, telecommunications, consumer_electronics ## What it does This patent is about stopping sensitive information from accidentally leaving a company. It works by monitoring user devices that are connected to a company's communication system. The system first figures out your 'user context' – things like where you are or what device you're using. Based on this context, it picks a specific 'data loss prevention' (DLP) policy. This policy looks for certain actions, like creating a new, unsent draft of an email or message. When you create such a draft, the system analyzes its content to see if it contains sensitive information. If the content is deemed risky according to the policy, the system can take action, such as showing you a warning, preventing you from sending it, or even blocking access to the draft itself. ## What it does NOT cover - Preventing data loss for communications that have already been sent - Policies that are not dynamic or do not change based on user context - Systems that do not analyze the content of the communication draft - Actions taken on communications that are not pre-transmission drafts - Monitoring communications on devices not accessing an enterprise platform ## The clever bit The innovation lies in making data loss prevention 'dynamic' and 'user-context-based.' Instead of applying a single, rigid rule to everyone all the time, the system adapts its vigilance based on who you are, where you are, and what device you're using, making security smarter and less intrusive. ## Real-world examples 1. Enterprise email clients with built-in DLP 2. Corporate instant messaging platforms 3. Cloud-based productivity suites with security monitoring 4. Software that scans unsent documents for sensitive information ## Why it matters In today's world, companies handle vast amounts of sensitive data. This patent addresses the critical need to prevent accidental data leaks, which can lead to significant financial and reputational damage. By dynamically adjusting security policies based on user context, it offers a more intelligent approach to data loss prevention than static, one-size-fits-all solutions. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Preventing Sensitive Data Leaks from Company Communications cover? This patent describes a system that watches for unsent drafts of company communications, checks their content for sensitive data based on your current situation, and can block them or warn you if they seem risky. ### Who owns patent US 9349016? Dell Software Inc owns this patent, granted in 2016. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on May 24, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 9349016 cited by? This patent has been cited by 174 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? In today's world, companies handle vast amounts of sensitive data. This patent addresses the critical need to prevent accidental data leaks, which can lead to significant financial and reputational damage. By dynamically adjusting security policies based on user context, it offers a more intelligent approach to data loss prevention than static, one-size-fits-all solutions. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Preventing data loss for communications that have already been sent **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9349016/windows-hello-biometric-login **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9349016 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Microsoft Protects Corporate Data on Employee Devices](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9430664/windows-defender-antivirus) — A system that lets companies remotely lock or delete specific work data on a phone or computer without wiping the user's personal files. - [AI System That Learns Normal Email Use to Spot and Stop Cyber Threats](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11606373/cyber-threat-defense-system-protecting-email-networks-with-machine-learning-mode) — This 2023 patent describes an AI system that learns how your company normally uses email and then automatically takes action to stop cyber threats that behave unusually. - [Securing Data Storage Commands with Passcodes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10102356/macos-dark-mode) — This patent describes a system for securely executing commands on data storage systems by requiring a generated passcode, which is based on user authentication and specific storage entity attributes. - [How Software Automatically Filters Employee Survey Results Based on Management Roles](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12112345/starship-production-line) — A system that automatically restricts who can see specific employee survey results by mapping organizational reporting lines through a digital object graph. - [How to Clean Files by Rebuilding Them Instead of Scanning Them](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9516045/azure-active-directory) — A security method that stops malware by rebuilding files from scratch based on strict format rules, rather than looking for known viruses.