US Patent 8250085 Method to improve data loss prevention via cross leveraging fingerprints

A method and system for improving data loss prevention via cross leveraging fingerprints of protected data is described. In one embodiment, fingerprints of sensitive data of multiple organizations are shared across data loss prevention (DLP) systems of these organizations. A DLP system of each organization monitors information content associated with this organization to detect sensitive data of other organizations, and notifies one or more users within the organization upon detecting sensitive data of other organizations. In addition, a report of external data loss detection is provided to users within an organization whose sensitive data is detected in information content of the other organizations.