Abstract: Systems and methods for intercepting an operation requested by a user (e.g., print a document, cut text, copy an image, paste a hyperlink, embed an audio clip, save as a document in a new location, etc.) and performing one or more actions based on the level of security associated with the originating program, originating file, intended program, and/or intended file for that operation. As such, the disclosed systems and methods may enable consistent data security to be applied to a particular data item regardless of the location of that data item or the operations performed on the same.