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PII Discovery and Classification

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Automatically discover personally identifiable information across structured and unstructured data stores and classify it by sensitivity, regulation, and processing purpose.

HIPAA identifier categories

18

Global PII pattern types

100+

Enterprise data unstructured

80%

GDPR personal data definition

Art. 4(1)

80%

Share of enterprise data that is unstructured — the hardest to discover, classify, and protect

Source: IDC Global DataSphere

The Challenge

The Challenge

Organizations cannot protect personal data they do not know exists. Data sprawl across cloud services, databases, file systems, and SaaS applications means personal data often exists in unexpected locations. Shadow IT and developer databases compound the problem.

Without comprehensive discovery and classification, organizations cannot fulfill data subject access requests accurately, conduct meaningful risk assessments, or demonstrate the data inventory required by regulations like GDPR Article 30.

Data Volume and Variety

Enterprise environments contain petabytes of data across hundreds of systems in structured, semi-structured, and unstructured formats, making manual discovery impossible.

Shadow Data

Developer databases, test environments, exported spreadsheets, and unofficial cloud services contain personal data outside IT visibility.

Classification Accuracy

Distinguishing between different types of personal data (PII, PHI, financial data, sensitive categories) requires contextual understanding beyond simple pattern matching.

Continuous Discovery

Data environments change constantly as new systems are deployed, data is migrated, and new processing activities begin, requiring ongoing rather than one-time discovery.

The Solution

The Solution

DiscoverIQ uses AI-powered scanning to identify personal data across your entire technology environment—databases, file systems, cloud storage, email, and SaaS applications. ClassifyIQ then categorizes discovered data by sensitivity level, regulatory applicability, and processing purpose.

The platform performs both initial comprehensive scans and continuous monitoring for new data, ensuring your data inventory stays current. Discovered data is mapped to data subjects, processing activities, and regulatory requirements to support compliance operations.

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How It Works

How It Works

1

Connect Data Sources

Connect DiscoverIQ to databases, cloud storage, file systems, email systems, and SaaS applications using secure, read-only connections.

2

AI-Powered Scanning

DiscoverIQ scans connected systems using NLP and pattern recognition to identify personal data in both structured and unstructured formats.

3

Automated Classification

ClassifyIQ categorizes discovered data by type (PII, PHI, financial), sensitivity level, applicable regulations, and processing purpose.

4

Data Mapping

Build comprehensive data maps showing where personal data lives, how it flows between systems, and which regulations apply.

5

Continuous Monitoring

Ongoing scanning detects new personal data as it enters the environment, maintaining an always-current data inventory.

Key Benefits

Key Benefits

Key Takeaways

  • Complete visibility into personal data across all systems
  • AI-powered accuracy in identifying and classifying PII
  • Automated data inventory for regulatory compliance
  • Shadow data discovery in unexpected locations
  • Continuous monitoring for new data entering the environment
  • Data maps supporting DPIA, RoPA, and breach response
  • Foundation for all downstream privacy operations
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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DPDPA & GDPR Ready
AI-Powered Automation
50+ Global Regulations