It can identify repositories, files, database fields, records, owners, formats, lineage, access conditions, and likely sensitive content, producing an evidence-based inventory rather than assuming that documented stores are complete.
Discovery may examine metadata, configuration interfaces, catalogs, content samples, or full content, depending on authority and risk. Results should record scope, time, method, confidence, and ownership so that teams can validate findings and act on them responsibly.
Key points
Scope and inventorySearch approved endpoints, databases, object stores, collaboration services, applications, backups, and other repositories; include unknown or unmanaged stores where the discovery mandate permits.
CharacterizationCollect useful context such as data type, location, volume, owner, age, permissions, movement, duplication, sensitivity indicators, and applicable retention or residency requirements.
Operational useFeed validated findings into classification, governance, access review, exposure reduction, retention, data loss prevention, and incident investigation instead of treating discovery output as an end state.
Important limitationDiscovery is a time-bounded observation, not proof of complete coverage or correct classification. Encryption, unsupported formats, inaccessible systems, sampling, stale inventories, and ambiguous content can produce omissions or false matches.