8 Data Discovery and Classification Best Practices

This guide outlines best practices for data discovery and classification in modern cloud-centric environments (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) to help data governance teams gain full visibility and control over their strategic data assets. Key recommendations include deploying continuous, automated scanning and classification across all cloud data stores (avoiding blind spots from periodic scans), establishing a clear data classification framework (tiers such as public, internal, confidential, etc.), and integrating classification into governance workflows and security controls. Adopting these practices enhances visibility, ensures compliance, and reduces risk by mapping sensitive data to business context and regulatory requirements.