SUSAN helps organizations automatically discover, inventory and classify personal, sensitive and business-critical information across connected organizational data sources. Support includes databases, object storage, file shares, SaaS applications, APIs and endpoints. Discovery can operate on a scheduled or continuous basis to help teams maintain visibility as data changes. SUSAN combines Data Discovery and Classification with ownership, processing purpose, retention, risk, DPDP/GDPR requirements and supporting evidence, helping privacy, security and GRC teams maintain structured and audit-ready data visibility.
What Is SUSAN Data Discovery, Inventory and Classification?
SUSAN Data Discovery, Inventory and Classification is a SUSAN capability for identifying, organizing and governing data across connected organizational environments.
It supports:
Automated Data Discovery
Data inventory
Automated Data Classification
Data ownership
Processing purpose
Role-based access visibility
Retention
Data location
Risk visibility
Encryption visibility
Audit readiness
DPDP and GDPR mapping
Scheduled and continuous discovery
Supporting evidence
Data inventory records can also be maintained manually in SUSAN. Where customers require integration with their systems, API-based integration can be provided.
Automated Data Discovery
Organizations cannot protect or govern information they cannot identify.SUSAN supports automated discovery from connected organizational data sources, helping teams identify data across distributed technology environments.
Connected data sources can include:
Databases
Object storage
File shares
SaaS applications
APIs
Endpoints
Discovery can operate on a scheduled or continuous basis, helping organizations monitor connected sources periodically or continuously for new or changed data. This reduces dependence on static spreadsheets and periodic inventory exercises while improving visibility into information distributed across the organization.
Automated Data Classification
After discovery, SUSAN classifies data using predefined data categories and sensitivity levels.
SUSAN identifies:
Personal information
Sensitive information
Business-critical information
Classification provides privacy, security and compliance teams with a structured view of what information exists and how it should be governed.
Data classification can support decisions related to:
Access control
Retention
Encryption
Data protection
Privacy compliance
Risk management
Audit evidence
Why Data Discovery and Inventory Matter
Data may be distributed across databases, cloud environments, applications, SaaS platforms, APIs, endpoints and third parties.
Without structured discovery and inventory, organizations may face:
Unknown personal data locations
Incomplete visibility into sensitive information
Delayed Data Principal or data subject responses
Unclear processing purposes
Untracked retention requirements
Weak privacy evidence
Limited risk visibility
Cross-border transfer uncertainty
Missing data ownership
Audit readiness gaps
SUSAN helps establish centralized visibility so privacy, security and GRC teams can understand what data exists and how it is governed.
Data Inventory and Governance Mapping
SUSAN goes beyond identifying data by connecting discovered and classified information with governance context.
Data can be mapped to:
Data owner
Processing purpose
Retention requirements
Risk
DPDP requirements
GDPR requirements
Supporting evidence
This helps organizations connect Data Discovery and Classification with privacy operations, risk management, compliance monitoring and audit readiness.
Data Inventory Fields
SUSAN can help teams maintain structured information including:
Data type
Data classification
Sensitivity level
Owner
Processing purpose
Retention
Data location
Risk
Encryption at rest visibility
Encryption in transit visibility
Role-based access visibility
Compliance references
Supporting evidence
These attributes help privacy, security and GRC teams understand what information exists, why it is processed, who is responsible for it and what controls apply.
Ownership and Accountability
Data inventory is not only a technical activity. Data should have clear business and governance accountability.
Ownership helps organizations answer:
Who is responsible for the data?
Who confirms retention?
Who reviews access?
Who confirms its processing purpose?
Who responds to privacy requests?
Who provides evidence during audits?
Who is responsible for remediation when risks are identified?
Clear ownership strengthens accountability across privacy, security and compliance operations.
Purpose and Retention Visibility
Organizations need to understand why information is processed and how long it should be retained.
SUSAN helps teams connect data with:
Processing purpose
Business requirements
Retention requirements
Deletion expectations
Risk
DPDP/GDPR requirements
Supporting evidence
This provides stronger visibility for privacy governance, retention management and compliance reviews.
Location and Data Distribution Visibility
Data may exist across multiple systems and technology environments.
SUSAN helps organizations maintain visibility into where information exists across connected sources, including:
Databases
Object storage
File shares
SaaS applications
APIs
Endpoints
This can help teams understand data distribution and identify where additional privacy, security or governance review may be required.
Encryption and Access Visibility
Data governance should connect privacy information with relevant security controls.
SUSAN supports visibility into:
Encryption at rest
Encryption in transit
Role-based access
Access ownership
Sensitive information handling
Supporting security evidence
This helps connect data inventory with cybersecurity and compliance assurance.
Data Discovery and Classification Control Map
| Data Governance Area | Common Problem | SUSAN Support |
|---|---|---|
| Data Discovery | Teams do not know where information exists | Discover data from connected organizational data sources |
| Classification | Sensitive information is not consistently classified | Classify data using predefined categories and sensitivity levels |
| Ownership | No clear accountability | Map data to ownership |
| Purpose | Processing purpose is unclear | Connect data with processing purpose |
| Retention | Retention requirements are fragmented | Map data to retention requirements |
| Risk | Sensitive data risks are difficult to prioritize | Connect data with risk |
| Privacy Compliance | DPDP/GDPR context is fragmented | Map data with DPDP/GDPR requirements |
| Evidence | Supporting evidence is difficult to organize | Connect relevant evidence with data records |
| Continuous Visibility | Inventory becomes outdated | Support scheduled and continuous discovery |
How SUSAN Supports DPDP and GDPR Readiness
DPDP and GDPR readiness require organizations to understand what personal data they process and how it is governed.
SUSAN helps teams maintain visibility into:
What personal and sensitive information exists
Where it is located
How it is classified
Why it is processed
Who owns it
How long it is retained
What risks are associated with it
Which DPDP/GDPR requirements apply
What supporting evidence is available
This supports privacy governance, Data Principal and data subject request readiness, compliance assessments and audit preparation.
Manual and API-Based Inventory Management
Automated discovery is not the only way to maintain data inventory in SUSAN. Organizations can also maintain inventory records manually. Where customers require integration with their existing systems, SUSAN supports API-based integration so relevant inventory and governance information can be exchanged with customer environments. This provides flexibility for organizations with different technology architectures and data governance models.
How This Connects with Other SUSAN Capabilities
SUSAN Data Discovery, Inventory and Classification connects data visibility with broader cybersecurity, privacy and GRC operations.
Related SUSAN capabilities include:
SUSAN DPDP Compliance
Global Compliance & Trust
Third-Party Risk
Unified GRC Dashboard
AI Risk Scoring
Asset Inventory
Continuous Monitoring & Evidence
Cloud Security Validation
Together, these capabilities help connect:
Data Discovery
Data Classification
Ownership
Privacy evidence
Consent and purpose
Retention and deletion
Risk
Compliance mapping
Continuous Assurance
Who Uses SUSAN Data Discovery and Classification?
This capability supports teams responsible for privacy, security, data protection and compliance, including:
Privacy teams
DPOs
Data owners
GRC teams
Compliance managers
Security teams
Risk managers
Audit teams
Cloud security teams
Executive leadership
Data Discovery and Classification Readiness Checklist
Use this checklist to assess your current data visibility:
- Do you know where personal information exists?
- Do you know where sensitive information exists?
- Are connected data sources regularly reviewed?
- Is new or changed data discovered periodically or continuously?
- Is information classified by category and sensitivity?
- Are data owners assigned?
- Is processing purpose documented?
- Are retention requirements mapped?
- Is data location visible?
- Are risks connected to sensitive information?
- Are DPDP/GDPR requirements mapped?
- Is supporting evidence available?
- Can privacy and audit teams retrieve this information efficiently?
If several answers are no, your organization may need stronger Data Discovery, Inventory and Classification capabilities.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Yes. SUSAN automatically discovers data from connected organizational data sources.
SUSAN supports connected organizational data sources including databases, object storage, file shares, SaaS applications, APIs and endpoints.
Yes. SUSAN supports both scheduled and continuous Data Discovery, allowing connected data sources to be monitored periodically or continuously for new or changed data.
Yes. SUSAN classifies discovered data based on predefined data categories and sensitivity levels.
SUSAN identifies personal, sensitive and business-critical information.
Yes. Data inventory records can also be maintained manually in SUSAN.
Yes. API-based integration with customer systems can be provided where required.
SUSAN can map discovered and classified data with ownership, processing purpose, retention, risk, DPDP/GDPR requirements and supporting evidence.
Data Discovery helps organizations understand what personal and sensitive information exists, where it is located, why it is processed, who owns it, how long it should be retained and which privacy requirements apply.
No. SUSAN supports automated discovery while also allowing manual inventory maintenance and API-based integration where required.
Strengthen Data Visibility with SUSAN
Move from fragmented data inventories to structured Data Discovery and Classification connected with privacy, cybersecurity, risk and compliance.
Use SUSAN to improve visibility into personal, sensitive and business-critical information while connecting data with ownership, purpose, retention, risk, DPDP/GDPR requirements and evidence.
