--- title: "Data Discovery for Sensitive Data | Commvault " type: "WebPage" language: "en-US" url: "https://www.commvault.com/solutions/data-discovery" date: "2025-10-30T12:04:00-04:00" modified: "2025-11-10T11:57:25-05:00" description: "Commvault Cloud Data Discovery delivers unified visibility for discovering and protecting sensitive data across cloud, on-prem, structured and unstructured stores. " image: "https://www.commvault.com/ogimage/fb/38842/" breadcrumbs: - name: "Commvault Home" url: "https://www.commvault.com/" - name: "Solutions" url: "https://www.commvault.com/solutions" - name: "Data discovery" --- # Data Discovery - [Home](/) - Solutions - Data Discovery ## Data Discovery You can’t secure or govern what you don’t know about. Commvault Cloud Data Discovery helps give you intelligence about the sensitive data you have in your environment so you can protect it. - [Request a demo](/request-demo) ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/data-security-hero-650x650-1.png) --- - [Overview Video](#Video) - [Benefits](#Benefits) - [Features](#Features) - [Datasheet](#Datasheet) - [Customer References](#Customer-References) - [Resources](#related-resources) - [FAQs](#FAQs) [Request Demo](/request-demo) --- Find & Protect Sensitive Data ## Risk Governance Overview See how Commvault Cloud Data Discovery provides the foundation for cyber resilience. [Watch now](https://www.commvault.com/resources/video/risk-governance-overview%20) Play Video ![Video thumbnail](https://play.vidyard.com/QTd21tzxkAsfo2xn5LA5NM.jpg) --- How we do it ## Discover sensitive data wherever it lives For security and IT teams to apply appropriate protections and controls to the data inside their organization, they must first know what data and applications they have. --- ![](https://www.commvault.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Data-Storage-2_Crocus_RGB.svg) --- ## Coverage of structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data Automated discovery can help uncover sensitive data across hybrid, cloud, and on-prem file shares, file and object stores, VMs, databases, and more. ![](https://www.commvault.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Document-Database_Crocus_RGB.svg) --- ## Data discovery: the foundation Lay the groundwork for governance, compliance, and protection by providing context and control over your data estate. ![](https://www.commvault.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Databases_Crocus_RGB.svg) --- ## Unified visibility into data Understand where sensitive data lives so you can highlight hotspots, apply security controls, and help improve your overall security posture. --- Features ## Covered workloads Understanding the difference between structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data is fundamental, as each type requires different approaches to find, classify, and protect. ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SupportedTech_Azure_Benefits_Resilience_1088x870.jpg) --- --- ## Covered workloads Understanding the difference between structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data is fundamental, as each type requires different approaches to find, classify, and protect. --- ## Unstructured data Free-form content without a fixed schema—documents, media, emails, and chats living in fileshares, in file and object storage, and in VMs. --- ## Structured data Highly organized data that fits predefined fields and tables, such as data in databases and tables. --- ## Semi-structured data Data with markers like tags or key‑value pairs such as JSON or XML, but stored in individual files. --- Datasheet ## Commvault® Cloud Risk Analysis Gain visibility into data risks to secure and defend sensitive data and improve your security posture. [Read datasheet](https://www.commvault.com/resources/datasheet/proactively-defend-data-with-commvault-risk-analysis%20) ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hero_Cloud-Map_650x650-3.png) --- Our Reach ## Securing more than 100,000 companies - ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CustomerLogo_Adidas_320x160.png) - ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CustomerLogo_SONY_320x160.png) - ![AstraZeneca logo](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CustomerLogo_AstraZeneca_320x160-1.png) - ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CustomerLogo_Merck_320x160-1.png) - ![ranstad logo](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CustomerLogo_Randstad_320x160.png) - ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/CustomerLogo_Panasonic_320x160.png) --- > “Commvault gives us the power to protect our data from various sources and formats from a single interface, drastically reducing the costs and efforts required for backups. Moreover, its proven recovery capabilities have saved us multiple times from ransomware attacks which could have been devasting.” > > Ryan Sinnwell > > Senior IT Manager, Infrastructure, The Weitz Company > “Commvault gives us confidence that our data is safe, and our important services can be up and running quickly.” > > Paul Vries > > IT Consultant, Bilthoven Biologicals > “With a long retention strategy, our cloud storage costs were accelerating quickly. Commvault Cloud gave us a way to dramatically lower those costs and keep them predictable, while simultaneously providing us with the data resilience needed to keep our business running.” > > Jacob Gsoedl > > CIO, Power Integrations --- Additional Resources ## Learn more about how Commvault helps build your cyber resilience [View all resources](/resources) --- ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FeaturedResource_CyberRecoveryResilienceReport_650x650_197d3a-5.png) ebook ## Cyber Recovery Readiness Report Learn from IT and Security leaders about what makes them ready to face the next wave of cyberattacks—and what you can do to prepare, too. [Read eBook about Cyber Recovery Readiness Report](https://www.commvault.com/gc/5-questions-to-ask-data-protection-vendors) ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/persistent-systems-cyber-threat-888x500-1.png) Case Study ## Persistent Systems Learn how and why Persistent Systems chose Commvault Cloud to support its clients with extensive cyber resilience and data security strategies. [Read the case study about Persistent Systems](https://www.commvault.com/resources/case-studies/defenses-against-fast-evolving-cyber-threats) ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hero_BusinessValueCommvaultAWSCloud_650x650.jpg) Datasheet ## Commvault Cloud Risk Analysis Learn more about our Data Discovery capabilities enabled by Commvault Cloud Risk Analysis [Read the datasheet about Commvault Cloud Risk Analysis](https://www.commvault.com/resources/datasheet/proactively-defend-data-with-commvault-risk-analysis) --- ## Frequently Asked Questions Why is data discovery so important to cyber readiness? Data discovery is important to cyber readiness because it helps organizations identify and then classify and control the data they possess—including where it lives, who has access to it, and how it’s being used. Without visibility into their data, organizations cannot effectively protect sensitive information, detect potential protection gaps, or comply with regulations. By knowing what data exists and its level of risk, teams can prioritize security efforts, enforce appropriate controls, and respond swiftly to incidents to build a stronger and more proactive cyber resilience program. What’s the difference in data formats? Why do they matter? There are three types of data—structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data. Structured data is highly organized and fits neatly into predefined fields or tables—like database records, spreadsheets, or CRM entries—making it easy to store, query, and analyze. Unstructured data has no fixed format, encompassing documents, emails, videos, and other free-form content that’s rich in context but difficult to categorize or search. Semi-structured data sits between the two, using tags or key-value pairs (such as JSON, XML, or log files) to provide some organization without a rigid schema. Together, these categories represent the full spectrum of information organizations must discover, understand, and manage to gain visibility and control over their data landscape. What can you do after you’ve discovered your data? Data discovery is just the beginning of a broader data intelligence and protection journey. Once you’ve discovered your data—meaning you have inventoried what you have, where it lives, and how it’s used—you can take meaningful action to govern, secure, and extract value from it. --- Get Started ## Try Commvault Cloud today Cyber resilience for the cloud-first enterprise, with the first platform built to enable continuous business. [Get a free trial](/free-trial) ![](/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FooterPromoImagesTech-Gal-2-1.png)