A Comparison of all Data Types
To help you choose the right tool for your discovery needs, here is a comparison of all Spirion Data Types.
- In Spirion, AnyFinds, Keywords, Regular Expression (Regex), Dictionaries, and SearchAPI are "Detectors" - they find things.
- SDDs and Exact Match are "Logic Layers" - they refine what was found.
Comparison Table
Data Type | Best Used For... | Logic Type | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
AnyFind | Common regulated data (SSN, Credit Cards, DOB). | Built-in / Pattern | Low (Out-of-the-box) |
Keyword | Specific, literal words or phrases (for example, "Confidential"). | Literal String | Low |
Dictionary | Large lists of known terms (for example, 5,000 client names). | Bulk Literal | Medium |
Regex | Structured patterns (for example, Employee IDs like | Pattern-based | Medium |
Exact Match | Specific records from a database (for example, your customers). | Structured Data | High |
SearchAPI | Complex, multi-step validation or checksums. | Custom Code | Very High |
SDD | Contextual relationships (for example, SSN near a Name). | Orchestration | Medium |
Detailed Breakdown
1. AnyFind (The Baseline)
- What it is: Pre-configured, highly refined detectors provided by Spirion.
- Use Case: Use these first for standard privacy data (PII, PCI, PHI). They include built-in validation to reduce false positives.
2. Keyword (The Simple Signal)
- What it is: A search for a specific, literal string of text.
- Use Case: Best for single terms like "Internal Use Only," "Project X," or specific legal disclaimers.
3. Dictionary (The Vocabulary)
- What it is: A way to search for any match from a large list (uploaded as a file).
- Use Case: Use this when you have a "controlled vocabulary," such as a list of all current product codenames or a list of sensitive vendors.
4. Regular Expression / Regex (The Shape)
- What it is: A pattern-matching string (Perl syntax).
- Use Case: Use when you know the format of the data but not the value (for example, a 10-digit internal account number that always starts with "99").
5. Exact Match / EDM (The Fingerprint)
- What it is: A search against a hashed index of your actual database records.
- Use Case: The "Gold Standard" for accuracy. Use this to ensure you only flag data that actually belongs to your organization (for example, matching a specific SSN to a specific Name in your HR system).
6. SearchAPI (The Power Tool)
- What it is: Advanced detection logic that can include conditional checks and multi-step validation.
- Use Case: Use when RegEx or Keywords aren't enough—for example, if you need to perform a mathematical checksum on a custom identifier to verify it's valid.
7. Sensitive Data Definition / SDD (The Context)
- What it is: A logical rule that combines other Data Types using AND, OR, NEAR, or NOT.
- Use Case: Use this to define "Risk Situations." For example, an Email Address by itself might be low risk, but an Email Address near a Password (Regex) is a high-risk SDD.
Summary Recommendation
- If it's standard PII: Use AnyFind.
- If it's a specific word: Use Keyword.
- If it's a list of words: Use Dictionary.
- If it's a formatted ID: Use Regex.
- If it's a specific record from your DB: Use Exact Match.
- If it's a combination of the above: Use an SDD.