🆕Data classification made simple: Content-focused templates and predefined rules

Quickly create whole data classifications from templates or select predefined classification rules to ensure compliance and protect sensitive data even more easily.

Introduction

Safetica makes it easy to classify data based on content with the help of classification templates:

• Out-of-the-box templates help you comply with major data‑privacy regulations like GDPR or CCPA.
• Extensive library of predefined classification rules lets you fine‑tune or easily create your own data classifications.

 

In this article, you will learn how to:

• Use templates to get started
• Edit templates: Add, remove, or edit predefined rules
  
  • Add predefined rules
  • Remove predefined rules
  • Edit predefined rules
• Create a new data classification
  
  • Advanced: Create a classification rule from scratch
• FAQ

 

 

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Use templates to get started

Safetica’s ready-to-use classification templates for major privacy regulations save you from configuring hundreds of individual rules manually. They’re perfect when you need to:

• Quickly create data classifications for regulatory compliance (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
• Make sure you don't miss important requirements.
• Learn by example before creating your own data classifications and rules.

 

To create a data classification using a template:

1. Go to the Data classification section and click Use template.
2. Select one of the predefined regulations (e.g., GDPR).
3. You'll see all the predefined rules included in the template.
4. Review the rules. Click a rule to see their details. If everything looks good, click Save.
5. The new data classification will appear in the list of data classifications.

 

 

 

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Edit templates: Add, remove, or edit predefined rules

Templates provide a starting point, but you can adjust them to suit your needs and tailor data classification to your specific environment.

 

Add predefined rules

1. Open a template or data classification and click Add predefined rules.
2. Browse Safetica's extensive library of predefined classification rules. You can search by name or filter by country, domain, or regulation.
3. Select the rules you want to add and click Add rules.
4. The rules will appear in the Predefined rules section of your data classification.

 

 

Remove predefined rules

1. To remove a rule from the list, simply click the crossicon.

 

 

Edit predefined rules

You can edit any rule you’ve added.

1. Click the rule and make the necessary changes. You can adjust the detection trigger, keywords, predefined algorithms, or regexes. You can also add elements that detect context, file types, or a third-party classification. Learn more about individual elements of classification rules here.
2. Once you edit a predefined rule, it becomes a custom rule and moves to the Custom rules section of your data classification.

 

 

 

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Create a new data classification

Want even more control? You can create your own data classification from scratch.

1. Go to the Data classification section and click Create new.
2. Enter the name and description of the data classification.
3. Add classification rules either from the library of predefined classification rules (see above), or you can create a rule from scratch.

 

Advanced: Create classification rules from scratch

For maximum flexibility, you can create your own rules. Custom rules can detect context, file type, or third-party classifications, in addition to content. This is useful when:

• Predefined templates and rules don’t meet your needs.
• You want to detect sensitive data based on where it’s stored, which app modified it, from where it was downloaded, what format it’s in, or how a third‑party tool classified it.

 

To create a classification rule from scratch:

1. Go to the Data classification section and click Create new (or select an existing classification to edit it).
2. Click Create new rule.
3. Configure the detection logic from scratch. You can add content-based elements, such as keywords, predefined algorithms, or regexes, and adjust their detection trigger. You can also add elements that detect context, file types, or a third-party classification. Learn more about individual elements of classification rules here.
4. Save your rule. It will appear in the Custom rules section of your data classification.

 

 

 

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FAQ

Q: What’s the difference between predefined and custom rules?

A:

• Predefined rules are created by Safetica. They may receive updates to fix bugs or improve accuracy. They appear in the Predefined rules section of your data classifications. Predefined rules can be edited – once edited, they become custom rules.
• Custom rules are created by you from scratch or from edited predefined rules. They appear in the Custom rules section of your data classifications and do not receive updates from Safetica.

 

Q: Are predefined rules updated?

A: Yes, Safetica updates predefined rules ad-hoc when there are improvements available. To apply an available update, just click the Update button next to the predefined rule.

Custom rules (including edited predefined rules) do not receive updates from Safetica. If necessary, you need to update them manually.

 

Q: Are classification templates updated?

A: Classification templates are not updated automatically. If a new Safetica version adds new rules to a template, these are not automatically added to existing customer environments. If needed, you must add these rules manually via the Add predefined rules option.

 

Q: Can I create my own templates for other admins to use?

A: You can create your own data classifications, save them, and other admins can modify them. But you cannot add your custom data classification to the templates drop-down.

 

Q: Can I copy rules from one data classification to another?

A: No, copying rules from one data classification to another is not possible. You need to add the rules via the Add predefined rules or Create new rule options.

 

Q: What compliance regulations are available? What classification templates are available?

A:

Major regulations (available as templates):

• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
• GDPR (European Union: General Data Protection Regulation)
• LGPD (Brazil: General Personal Data Protection Law)
• LPPD (Turkey: Law on Protection of Personal Data)
• PIPEDA (Canada: Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
• Privacy Act 1988 (Australia: Law regulating personal data handling and privacy rights)

Additional regulations (available as individual rules):

• HIPAA (US: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
• KVKK (Turkey: Data Protection Law)
• LFPDPPP (Mexico: Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Individuals)
• LOPDP (Ecuador: Organic Law on the Protection of Personal Data)
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
• PDPA (Singapore: Personal Data Protection Act 2012)
• POPIA (South Africa: Protection of Personal Information Act)
• Privacy Act 2020 (New Zealand: Law regulating personal data handling and privacy rights)
• UK GDPR (UK: General Data Protection Regulation)