File analysis software is designed to help users create a comprehensive understanding of an organization's file structure. These tools index, search, analyze, and report on key file information across business systems, with the ability to comprehend both in-file data and file metadata. File analysis tools often deliver the most value when confronting unstructured data stores, such as data archives, mass file stores, or high-volume business file systems like enterprise content management (ECM) systems. Data management teams utilize file analysis tools to reduce the amount of redundant, outdated, or trivial (ROT) data a business has stored; these solutions also help businesses manage the risks associated with data that is either sensitive or subject to governance or compliance requirements.
To qualify for inclusion in the File Analysis category, a product must:
Identify all files within the target business system(s)
Analyze file metadata and/or contents to identify ROT data or potential compliance violations
Index identified files for organized and efficient file recall
Generate reports and/or dashboards with results and key findings post-analysis