Path Detectors = Monitor storage locations of sensitive data
Content Detectors = Analyze data within files for sensitive data
Attribute Detectors = Identify meta-data within documents
Forcepoint DSPM separates detector logic into path, content, and attribute-based functions so classification can be driven by where data is stored, what the file contains, and what scan-derived attributes describe the file. Path Detectors evaluate file path information, including directory location, filename, and extension. Forcepoint describes them as identifying and classifying files based on directory location and file extensions, which aligns with monitoring storage locations where sensitive data resides.
Content Detectors inspect the actual contents of files. Forcepoint states that content detectors analyze file content and categorize based on keywords, phrases, positive and negative terms, or patterns, making them the correct match for analyzing data within files for sensitive data.
Attribute Detectors operate on scan-result attributes rather than raw text content alone. Forcepoint describes them as defining criteria for “critical” and “sensitive” based on attributes in scan results, including ML output or path/content detector hits. This maps most closely to identifying metadata or scan-derived characteristics within documents. References/topics: Detectors, Path Detectors, Content Detectors, Attribute Detectors, AI Mesh, Classification Model .