Data classification has always been regarded as a foundational element of any viable data security strategy. After all, most organizations are creating, utilizing and storing more potentially sensitive data than ever before. The emergence of compliance guidelines and data privacy mandates, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), puts data classification front and center. The necessity of classifying data has grown as organizations must ensure their data is compliant and protected. At the same time, data classification is proving to have equally valuable implications for corporate privacy initiatives.