File properties

Because classified data is often stored in specific file formats—such as PGP (encrypted) or Excel (xlsx)—Forcepoint DLP can use file-type and file-name classifiers to block the distribution of this information. Data can also be classified by file size.

Tip: For a list of supported file types, see Supported File Formats.

File-type classifiers group like files together (for example, documents or images). You can create a new file type classifier or add files to the existing file type classifiers. (See File-type classifiers for details about each predefined file-type classifier.)

File-name classifiers identify files by file-name extension (such as “*.docx”) or the file name itself (such as “myfile*.doc”). Because end users can change the extension of files, this is a less secure means of identifying files.

File-size classifiers identify files by their size.

Note: File properties classifiers do not work for the print channels (network or endpoint), because file property information cannot be extracted from printer drivers.