---
schema_version: "1"
id: 9e9d836dba44572df138149e6faf9077be9a199cbf89662200250c7f16d87d5a
title: Create and Run a Scan
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/data_detect_create_policies_run_scans.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_create_policies_run_scans.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: eef86a38c4bd36616eb26866cc30cf4bff957d4545fbe1d1bbd3d7eeb41b11cb
description: Create a Data Detect scan policy to find sensitive data that users inadvertently enter into fields across your Salesforce Org. Run scans to detect instances of the custom patterns.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Create and Run a Scan

Create a Data Detect scan policy to find sensitive data that users inadvertently enter into fields across your Salesforce Org. Run scans to detect instances of the custom patterns.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition">
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      <tbody>
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Lightning Experience</td>

        </tr>
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          <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
            <p>Available in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, <strong>Unlimited</strong>, and
              <strong>Developer</strong> Editions.
            </p>
            <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Requires the Salesforce Shield add-on subscription or
              the Data Detect add-on license.</p>
          </td>

        </tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>

- **[Create a Data Detect Policy and Run a Scan](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_create_scan_policy.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Data Detect scans search for sensitive ‌data across selected objects and fields. Create multiple policies that help you find sensitive data that users inadvertently enter into fields across your Salesforce org.
- **[Understand Data Categories Available in Data Detect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_sensitive_data_categories.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Sensitive data categories are multilevel validations used to detect sensitive data within the Salesforce org. Data Detect supports these types of sensitive data categories. A scan policy searches for any categories that you select, so only use the ones that you need.
- **[Use Custom Patterns in Data Detect Scan Policies](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_custom_regex.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Use regular expressions to define your own custom patterns for detecting sensitive data for each Data Detect scan policy in addition to the provided sensitive data categories. Some custom patterns that you can use include organization-specific information such as student IDs, employee IDs, or contract numbers. Scan results include instances of the custom patterns detected.
- **[Use Custom Keywords in Data Detect Scan Policies](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_custom_keywords.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Use Data Detect Keywords to extend data governance capabilities in Salesforce by enabling precise, high-speed scanning for exact keywords and phrases within records. You can define dictionaries of specific terms such as proprietary internal codes, prohibited marketing terms, or foul language, identifying them across objects and fields. Use custom keywords or keyword dictionaries in addition to the provided sensitive data categories.
- **[Schedule a Recurring Scan](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_schedule_scan_policy.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Schedule recurring scans to eliminate manual effort and ensure continuous oversight. Data Detect scans mitigate risks and help you to meet compliance requirements with your sensitive data.
- **[Stop a Running Scan](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_stop_a_running_scan.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Stop a scan before it finishes to run a different scan or edit the policy settings and run the updated scan policy.
- **[Resume a Scan](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_resume_scan.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Resume scans that skipped, timed out, completed with errors, or you’ve stopped. Resume the scan to finish scanning the remaining records without running a new scan and scanning records that already have results.
- **[Retrieve the Data Detect Policies](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_get_policy_api.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Returns the list of existing policies with their details.
- **[Scan a Data Detect Policy](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_detect_post_scan_api.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Posts the DataDetect policy scan for execution.