Method for fast and efficient discovery of data assets

A method, system and computer-usable medium for performing a data asset discovery security operation, comprising: capturing a stream of data resulting from interactions between a user and a device; identifying an occurrence of a data asset discovery operation in the stream of data; generating a data asset index corresponding to a data asset associated with the occurrence of the data asset discovery operation; and, determining whether a data asset security policy is applicable to the data asset associated with the occurrence of the data asset discovery operation.