System and method for sensitive content analysis prioritization based on file metadata

Example systems and methods for efficient data governance are disclosed. Metadata associated with file objects is analyzed to estimate, for each file object, likelihood that the file object includes sensitive data. The estimates are used to prioritize the file objects for analysis of the file objects' content to determine the objects include data deemed to be of a sensitive nature. In cloud-based systems/methods the estimates are also used to prioritize the file objects for transfer from a remote file storage system to the cloud-based system for analysis of content. The disclosed systems and methods significantly reduce the time required to identify sensitive file content in a large number of file objects.