1. A computer-implemented method of parsing data using a plurality of pattern matching rules, the method comprising: deriving one or more optimized pattern matching rules from an original pattern matching rule, wherein the original pattern matching rule includes a constant text string and one or more regular expression operators that define variable patterns of characters that occur prior to or following the text string in order to satisfy the original pattern matching rule, and wherein deriving one or more optimized pattern matching rules includes extracting the constant text string from the original pattern matching rule to generate an optimized pattern matching rule including the constant text string and excluding the one or more regular expression operators; determining if the one or more optimized pattern matching rules match any of the data to be parsed; bypassing an application of the original pattern matching rule to the data when the optimized pattern matching rule including the constant string does not match the data; and applying the original pattern matching rule to the data when the one or more optimized pattern matching rules match the data, wherein applying the original pattern matching rule includes determining if the original pattern matching rule matches any of the data to be parsed.