A system for performing sensor data analytics for equipment diagnostics featuring an alarm signature and diagnostic detector having a signal processor configured to receive signaling containing information about an alarm signature for sensed data that is time-stamped for captured alarm signature parameters in order to monitor rotary equipment, and also about diagnostic detector signatures for diagnostic detectors related to alarm conditions for the rotary equipment; and determine corresponding signaling containing information about an alarm diagnosis based upon a match between the alarm signature and one of the diagnostic detector signatures contained in the signaling received.