Data governance is about putting people in charge of fixing and preventing issues with data so that an organization can become more efficient, according to several sources.
The discipline embodies a convergence of data quality, data management, data policies, business process management, and risk management, according to Wikipedia. Through data governance, organizations are looking to exercise positive control over the processes and methods used by their data stewards and data custodians to handle data.
Data governance initiatives are often driven by C-Level leaders responding to external regulations, including Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel I, Basel II, and HIPAA, according to Information-management.com.
Brass Tacks: Five Steps to Data Governance
- A sound data governance program includes a governing body or council, a defined set of procedures, and a plan to execute those procedures, according to searchdatamanagement.com.
- A policy must be developed that specifies who is accountable for various portions or aspects of the data, including its accuracy, accessibility, consistency, completeness, and updating.
- Processes must be defined concerning how the data is to be stored, archived, backed up, and protected from mishaps, theft, or attack.
- A set of standards and procedures must be developed that defines how the data is to be used by authorized personnel.
- Finally, a set of controls and audit procedures must be put into place that ensures ongoing compliance with government regulations.
Want to learn more? Check out the Data Governance Institute, a mission-based, vendor-neutral authority on essential practices for data strategy and governance.