What exactly is involved in Data Governance?

Data governance involves a holistic approach to managing data throughout its lifecycle, from creation to retirement and it encompasses a set of processes and practices aimed at ensuring the availability, quality, security, and proper management of an organization’s data. . It ensures data accuracy, security, and alignment with business goals. 

Key activities involved in data governance are:

1. Data Classification and Contextualization:

• Identify and classify data based on its sensitivity, criticality, and business context.
• Apply metadata tags to data to enhance visibility and understanding.

2. Data Profiling and Data Mapping:

• Profile data to understand its characteristics, patterns, and quality.
• Create data maps to visualize data flows and relationships across systems.

3. Data Lineage:

• Establish data lineage to track data movement from source to destination.
• Understand how data is transformed, aggregated, and used within the organization.

4. Metadata Management:

• Maintain metadata repositories that describe data attributes, definitions, and ownership.
• Ensure consistent metadata across systems.

5. Data Ownership and Stewardship:

• Assign data ownership to specific individuals or teams.
• Define roles and responsibilities for data stewardship.

6. Data Security and Privacy:

• Implement security measures to protect data from unauthorized access.
• Comply with privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) by managing access and consent.

7. Data Quality Control:

• Monitor data quality through data profiling, validation, and cleansing.
• Address data anomalies and inconsistencies.

8. Data Access and Authorization:

• Define access controls based on user roles and permissions.
• Ensure appropriate data access for authorized users.

9. Data Risk Management:

• Assess data risks (e.g., data breaches, data loss) and develop mitigation strategies.
• Monitor and respond to data security incidents.

10. Data Sharing and Dissemination:

• Establish guidelines for sharing data within and outside the organization.
• Facilitate secure data exchange with partners and stakeholders.

11. Compliance Monitoring and Auditing:

• Regularly audit data governance processes and policies.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with data regulations and internal standards.

12. Data Governance Council or Committee:

Form a cross-functional group responsible for setting data governance policies and making strategic decisions.