Data governance

Data Governance is the practice of oversight and management over the use of data within a company or organization. It is essentially a set of policies and procedures that define the use of data, its distribution, and its security. It includes all effects that data has on a business, including its uses to improve operational effectiveness, compliance to regulatory requirements, improved business analytics, and data privacy.

Data Governance can be defined as a framework for creating good data practices within a company that help ensure the accuracy, security, and timeliness of data used in operations. It is an overarching model that is built to enable collaboration among users and the decision makers regarding the management, creation, usage, and maintenance of data. It will focus on identifying data properties and systems, as well as monitoring and regulating how data is stored, accessed, and used while also applying best practices for data management.

This practice not only documents how data is managed, but also helps to ensure data security and integrity, promote better decision-making, maximize opportunities for data-driven projects, and create more efficient processes. Additionally, data governance creates uniformity in how data is handled throughout an organization, across multiple departments, by communicating the need to follow established policies and procedures.

Finally, data governance is used as a tool to reduce compliance risks and ensure adherence to regulations, such as those set by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By following data governance practices, organizations can be confident that their data will be handled correctly and securely, and avoid penalties or possible negative effects on users.