How do you comply with data management requirements?

1 Understand your data sources

The first step to comply with data management requirements is to identify and document your data sources. Data sources are the places where you obtain or generate data, such as databases, files, applications, surveys, sensors, or external providers. You need to know what types of data you have, where they come from, how they are structured, and how they are updated. This will help you to assess the quality, relevance, and reliability of your data, as well as the risks and obligations associated with them.

3 Implement your data governance framework

The third step to comply with data management requirements is to implement your data governance framework. Data governance is the system of roles, responsibilities, and processes that ensure the effective and efficient use of data across your organization. Data governance helps you to monitor, control, and improve your data quality, security, and compliance. You need to establish a data governance team that will oversee your data policies and procedures, assign data roles and permissions, define data standards and metrics, and resolve data issues.

4 Apply your data quality management practices

The fourth step to comply with data management requirements is to apply your data quality management practices. Data quality management is the process of ensuring that your data meets the expectations and needs of your users and stakeholders. Data quality management involves checking, validating, cleaning, transforming, and enriching your data to make it accurate, complete, consistent, timely, and relevant. You need to use appropriate data quality tools and techniques to perform data quality audits, assessments, and improvements.

5 Ensure your data security and privacy measures

The fifth step to comply with data management requirements is to ensure your data security and privacy measures. Data security and privacy are the aspects of data management that protect your data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction. Data security and privacy measures include encrypting, anonymizing, masking, backing up, and disposing of your data according to best practices and regulations. You need to use adequate data security and privacy software and hardware to prevent data breaches, leaks, or losses.

6 Conduct your data management audits and reviews

The sixth and final step to comply with data management requirements is to conduct your data management audits and reviews. Data management audits and reviews are the activities that evaluate and verify your data management performance and compliance. Data management audits and reviews help you to identify and address any gaps, errors, or risks in your data management processes, policies, and procedures. You need to perform regular data management audits and reviews using internal or external auditors, reviewers, or consultants.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?