Data is a valuable asset for any organization, but it also comes with challenges and risks. How can you enable data access while controlling governance? In this article, you will learn some best practices and tools to balance the needs of data users and data stewards.
A data governance framework is a set of policies, standards, roles, and processes that define how data is created, stored, accessed, and used in an organization. It helps to ensure data quality, security, compliance, and value. A data governance framework should align with your business goals, data strategy, and data culture. It should also be flexible and adaptable to changing needs and technologies.
Data access policies are the rules that specify who can access what data, when, where, and how. They are based on the data classification, sensitivity, and usage. Data access policies should be clear, consistent, and enforceable. They should also respect the privacy and rights of data owners and data subjects. Data access policies should be communicated and documented to all data users and data stewards.
A data catalog is a tool that provides a centralized and searchable inventory of your data assets. It helps data users to find, understand, and trust the data they need. It also helps data stewards to manage, monitor, and audit the data lifecycle. A data catalog should include metadata, such as data definitions, descriptions, sources, owners, lineage, quality, and usage. A data catalog should also support data discovery, collaboration, and governance.
Data roles and responsibilities are the assignments and expectations of different data stakeholders in an organization. They define who is accountable, responsible, consulted, and informed for each data activity and decision. Data roles and responsibilities should be aligned with the data governance framework and the data access policies. They should also be clearly defined, assigned, and communicated to all data stakeholders.
Data literacy and training are the skills and knowledge that enable data users and data stewards to effectively use and manage data. They include technical, analytical, ethical, and business aspects of data. Data literacy and training should be part of your data culture and your data governance framework. They should also be tailored to the needs and levels of different data stakeholders.
Data governance tools are the software and platforms that support and automate the data governance framework and processes. They help to implement, monitor, and enforce the data access policies, the data catalog, the data roles and responsibilities, and the data literacy and training. Data governance tools should be integrated with your data sources, systems, and applications. They should also be user-friendly, scalable, and secure.