Data governance, the proper and organized management of data across an organization, continues to be a focus in 2019. For organizations that want to make the best use of their data, they have to have systems in place for ensuring data is correct, complete, secure, available to the right people, and that there are designated people to own all of these activities. In the coming year, GDPR and related regulations will likely impact data governance efforts, quality data will continue to be a focus, and organizations will need to take individualized approaches to building data governance programs if they want to see success.
GDPR in the EU and Elsewhere
The GDPR has been enforceable for less than a year, but it’s already making waves through the levying of several large fines (including a huge fine for Google) in the past few months. Organizations in the EU, and U.S. states such as Washington and California where lawmakers are embracing GDPR-like regulations, will need to be cognizant of these standards when crafting and developing data governance plans.
The GDPR, for example, requires greater transparency around how companies use data, and who has access to it, which takes an organization-wide knowledge of how data is managed on the part of the company. Additionally, the GDPR allows individuals to request the deletion of their personal data, which requires organizations to have a process to honoring this request in a timely manner. Both of these examples and other requirements of data privacy laws need to be considered if your goal is to adhere to data governance best practices.
Learn about other regulations in The State of Data Privacy in 2019 whitepaper
Start With Quality Data
Quality data is the lifeblood of any data governance undertaking. Incorrect, incomplete, and duplicate data all affect the integrity of any reports that data feeds into, as well as the ability to use data to make business decisions. In 2019, organizations will need to continue to strive for better quality data, taking measures to ensure quality records from initial collection and putting in place processes to remove duplicate information from systems.
Look at Best Practices, Then Throw Away the Rulebook
With all the best practices offered from experts, articles, and whitepapers, it’s important to remember that a data governance program needs to be customized to the company that’s creating it. From who should own particular parts of the data governance strategy, to specific definitions, to what systems are used to manage data, to the goals of having a data governance strategy to begin with, organizations need to examine what they’re truly trying to achieve with a data governance program. Understand and research best practices, but implement based on your organizations unique needs.
How Does a Web Form Platform Contribute to Data Governance Best Practices?
A web form and data collection solution can be used as part of a full data governance strategy by helping you preserve data quality, improve access to data, and ensure overall data security. To stay in the know with evolving data privacy regulations, be sure to download the State of Data Privacy in 2019 whitepaper, linked below.
