Managing data means having a catalog that describes all of the assets an organization has. This catalog has to be held against a full set of rules that specify what can and cannot be done with said information. Classifications, security clearances, and countless other identifiers need to be part of the equation. As companies get larger, the number of data governance rules in play often has to grow as well. Rather than getting worked up about the complexity of it all, take a look at these four tips for creating a data governance plan for your organization.
1. Define Clear Objectives
Sales and marketing-related goals are usually measurable, but it can be difficult to figure out how much progress your organization has when it comes to data governance. Define some clear goals and use these to see if your business is moving in the right direction. Use timetables instead of conventional performance metrics since these tell your employees how long certain policies should take to implement. While you don’t want to rush things, it’s important to more toward a more safe environment as quickly as possible. Every single day your business lacks a good data governance program is another one spent at risk for various digital maladies.
2. Spell Out Roles
Management control roles have become far more technical in the last few years. In spite of this, it’s often difficult to tell what employees are supposed to handle which tasks when it comes to data governance. This is somewhat ironic considering that many other chores are clearly the responsibility of certain information technology department staffers. Taking the time to spell out which office is responsible for which duties will go a long way toward making the transition to a full data governance policy an easy one. It’ll also make it much simpler to solve problems in the future since other staffers will know where to take their issues.
3. Put All Information Under One Umbrella
Years of document-based interfaces have made people think that various computer storage objects have to be treated in completely different ways. This creates a great deal of confusion, especially for larger enterprises that store their information in a myriad of formats. Use a platform that encourages unified governance for all data, regardless of what application it’s tied to. This will provide a degree of protection for everything your group has to store.
4. Periodically Refine Your Plan
Don’t feel like you have to stick to the original data governance plan you laid out. Requirements change, so your plan should change with the times. Think of your original document as a general strategy and hold periodic review meetings if they make sense for your management structure. It’s impossible to see what direction the tech industry is headed in, so it’s best to regularly take a look at whether or not the use of new forms of media makes things somewhat more risky when it comes to data governance. When this happens, it’s usually time to change up some policies.
No matter what industry your organization is in, you need to have a data governance plan in place if you regularly use data, and the above tips can help you create one that is functional for your corporate needs.