What is Data Governance?

Data Governance is managing, monitoring, and controlling data assets across an organization. The primary aim of data governance is to ensure that data is accurate, secure, consistent, and used appropriately to drive decision-making while adhering to applicable laws and regulations. Data governance encompasses policies, practices, and tools to manage data quality, security, compliance, and access throughout its lifecycle.

Fundamental principles of Data Governance include:

  • 1. Data Quality: Ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
  • 2. Data Security: Implementing mechanisms to protect data from unauthorized access, tampering, or breaches.
  • 3. Data Privacy: Ensuring compliance with privacy laws and protecting personal or sensitive information.
  • 4. Compliance: Ensuring the organization adheres to relevant industry standards, legal regulations, and best practices.
  • 5. Accountability: Clarifying roles and responsibilities for data ownership, stewardship, and usage.
  • 6. Data Access: Managing who can access data, how it can be used, and ensuring data is made available to those who need it, when they need it.

References

Texas Senate Bill 475

S.B. No. 475, introduced in the 87th Texas Legislature, focuses on strengthening cybersecurity and data management across state agencies and local governments.