P2P

33 I L T A N E T . O R G F rom customer information to operational metrics, organizations generate and accumulate vast amounts of data daily. However, the sheer volume and complexity of data presents significant challenges and risks. Many organizations now recognize the critical need for effective data management strategies. A cornerstone of effective data management is a comprehensive data inventory that provides a holistic view of the organization's data landscape. By understanding their data sources, categorizing data types, establishing data ownership, implementing robust technology to catalog, and managing their data, organizations can unlock the full potential of their data assets. Let's look at what's involved in building a comprehensive data inventory. The first step is to identify all data sources within the organization by assessing internal and external data repositories. Internal data sources may include assets like databases, file servers, email systems, and collaboration platforms, while external sources typically include data from cloud-based applications and third-party data providers. Unless they identify all data sources, organizations will not completely understand the data landscape they need to manage. Once all data sources have been identified, you must categorize and prioritize the different data types you possess. In government agencies, for example, data may be related to physical infrastructure, government expenditures, government programs, environmental information, health information, or service provision, among other categories. Data classification methods should be established to differentiate between sensitive and non- sensitive data. This ensures that appropriate security measures and data handling practices are implemented for different data types, wherever the data resides. All organizations should establish data prioritization criteria based on business objectives and compliance requirements. Prioritizing data types for more intensive management helps organizations allocate resources more effectively, with a focus on protecting the most sensitive data and effectively managing the most critical data for their operations. As organizations increasingly rely on vast amounts of data to drive their operations and decision- making processes, it is essential to identify who owns and controls the data within their systems. Data owners act as custodians of specific data sets. They are responsible for ensuring the data they control is accurate and secure, and that data management practices are compliant with current laws and regulations. Assignment of data ownership roles should be a collaborative process involving stakeholders from across the organization and should include formal statements that clearly define the responsibilities and accountability of each owner. 33 I L T A N E T . O R G "Prioritizing data types for more intensive management helps organizations allocate resources more effectively."

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