Data Governance
Published: January 30, 2009
What is Data Governance?
Data Governance is the application of policies and processes that:
| • | Maximize the value of data within an organization. |
| • | Manage what data is collected and determine how it is used. |
Data Governance helps minimize the risks that come with handling and storing data and helps organizations comply with an increasingly complex array of statutes and regulations that surround data.
Why is Microsoft promoting Data Governance?
Growing public concerns about abuses of consumers‘ personal information threatens to curtail the growth of online commerce and services. Data Governance directly addresses these concerns.
Data Governance can reduce an organization’s IT costs and improve its control over its information, which increases data security and privacy and improves responses to changing compliance requirements.
Conversely, poor Data Governance raises the risks of data breaches, including identity theft and fraud, which can erode trust in an organization, trigger financial or legal penalties, or reduce confidence among employees, customers, and investors.
Leveraging Microsoft Operations Framework in a COBIT/Val IT Environment
Now that Microsoft and ISACA have announced a licensing agreement with COBIT and Val IT, organizations can use the wealth of knowledge and tools developed for MOF to more effectively align their IT efforts with their business objectives.
Specifically, organizations can leverage MOF 4.0–based tools and guidance documents to achieve the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) objectives defined within the COBIT 4.1 and Val IT 2.0 frameworks.
For information, download "MOF to COBIT/Val IT Comparison and Cross-Implementation Guide: How to Leverage MOF in a COBIT/Val IT Environment."
Download: PDF | XPS
How Microsoft implements Data Governance internally
Microsoft is currently embarking on a company-wide Data Governance effort. Details will be published as they become available at How Microsoft Does IT.
