As data platforms mature, the impact of not having specific components of a Data Governance program becomes more and more important. On the other hand, over-engineering a Data Governance program can slow down progress and limit business value. The key is balance.
Pay special attention to certain business units that have non-negotiable Data Governance requirements. Compliance reasons in certain industries require specific governance of the platform. Identify aspects of Data Governance that are non-negotiable and those that can be developed later in the data platform life cycle. Core Data Governance capabilities are:
Authentication & Authorization: Ensuring the right users have the right access to the right data.
Information Architecture: Focuses on organizing, structuring, and labeling data effectively and sustainably.
Provisioning and Rights Management (Data Stewards & Data Asset Definitions): Supplying data to users to ensure high data quality and a clear understanding of data assets.
Data Catalog and Classification: Providing data summaries and metadata for easy access and understanding.
Data Lineage: Understanding the impacts of changing source systems and the downstream effects.
Data Mastering: Set of defined activities to specify a single source of truth across the enterprise for all data required to run the business.