What ensures that the use of data complies with organizational policies, standards, and relevant regulations?

Data governance is the set of processes, roles, policies, standards, and metrics that ensure the effective and efficient use of data in enabling an organization to achieve its goals. It focuses on managing data availability, usability, integrity, and security throughout its lifecycle. By establishing a clear framework for who can make decisions about data and how data should be governed, organizations can ensure that data usage aligns with their policies and relevant regulations. This is critical for maintaining compliance with legal, regulatory, and organizational standards, thereby minimizing the risk of data breaches or non-compliance penalties.

In contrast, information governance often encompasses broader aspects, such as information lifecycle management and data quality, but may not specifically enforce compliance as directly as data governance. Data management refers to the administrative processes that support data collection, storage, and usage without necessarily ensuring compliance with policies and regulations. A compliance framework outlines the specific regulations and standards an organization must adhere to but does not provide the comprehensive approach necessary for ongoing governance of data usage. Thus, data governance stands out as the most effective mechanism for ensuring compliance with organizational policies and applicable regulations.