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Day 87 – Data Governance and Security

Introduction

This lesson focuses on the critical importance of data governance and security in a BI environment. We will cover the key principles of data governance, common security threats, and best practices for protecting data.

Data Governance Frameworks

A data governance framework provides a structure for managing an organization's data assets. It defines roles, responsibilities, and processes to ensure data is handled consistently and in line with business objectives.

  • DAMA-DMBOK (Data Management Body of Knowledge): A comprehensive framework that covers 11 key knowledge areas of data management, with data governance at its core.
  • COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies): A framework that aligns IT and data policies with business objectives, with a strong focus on risk management and control monitoring.
  • DCAM (Data Management Capability Assessment Model): A framework that helps organizations assess their data management capabilities and provides a roadmap for improvement.

Data Quality Management

Data quality management is a set of practices that aim to maintain a high level of data quality. High-quality data is accurate, complete, consistent, timely, and relevant.

Best Practices

  1. Establish a Data Governance Framework: A solid framework is the foundation for data quality.
  2. Conduct Regular Data Audits: Periodically check your data for inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and duplicates.
  3. Implement Validation Rules: Use automated checks to validate data at the point of entry.
  4. Standardize Data: Ensure that data is in a consistent format across the organization.
  5. Clean and Maintain Data: Regularly cleanse your data to remove errors and outdated information.

Data Privacy and Compliance

Data privacy and compliance are about protecting individuals' rights and adhering to legal and regulatory requirements for data handling.

Key Regulations

  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): A regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area.
  • CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): A state statute intended to enhance privacy rights and consumer protection for residents of California.
  • HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): A US federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.

Best Practices

  1. Develop a Comprehensive Data Privacy Framework: Establish clear policies and controls for data handling.
  2. Conduct Regular Risk Assessments: Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities.
  3. Implement Data Minimization Strategies: Collect and store only the data that is absolutely necessary.
  4. Ensure Transparency in Data Processing: Be clear with individuals about how their data is being used.
  5. Establish Clear Data Access Controls: Restrict access to sensitive data to authorized personnel.

Exercises

  1. Framework Selection: For a fictional healthcare company, which data governance framework (DAMA-DMBOK, COBIT, or DCAM) would you recommend and why?
  2. Data Quality Checklist: Create a data quality checklist for a new customer relationship management (CRM) system.
  3. Compliance Plan: Outline a plan to ensure the healthcare company's BI environment is compliant with HIPAA.

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You are on lesson 87 of 108.