Here’s a better way to manage your data

Information is a company’s lifeblood in today’s data-driven world, and data stewards play a crucial role in managing and governing this asset. However, many organizations do not quite grasp the role of the data steward and how it pertains to data governance. An experienced Managed Services Provider can help fill in the blanks.

Data stewards are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, integrity, and security of the data assets. Their collaborative role includes defining data standards and policies, managing data quality, and handling data-related issues.

The importance of data stewards has grown significantly as organizations increasingly recognize data as a strategic asset. With the rise of big data and advanced analytics, the need for proper data governance and stewardship has become more critical than ever. Data stewards help organizations maximize the value of their data, ensuring that it is used effectively to support business objectives and decision-making processes.

Data stewardship puts data governance into practice

The heart of their function is effective data governance, which includes policies and guidelines for data handling, quality, and security. Data stewards are responsible for explaining, implementing, and enforcing these policies.

For example, a data steward might conduct regular data audits to identify inaccuracies or inconsistencies. They could then implement data cleansing processes to eliminate duplicate entries, correct errors, and update outdated information.

A data steward may also design and oversee role-based user access controls to ensure that data access falls within regulatory compliance restrictions. This will help your company achieve a balance between data democratization and critical data security.

To implement data governance policies, your data steward will work with data custodians, who provide technical support and maintenance related to data. Their title will vary by organization, but they typically include database administrators, data modelers, ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load) developers, and data engineers. Data stewards also typically work in tandem with data owners in various departments, as well as data scientists who retrieve and analyze data.

Data stewards oversee all activities related to data management. Their responsibilities may include:

• Data quality assurance, which involves monitoring for errors or inconsistencies, and implementing processes to maintain data accuracy.
• Data security and compliance, ensuring the protection of data from unauthorized access. This can involve implementing security measures, and reviewing data usage to be sure it meets/complies with legal and regulatory requirements. They will also raise awareness about data security best practices.
• Data accessibility and usability. Stewards balance data security standards while making sure that authorized users can find and use data. This involves such responsibilities as building a data inventory, maintaining data lineage, and managing metadata.
• Data advocacy – Data stewards educate stakeholders on data quality principles, encouraging responsible data usage, and promoting data-driven decision making.

Your company may assign multiple stewards to handle different aspects of data stewardship. Verticals may include type, like customer data, or business function, such as sales or R&D. Some organizations assign data stewards responsibility for one or more IT systems, such as email.

Data stewards cover technical and culture-focused activities, including data modeling, databases, and database management systems. But they also need interpersonal skills and business acumen. Because they act as a liaison between IT and business functions — in addition to promoting good data practices throughout the company — they need to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively.

Data stewardship is not just about managing data; it is about enabling an organization to leverage its data for competitive advantage. By working with an MSP to implement effective data governance frameworks and practices, your organization can unlock the full potential of its data assets.

Carl Mazzanti is president of eMazzanti Technologies, providing IT Consulting and Cyber Security Services for businesses ranging from home offices to multinational corporations.