Beyond Buzzwords: Data Governance in Practice

Date:

Apr 7, 2025

Marc Dekeyser, expert in compliance and security formerly with Microsoft Azure, told me:

"Compliance shouldn't be an afterthought—it needs to be integral from day one. You can't retrofit good governance; it has to be embedded in your company's DNA."

Why Data Governance Truly Matters

Data governance involves the management of your company's data—ensuring it's available, usable, secure, and handled responsibly. It includes clear policies, procedures, standards, and metrics that directly influence operational efficiency, risk management, and regulatory compliance (like GDPR and the EU AI Act).

I've often heard the argument that data governance is costly or overly complex. However, in my experience, the real cost comes when companies neglect governance. Startups, in particular, suffer significantly when they overlook this essential element. By the time they scale, they face complicated and expensive data migrations, extensive IT overhauls, and intense regulatory scrutiny.

Real-Life Impact of Ignored Governance

Take British Airways Airways as an example—they faced a £20 million fine by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) after a data breach affecting over 400,000 customers. This wasn’t just a technical oversight—it was fundamentally a governance failure. Clear, comprehensive, and consistently applied data policies could have prevented such a disaster.

Here's how any business can practically implement strong governance:

Start Early, Start Small: Implement basic data management tools that scale with your business, such as Collibra or Informatica.
Clarify Roles and Responsibilities: Ensure everyone knows who owns, manages, and oversees data compliance to enhance accountability and reduce risks.
Automate Wisely: Leverage automation tools to consistently apply governance policies, reducing manual errors.
Regular Reviews: Continuously revisit and update your data governance practices as your business and regulations evolve.

Turning Compliance into Your Competitive Advantage

Solid governance isn't just about avoiding penalties; it’s about building trust. Companies with robust data governance naturally attract more trust from customers, partners, and investors.

As Marc Dekeyser emphasized to me, "In today's environment, strong data governance can significantly differentiate your business, enhancing its market reputation."

Looking to the Future

Data governance will only grow in complexity and importance. Companies that establish strong governance frameworks early will adapt more swiftly, scale more effectively, and garner greater market confidence.

I’d love to hear your take

Are you already dealing with AI interoperability challenges?
Do you think standards like MCP will take off, or will we stay stuck in a world of custom integrations?

Let’s discuss—reply or drop a comment below.