Data is one of the most valuable assets a company can have, as it provides valuable insights into customers, markets, and operations. However, in order to make the most of this data, it’s crucial that it is accurate, reliable, and protected. This is where data governance and cleansing come in.
What Is Data Governance?
Data governance is the process of establishing and maintaining control over the management of data throughout an organisation. It involves setting policies, procedures, and standards for managing data, as well as monitoring compliance with those policies. The goal of data governance is to ensure that data is used in an ethical, legal, and consistent manner, and that it meets the needs of the organisation.
What Is Data Cleansing?
Data cleansing, on the other hand, is the process of identifying and correcting inaccuracies and inconsistencies in data. This can include removing duplicate records, filling in missing values, and standardising formatting. The goal of data cleansing is to ensure that the data is accurate and usable for analysis and decision-making.
Their Difference
When it comes to data governance and cleansing, the two processes are closely linked. Governance helps to establish the rules and regulations for managing data, while cleansing ensures that the data actually meets those standards.
For example, data governance policies may stipulate that data must be regularly cleaned to ensure accuracy, and that duplicate records must be removed to prevent confusion. Data cleansing processes can then be implemented to meet these requirements. With accurate data governance policies and effective data cleansing processes in place, an organisation can be confident that the data is reliable and accurate, which in turn helps to ensure that the decisions being made are sound.
The Importance Of Data Governance
Data Governance also plays an important role in data security. With the increasing amount of sensitive data and the growing threat of data breaches, it’s more important than ever to ensure that data is properly protected. Data governance policies can help to ensure that data is stored and transmitted in a secure manner, and that access to sensitive data is restricted to authorised personnel.
Benefits Of Having Clean Data
- Improved decision-making: With accurate and reliable data, it’s easier to make informed decisions that align with an organisation’s goals.
- Increased efficiency: Clean data is easier to work with and analyse, reducing the time and resources needed for data-related tasks.
- Reduced costs: Incorrect data can lead to wasted resources and lost revenue. By cleaning data, organisations can avoid these costs and improve their bottom line.
- Better customer relationships: With clean data, it’s easier to identify and target the right customers, leading to stronger and more profitable relationships.
- Increased customer satisfaction: By providing accurate and relevant data, organisations can improve customer satisfaction, which can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth.
- Better data visualisation and communication: Data that is clean and accurate is also easy to present, making it easier to share information, collaborate and make reports.
- Improved data security: With accurate and reliable data, organisations can better protect sensitive information and reduce the risk of data breaches.
To Conclude
These two processes work together to help organisations make the most of their data and make more informed decisions. By implementing effective data governance policies and regular data cleansing practices, organisations can rest assured that their data is in good hands. Visit AICA’s website to find out more.