Key Dimensions for Cloud Data Governance

Forward thinking organizations recognize that data management solutions on their own are becoming very expensive and failing cope with reality. They need to solve the data problem in a different way; through the implementation of an effective Data Governance. Data Governance needs to take a policy-centric approach to data models, data quality standards, data security and lifecycle management, and processes for defining, implementing and enforcing these policies. Until recently, data governance has largely been informal, in siloes around specific enterprise repositories, lacking structure and the wider support of the organization. In many government departments, data governance exists as a set of very ambiguous and generic regulations. The area of data governance is still under researched, despite its importance. With the emergence of Cloud computing, and its increased adoption by businesses, public organisations and governments, as much as the potential gains from adopting the technology, businesses face new and more complex challenges. Such emphasize the need for effective data governance strategy and programs, which can ensure best returns for cloud adoption. This paper is one of very few published research, which tackles this subject domain, and attempts to lay its foundations.