Page 10 - Issue 1 2023

DATA AND SOFTWARE

businesses need to be careful about However, companies are allowed to and quality of data is leading to
the type of data they collect. Storing transfer data after complying with local increased vigilance in ensuring data
data without consent or legitimate data protection and privacy laws. sets are accurate, valid, complete and
business purposes can raise In this scenario, businesses up to date, with AI being used to detect
compliance issues. Here Data, records must notify users and get incomplete, inconsistent or out of date
again, data remediation and information their consent before data. Data minimisation efforts such
is a necessary step, management has long obtaining and using as these can lead to cost-savings when
as it can help been an overlooked and their information. obsolete data no longer need to be
businesses improve underinvested area, with AI can be used stored.
compliance by getting little certainty about who to aggregate,
rid of duplicate, analyse, present Do not ignore physical
unnecessary or has ultimate corporate data clearly and information assets in the
unused data. All of this ownership. extract the most modern ‘phygital’ office
makes data remediation relevant information, so space
a critical tool for sanitising that businesses can make the In the post-pandemic working world,
data management and ensuring right decisions around data sovereignty. as offices reopened following two years
data network security within an Subsequently, AI can also be applied of downsizing of real estate, many
organisation. Knowing how data for content search and redaction businesses realised how much space
travels through your organisation will – whereby personal identifiable was taken up by obsolete IT equipment
enable you to access it for reporting information is hidden in documents and discarded digital assets. While
to regulators. Effective preparation from unauthorised access – and better information has a lifecycle, so too do
for these new changes will ensure integrate systems and overcome physical assets used for information
organisational compliance and an silos. From an information lifecycle management.
ability to focus on business as usual. viewpoint, AI can be used to identify With an increased focus on the
and delete unnecessary data, as well as circular economy and meeting carbon
Data residency will take to support compliance and governance. neutral pledges, choosing an Asset
centre stage with the Lifecycle Management (ALM) partner
continued acceleration of Keep your foot on the pedal is crucial to ensuring that disposing
cloud and AI in the hybrid - continued focus on data of old IT assets and phygital records
workplace quality and stewardship is done with data security and
In response to the demands of the Businesses continue to build vast newer compliance in mind. Understanding
hybrid workplace, cloud-based streams of data sitting in databases what records, assets and information
services are naturally increasing, but and on applications – with little idea of your organisation has, what needs to be
in a multi-cloud environment it can be what to do with it. Fortunately, many digitised and what can be automated
difficult to keep track of the tentacles organisations are becoming aware of is now an essential element of the
of the information spread. Knowledge this knowledge gap and increasingly modern office environment.
around data residency, including investing in formal governance Ultimately, businesses should look
what information you should hold, programmes, with a renewed emphasis to 2023 with an intention to elevate
where it is stored, which regulatory on data privacy. and prioritise their information and
framework(s) it is governed by and who The role of the ‘data steward’ or data security, management and
within your organisation has access ‘data broker’ as a prime participant destruction practices. Data, records
to it is critical to data security and in technology and business initiatives and information management has long
privacy. In most parts of the world, is taking centre stage. This concerted been an overlooked and underinvested
businesses operate under local data effort to increase the awareness and area, with little certainty about who
regulations that dictate how the data prioritisation of data handling principles has ultimate corporate ownership.
of a nation’s citizens or residents must and standards within the organisation If organisations do not develop
be collected, cleaned, processed and is a welcome development, following processes, assign dedicated functional
stored within its borders. The primary years of data breaches resulting in ownership and invest in technology,
reason enterprises choose to store data reputational damage and falling they will struggle to ensure compliance,
in different locations is often related customer trust. value recovery and security of their
to regulations, data policies and taxes. This increased focus on the value information assets.

EngineerIT | Issue 1 2023 | 10