Written by Abuh Ibrahim Sani
Business around the globe is driven by data, companies rely more and more on precise, well-managed, and protected data to stay ahead and meet regulatory requirements. Business analysts (BAs) are crucial in connecting business objectives, data governance plans, and cybersecurity measures. Their ability to comprehend technical and business factors allows them to create data governance strategies that guarantee data quality and availability while also protecting it from changing cybersecurity risks.
Understanding Data Governance and Cybersecurity
Data governance involves the general oversight of data accessibility, usability, accuracy, and protection within firm. It ensure that data remains trustworthy and uniform among diverse systems and users. In contrast, cybersecurity entails safeguarding systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, and data breaches. Data governance and cybersecurity are interconnected, with the former establishing data management guidelines and the latter protecting these guidelines from both internal and external risks.
Data governance and cybersecurity have a mutually beneficial relationship. Effective governance creates the regulations and guidelines for data management, while cybersecurity guarantees the protection of these regulations. Nevertheless, if data governance is not successful, companies may face considerable risks.
In 2013, Target Group suffered data loss, where 40 million credit card numbers were compromised, illustrating the consequences of insufficient data governance. The breach was attributed to ineffective third-party access controls, a breakdown in data governance procedures, and inadequate cybersecurity measures. If there were stricter data classification and access controls implemented, along with stronger cybersecurity measures like real-time intrusion detection, the impact could have been reduced.
Key Responsibilities of Business Analysts in Data Governance and Cybersecurity
Business analysts are responsible for gathering and recording business needs related to data governance, understanding how stakeholders use data, and recognizing potential risks. They work with department leaders, IT teams, and compliance officers to ensure that governance strategies align with business goals and cybersecurity protocols. They help translate business requirements into practical data governance structures, incorporating security measures to protect confidential information.
A key role of business analysts is risk assessment and mitigation, assessing potential risks to data assets and collaborating with cybersecurity teams to identify and rank threats. They act as intermediaries, ensuring all parties are in sync and aligning governance measures with cybersecurity practices like data retention, GDPR compliance, and data loss prevention.
Efficient data governance strategies define ownership and access rights for data, ensuring access controls are managed effectively. Business analysts assist IT and cybersecurity teams in translating governance policies into practical security measures, such as encrypting data, verifying user identity, maintaining audit logs, and detecting security breaches. They ensure data governance strategies align with regulatory bodies like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, reducing the risk of legal sanctions and aligning with industry rules.
The Challenges of Governing Emerging Technologies.
Business analysts face new challenges in creating governance frameworks as organisations adopt AI and IoT technologies. AI models require vast data quantities, necessitating quality and safety assurance. Analysts must ensure governance structures establish procedures for data acquisition, labelling, and utilization while following privacy regulations. IoT devices generate data in vast quantities within ecosystems, often without management. Collaboration between BAs and cybersecurity teams is vital for governance and endpoint protection.
Common Challenges and Limitations
The most difficult obstacle BAs encounter during the implementation of data governance strategies is opposition to change. Employees may hesitate to embrace new data management practices, or leadership may not provide enough resources for cybersecurity initiatives. BAs can overcome these challenges by engaging stakeholders at an early stage and effectively communicating the advantages of aligning data governance and cybersecurity, such as minimized risks and improved compliance, can lead to greater support. Also, the training of employees on data governance policies and their role in cybersecurity can reduce resistance and enhance compliance.
In conclusion, Business analysts play a crucial role in developing data governance strategies that are in line with cybersecurity protocols. They make sure that governance policies align with business goals and adhere to security standards by bridging the gap between business and technical teams. Organisations can develop strong strategies to protect data assets and maintain operational efficiency by identifying risks, collaborating across departments, and enforcing compliance.
