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Data Classification: A Fundamental Enabler of Data Governance
Data classification is the process of organizing structured and unstructured data by category that could be based on metadata, file content, or data type. Correct classification of data is important for properly addressing risk management, legal discovery, regulatory compliance, security, and data governance. Classification is particularly useful for tracking, identifying, and retrieving data.
Classification is performed by creating a policy that defines the categories and criteria to be used for classification. Additionally, security and handling procedures should be defined for different classification types. The policy will define which individuals or groups have the authority to access different kinds of data.
Classification may be done at a very high level, for example, organizing all data into three categories:
- Confidential
- Internal
- Public
But classification can also be done on a much finer-grained resolution. Typically a metadata schema is created which defines the different ways that data can be identified, grouped, and marked for retrieval.
Stefan Voss, a vice-president at N-able, said that “data classification helps organizations reduce risk and enhance the overall compliance and security posture. It also helps with cost containment and profitability due to reduction of storage costs and greater billing transparency.”
