Shared rules for shared information
If sales and support count “active customers” differently, their reports will not agree. Data governance sets a shared definition and names who is responsible for it. It also says which system is the source of truth, who may see or change the data, how long to keep it, and how to fix errors.
A data steward helps keep these decisions up to date. A data catalogue lists what data exists and what it means; data lineage shows where it came from and how it changed.
Putting the rules into practice
Teams apply the rules by checking data quality, reviewing access, and deciding when records should be deleted. Sensitive information, such as personal details, needs tighter protection.