Which statement best describes data governance in the data lifecycle?

• A. Governance is applied at each stage of the data lifecycle to ensure compliance, quality, and risk management
• B. Governance is optional and rarely used in practice
• C. Governance only concerns IT security staff
• D. Governance exists only for data stored on-premises

Answer: (A)

Data governance spans the entire data lifecycle, guiding policies, roles, and controls from creation through retirement. It’s not a one-off task or confined to a single team. By applying governance at every stage—creation, storage, use, sharing, retention, and disposal—the organization ensures compliance with laws and standards, maintains data quality and consistency, and manages risk with clear ownership and accountability. This continuous, cross-functional approach is what makes governance effective across all data, regardless of where it’s stored or how it’s used.