What is a Data Steward ?

A data steward is an individual or a role within an organization responsible for managing and overseeing the data assets of the organization. The primary role of a data steward is to ensure the quality, integrity, security, and proper use of data throughout its lifecycle.

Data stewards work closely with data owners, data users, and other stakeholders to define and enforce data standards, policies, and procedures. They play a crucial role in data governance initiatives and are responsible for implementing and maintaining data management practices within the organization.

Here are some key responsibilities of a data steward:

1. Data Quality Management: Data stewards are responsible for monitoring and maintaining data quality, ensuring that data is accurate, consistent, and reliable. They establish data quality standards, perform data profiling and validation, and work to resolve data quality issues.

2. Data Policy and Standards: Data stewards collaborate with data governance teams to develop and enforce data policies, standards, and guidelines. They help define data naming conventions, data classification, data security requirements, and data usage policies.

3. Data Documentation: Data stewards create and maintain data documentation, including data dictionaries, metadata catalogs, and data lineage. They ensure that data definitions, attributes, and relationships are well-documented and accessible to data users.

4. Data Access and Security: Data stewards are responsible for managing data access permissions and security controls. They work with IT and security teams to establish appropriate access levels, data encryption methods, and data privacy measures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

5. Data Governance Support: Data stewards actively participate in data governance initiatives and support data governance committees. They provide subject matter expertise on data-related issues, contribute to data strategy and roadmap development, and assist in resolving data-related conflicts or disputes.

6. Data Lifecycle Management: Data stewards oversee the end-to-end data lifecycle, from data acquisition and storage to archiving and deletion. They ensure proper data retention policies are in place and enforce data disposal practices in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Overall, data stewards play a crucial role in managing and maintaining the organization's data assets. They act as advocates for data quality, governance, and compliance, working collaboratively across departments to ensure the effective and responsible use of data throughout the organization.