Data Governance Framework Checklist

A defensible data governance framework makes it clear what data you have, where it lives, who can access it, and how it’s protected. Use this checklist to audit your current posture.

• Data classification: Define levels (Public/Internal/Confidential) and label accordingly.
• Data inventory & ownership: Maintain an inventory of critical stores and assign owners.
• Data lifecycle rules: Define retention and deletion requirements by data type.
• Access control: Enforce least privilege; review access on a defined cadence.
• Identity security: Require MFA for sensitive repositories.
• Logging & audit trail: Log access to sensitive data and retain per regulations.
• Monitoring & alerting: Detect bulk access or unusual egress.
• Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.
• Backups & recovery: Verify and protect backups (encryption, immutability).
• Third-party governance: Apply requirements to vendors and validate controls.
• AI/LLM data handling: Define what data can be used with AI tools to prevent leakage.

If you want an actionable Build vs. Assess roadmap, contact Red Spider Security to harden governance and prove compliance.