The role of the Chief Data Officer

In a world of growing data and cloud capabilities, a Chief Data Officer is an increasingly popular role within companies of all sizes.

The chief data officer (CDO) is broadly responsible for the utilisation and governance of data across an organization (don’t get this confused with the other CDO job title though…Chief Digital Officer). Areas that fall under their remit include data quality, data governance, master data management, information strategy, data science, and business analytics.

But the role is evolving. IDC’s State of the CDO Survey in 2020 found many chief data officers are now also responsible for using data to drive business outcomes.

Whilst a recent report by PWC found that only 21% of the top 2,500 publicly traded companies worldwide currently has a CDO in place, another survey by NewVantage Partners’ (Data and AI Leadership Executive Survey 2022) found that 74% of the firms it surveyed had appointed chief data or analytics officers, or both combined in one role.

Data Access Governance for the CDO

Torsion sees the role of CDO as crucial when moving towards a centralised data approach and creating a company-wide cyber security culture.

CDOs should ensure visibility of data access within an organisation, supported by automation. With this comes a clearer understanding of how data is used throughout an entire organisation and who has access to what, why, how and when.

As part of their data access governance responsibilities a CDO should:

• Keep up with current data governance regulations
• Avoid data breaches by ensuring that only authorised personnel have access to the data they need and that they have complete visibility of who has access to what at all times
• Put measures to protect and control data that is being shared and ensure it is not spiralling out of control

When it comes to data governance, Torsion can be a CDOs best friend, automating the control and visibility of data access and permissions. For more information on data access governance for the CDO email info@torsionis.com.