The way enterprises manage structured and unstructured data is changing. Historically, enterprise IT has primarily focused on managing structured data, typically housed in relational databases such as Oracle or SAP. Structured data was manageable, cost. It was effective to store and relatively straightforward to govern. With growing concerns about cybersecurity threats, data governance became not just an operational priority but a requirement for regulatory compliance and risk management.
The rise of unstructured data—including files, emails, videos, and social media content—has created a new set of challenges. This shift is transforming the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), urging them to rethink data governance strategies. As a result, there’s an increasing need for effective governance solutions that can handle both structured and unstructured data equally well.
The Rising Importance of Unstructured Data
Unstructured data is driving today’s data revolution. Data generated in businesses, estimated at over 80% by IDC, is unstructured. Unlike structured data, which resides in rows and columns within databases, unstructured data can exist in a variety of formats. It ranges from text documents to images and multimedia files. This explosion of unstructured data presents both an opportunity and a challenge for businesses, particularly in terms of security and governance.
The need for a comprehensive governance strategy is more crucial than ever. Data breaches, ransomware, and other cyberattacks now often target unstructured data. These files are increasingly becoming a prime target for hackers, making it more difficult for organizations to protect sensitive information. Traditional data governance tools, designed with structured data in mind, often fail to meet the needs of this growing data type.
Why the Divide? The Structured vs. Unstructured Data Conundrum
The divide between structured and unstructured data can be traced back to the early days of enterprise IT. Relational databases (RDBMS) were the cornerstone of most enterprise systems. They provided a controlled environment for managing transactional data. The complexity and costs associated with managing unstructured data simply weren’t as apparent in the early stages of digital transformation.
Enterprises that were built on structured data models also found it easier to implement solid governance practices, focusing on data integrity, access control, and compliance. In contrast, unstructured data—often stored in files and objects—was harder to categorize, track, and manage.
However, as more organizations move to the cloud and adopt new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), the volume and complexity of unstructured data are growing exponentially. This shift is also creating a new reality for CISOs and CIOs: the risk of ignoring unstructured data governance is too high to overlook.
Why Governance Needs to Extend to Both Data Types
Effective data governance isn’t just about securing structured data. As mentioned, unstructured data accounts for a significant portion of the data organizations generate. The sheer volume of unstructured data can dwarf that of structured data, making it exponentially more difficult to manage and secure.
Unstructured data presents unique governance challenges, including:
- Volume: Unstructured data is often vast, with files generated in various formats across different departments and teams.
- Security Risks: Hackers increasingly target unstructured data. Since it’s harder to track and protect, it’s a vulnerable area for data breaches and ransomware attacks.
- Compliance and Legal Issues: Without proper governance, organizations face potential compliance risks. Unstructured data may contain personal data or proprietary information that falls under regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA.
- Access Control: Managing who has access to unstructured data can be tricky, especially when data is spread across multiple devices or cloud platforms.
As a result, unstructured data requires the same level of scrutiny and governance that structured data has traditionally received. In fact, the need for data governance in unstructured data may be 8 to 9 times greater due to the complexity and associated risks.
The Solution: A Unified Approach to Data Governance
It’s time for a new generation of data governance solutions that span both structured and unstructured data. This would require integrating the best practices from both worlds and leveraging technologies designed to handle the scale and complexity of unstructured data.
Here are a few key considerations for CISOs and CIOs when developing a holistic data governance strategy:
- Data Classification: Start by categorizing both structured and unstructured data. This enables organizations to prioritize governance efforts based on the sensitivity of the data and regulatory requirements.
- Comprehensive Security Measures: Adopt solutions that enable encryption, access control, and real-time monitoring for both structured and unstructured data. As unstructured data is increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, stronger security measures are essential.
- Cloud-Native Governance Tools: Embrace cloud-native governance solutions that can scale with the growing volume of data. Cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure offer data governance features that can be applied across structured and unstructured data.
- AI and Automation: Use AI and automation to analyze and manage unstructured data more effectively. For instance, AI can help classify and categorize data, making it easier to apply appropriate governance policies and detect potential risks.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that your data governance strategy complies with evolving regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Both structured and unstructured data must be handled in compliance with these rules to mitigate legal risks.
Innovation in Data Governance
The future of data governance lies in innovation. The rapid expansion of unstructured data means that the tools and solutions developed for structured data must evolve. Companies like Informatica have historically delivered value in managing structured data through cost savings, governance, and regulatory compliance. However, to address the evolving risks and complexities posed by unstructured data, new data governance solutions are needed—ones that can manage both structured and unstructured data with equal efficiency.
For CISOs and CIOs, this is a call to action. The risks associated with failing to govern unstructured data are simply too great. By investing in the right tools and approaches, you can bridge the gap between structured and unstructured data governance, securing your enterprise’s digital assets and ensuring compliance in a rapidly changing environment.
To create a cohesive data governance program, chat with us today!
Sources:
- International Data Corporation (IDC) – “The Growth of Unstructured Data”
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – “Data Science Data Governance”
R3 IT – “Data Governance, Security, and Compliance: CMMC, NIST Risk Management Framework”
