One of the most common responsibilities of a data custodian is to ensure that all of an organization’s data is defined and organized logically. This field’s professionals are frequently in charge of granting sensitive data access and authorizing data access requests. A data custodian may be responsible for determining the accuracy and relevance of stored data in some cases. Data custodians are frequently consulted and expected to participate in the implementation of new Information Technology (IT) systems when executives of an organization plan systemic changes. These professionals may also be in charge of informing other members of the organization about all data access issues and performing basic troubleshooting.
A data custodian is an IT professional who makes decisions about how digital data is stored, organized, and accessed in an organization. This individual is usually a branch, department, or team leader. In larger organizations, data custodians may need the help of data stewards, to whom a data custodian can delegate tasks and grant privileges when he or she is unable to do so alone.
A data custodian’s primary responsibility is to determine the sensitivity of data. In an academic setting, for example, this professional might classify all records containing personal information about students as extremely sensitive. Individuals who want access to this information may need to contact a custodian for assistance. Course requirements data, on the other hand, may be classified as public because it is not sensitive and may benefit parties without privileged access.
Data custodians are typically expected to understand how data relates to an organization’s operations in business settings. They are frequently expected to create and revise policies that govern how data should be collected and stored. A data custodian may be responsible for providing answers to professionals who have questions about why data is important or relevant, or why it is defined in a certain way.
Data custodians frequently collaborate with executives to implement major operational changes. A data custodian, for example, might be in charge of overseeing the implementation of new IT systems when an organization is undergoing major changes aimed at increasing efficiency. Data custodians frequently collaborate with other IT leaders, such as application custodians, to design new IT architecture and create employee training guides.