A Practical Data Governance Checklist

A checklist turns governance from a vague worry into a list you can work through. Use this to see where you stand and what to fix first.

If the gaps look daunting, our Data Governance service runs through exactly these areas in a governance audit and hands you a prioritised action plan.

The checklist

Work through each area and mark whether it is in place, partial or missing. The gaps become your priorities.

• Inventory: you know what data you hold and where
• Ownership: each dataset has a named owner
• Quality: rules and checks keep data clean
• Access: only the right people can see sensitive data
• Retention: you know what to keep and what to delete
• Privacy: handling aligns with the Privacy Act
• Documentation: the rules are written down

How to score yourself

Be honest about partials. A rule that exists but nobody follows is a gap, not a tick. The areas marked missing or partial are where risk concentrates.

What to fix first

Start with the highest-risk gaps: usually privacy, access and the quality of the data that drives decisions. Fix those, then work down the list as time allows.

Score a rule as missing if nobody follows it. A policy on paper that no one applies offers no protection.

Key takeaways

• Cover inventory, ownership, quality, access, retention, privacy and documentation.
• Mark a rule nobody follows as a gap, not a tick.
• Fix the highest-risk gaps, usually privacy and access, first.

Frequently asked questions

How much does data governance cost in Australia?

A governance audit that maps your current risk starts from $2,990 plus GST as a one-off. A full framework build starts from $5,990 plus GST. Ongoing stewardship to keep governance alive starts from $1,290 per month.

Where is TPR Media based?

TPR Media operates from Level 34, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000, serving clients across Brisbane and Australia-wide.

A data governance checklist covers inventory, ownership, quality, access, retention, privacy and documentation. Score a rule nobody follows as a gap, and fix the highest-risk areas, usually privacy and access, first.