Data mapping is a process that helps organizations understand where their data is stored and how it's used. In the context of privacy law compliance, it's an important tool that helps streamline the fulfillment of many regulatory requirements.
A comprehensive data map should:
- Reflect all silos and systems that contain personal data
- Organize and classify the data points and relevant metadata within
- Discover and track new data systems as they are connected
As an all-encompassing data inventory, data maps can be used to maintain data hygiene, identify other compliance needs beyond privacy, prepare appropriate security measures, and operationalize how data is stored and employed across an organization.