Data Audit

What Does Data Audit Mean?

A data audit refers to the auditing of data to assess its quality or utility for a specific purpose. Auditing data, unlike auditing finances, involves looking at key metrics, other than quantity, to create conclusions about the properties of a data set.

Techopedia Explains Data Audit

During a data audit, the origin, creation or format of data may be reviewed to assess its value and utility. Various agencies and associations, such as the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), promote data audit protocols in different fields. In academics, the idea of auditing research data has become an important work component. Government programs also may focus on government funded or work-related data audit protocols.

Typically, a data audit is dependent on a registry, which is a storage space for data assets. A thorough data audit involves identifying a registry or repository, often in a specific business department or organization.