A data janitor serves an important position of responsibility for a company’s business process and information technology (IT) management. Depending on whether the data janitor directly specializes more in the field of IT or business data configuration, the role may be split down the middle between the two in terms of what the specific priorities of the specialist are.

When the nature of the job is more specifically targeted at preserving business rules related to sensitive data content and context, the title is oftentimes referred to as a “data steward.” When the job centers around making sure that data can be safely owned, transported and secured while business rules are implemented, the job title is referred to as “data custodian.”

Whether the data management specialist is specifically tasked with looking after strictly IT-based or business data integrity, the following are some of the most essential baseline priorities that a data custodian of any kind of specialization will most likely need to have regardless of their professional setting’s unique requirements.

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In either field of data managerial work aimed at better business data management, the data custodian will need both a sound comprehension of and competence in implementing the strict business rules outlined by their employing company.

Structural Data Integrity Maintenance

As a vital piece of a company’s full defensive capabilities against data-compromising mishaps, data custodians will need to demonstrate proficiency in the task to securely maintain the structure of the company’s database and overall technical environment.

Data Field Content/Context Management

Data stewards need to have the same thorough comprehension of business rules that custodians do, but their tasks are aimed more at determining the exact content of the data field than regulating the structural integrity of the data itself.

Data Access Control

As data custodians are give full administrative access to the most sensitive files that the organization needs to remain both secure and confidential, it’s essential that they’ve got the organizational skills to see that open access windows to restricted files aren’t left vulnerably open to unauthorized entry.

Security Policy Upkeep

Oftentimes a business will have specific IT policies outlining what kinds of practices should be treated as the core of its security policy. When working with the IT staff, a data management specialist will be an important part of making sure that whatever security policy is in place is actually being honored.

Consistency And Change Facilitation

Data janitors will be counted on to make sure that an additional data that joins an existing data set is consistent with what has already been outlined as the standard data model. As changes to data history continue to happen, data janitors will be tasked to make sure that all Master Data iterations are fully maintained along the way.

To ensure that each data change is managed effectively, data janitors will need to apply specifically-outlined change management practices to keep things orderly.