What does "data governance" refer to?

Data governance refers to the structured management of data assets within an organization, ensuring that data is available, usable, secure, and maintained with integrity. This encompasses a comprehensive set of processes and policies that dictate how data is handled throughout its lifecycle.

A crucial component of data governance is the establishment of standards and guidelines for data quality, management, and compliance with regulations, ensuring that data remains reliable and trustworthy for decision-making. By having a robust data governance framework in place, organizations can enhance their data's reliability and security, which is essential for effective analytics and reporting.

The other choices revolve around narrower, more specific aspects of data handling and management. For instance, distributing data across departments or automating data entry tasks doesn't capture the holistic approach that data governance entails. Similarly, while frameworks for data storage solutions are important, they do not encompass the complete range of responsibilities that data governance represents.