Risk attributes for the Data and Information Inventory - Data and Information Inventory and Attributes

Risk attributes for the Data and Information Inventory

(Chapter 27 of Data and Information Inventory and Attributes)

Executive Summary: Chapter Overview

IF4IT

The Bottom Line

This chapter defines risk attributes that identify exposure, impact, likelihood, control gaps, operational risk, privacy risk, security risk, and governance risk associated with Data and Information types. These attributes help teams prioritize remediation, controls, monitoring, and executive attention for the most consequential content.

Core Concepts

Concept	Definition & Strategic Role
Risk Exposure	Risk exposure describes the potential harm associated with misuse, loss, corruption, unavailability, or non-compliance for a data type. It helps prioritize control investment.
Control Gap	A control gap identifies where required protection, monitoring, quality, or governance controls are missing or ineffective. It turns risk visibility into actionable remediation work.
Impact Severity	Impact severity measures the consequence of a risk event involving the data type. It supports triage across privacy, security, operational, compliance, and reputational dimensions.

Quick Q&A

Question: How should risk attributes be used with sensitivity and criticality classifications?

Answer: Sensitivity and criticality help identify which data types may be risky; risk attributes describe the specific exposures and control gaps that need action. Together they help teams prioritize remediation for Data and Information types with high impact, weak controls, or significant compliance obligations.

Risk attributes capture the specific governance risk factors associated with this Data and Information type beyond the overall Assessed Risk rating.

Attribute Name

Maturity

Description and Notes

Key Risk Factors

[Multi-Value]

Walk

Description — The specific conditions or vulnerabilities driving the Assessed Risk rating for this Data and Information type.

Benefit(s) — Translates the overall risk rating into actionable remediation targets. A practitioner who reads the Key Risk Factors knows exactly what governance gaps to address.

Source — Manual.

Examples — No designated Owner; Multiple conflicting authoritative sources; No defined retention policy; Sensitive data with no encryption mandate; No quality thresholds defined; Referenced in integrations but not formally governed

Notes — Separate multiple risk factors with semicolons.

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