Software Technologies Inventory and Attributes - Data and Information attributes for the Software Technologies Inventory
Software Technologies Inventory and Attributes
Chapter 20. Data and Information attributes for the Software Technologies Inventory
Executive Summary: Chapter Overview
IF4ITThe Bottom Line
Core Concepts
| Concept | Definition & Strategic Role |
|---|---|
| Inherited Classification | The principle that a technology handling regulated or sensitive data inherits that data’s protection obligations, regardless of what the technology itself is. |
| Data Residency | Constraints on where data handled by this technology may physically reside, which can override otherwise sound deployment decisions. |
| Retention Capability | Whether the technology can actually enforce the retention and deletion the enterprise is obliged to perform. |
Quick Q&A
Question: If data is governed in its own inventory, why record classification here?
Read More Below
Data and information attributes record what data each software technology handles, and the obligations that follow from handling it.
| Attribute Name | Maturity | Description and Notes |
|---|---|---|
Data Classification Handled [Multi-Value] | Walk | Description — The highest classifications of data this technology stores, processes, or transmits. Benefit(s) — Makes inherited obligations visible at the technology record, so deployment and patching decisions account for what the technology holds. Source — Manual or Derived. Examples — Public, Internal, Confidential, Regulated Notes — Record the highest classification handled; a technology holding one regulated dataset is governed as regulated. |
Data Assets Managed [Multi-Value] | Run | Description — The governed data assets stored or served by this technology, referenced by Semantic Identifier. Benefit(s) — Connects the technology layer to the data layer, so a technology change can be assessed for its effect on specific governed data. Source — Derived. Notes — Typed references to records in the data and information inventory rather than free text. |
| Data Residency Constraints | Run | Description — Constraints on where data handled by this technology may physically reside. Benefit(s) — Prevents deployment decisions that are technically sound and legally impermissible. Source — Manual. Notes — Leave empty where no constraint exists rather than recording an absence of restriction as a value. |
| Data Retention Capability | Run | Description — Whether and how the technology can enforce retention and deletion of the data it holds. Benefit(s) — Establishes whether the enterprise can actually meet its retention obligations with this technology, which is frequently assumed rather than verified. Source — Manual. Notes — Particularly consequential for technologies holding regulated data with mandated deletion requirements. |
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