Data governance is the process of managing the availability, usability, integrity, and security of an organization's data assets. It involves the creation and enforcement of policies, standards, procedures, and guidelines for managing data throughout its entire lifecycle, from its creation and capture to its archival and destruction.

The primary goal of data governance is to ensure that an organization's data is consistent, accurate, reliable, and secure, and that it is used effectively to support business operations and decision-making. This involves establishing a framework for data management that includes data quality, metadata management, data privacy and security, data stewardship, and data architecture.

Data governance is essential in today's business environment, where organizations are collecting and processing vast amounts of data from multiple sources. It helps ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, reduce data-related risks, improve decision-making, and support business growth and innovation. By implementing a strong data governance framework, organizations can better manage their data assets and derive more value from their data.