ISO/IEC 38505 is a high-level, principles-based standard designed to guide governing bodies on the effective, efficient, and acceptable use of data within their organizations. It defines data governance as a subset of IT governance, which in turn is a domain of overall corporate governance. Understanding the ISO 38505 Series
The standard is split into two primary parts that work together to bridge the gap between high-level oversight and day-to-day management:
ISO/IEC 38505-1:2017: Applies the principles of ISO/IEC 38500 to data, focusing on six core principles: Responsibility, Strategy, Acquisition, Performance, Conformance, and Human Behavior.
ISO/IEC TR 38505-2:2018: Provides a "Technical Report" on the implications of Part 1 for data management, offering a checklist of considerations to help translate governance strategy into practical policies. Core Governance Pillars iso 38505 pdf
The framework evaluates data across three specific dimensions to ensure it remains a strategic asset rather than a liability:
Value: Focusing on data quality, timeliness, and context to ensure it is fit for purpose.
Risks: Implementing classification schemes and security protocols to mitigate data-related threats. ISO/IEC 38505-1: Focuses on the application of ISO
Constraints: Ensuring all data use aligns with legal, regulatory (like GDPR), and societal requirements. The Data Accountability Map
A key technical contribution of ISO 38505 is the Data Accountability Map, which tracks accountability across the entire data lifecycle:
Part 1: Application of ISO/IEC 38500 to the governance of data Comparison with DMBOK
When you look for an ISO 38505 PDF, you will often find it split into two distinct parts:
With the rise of data-led business models (AI, machine learning, analytics), regulators and shareholders expect formal governance. ISO 38505 provides the “language of assurance” that a board of directors understands.
ISO’s public scope for ISO/IEC 38505-1 outlines:
If you write a research or implementation report on ISO 38505 yourself, you can include: