When speaking to organizations and associations about highlighting the importance of why data governance should become a core component of their overall risk management strategy, I commonly speak to the fact that we, as individuals and organizations, are moving away from a “machine-centric” world and into a “user-centric” world. That paradigm shift is going to force us, whether we want to believe it or not, to rethink how we conduct business in the 21st Century.
Today, Microsoft, Corporation, announced the unveiling of its new product suite – Office 365. Office 365 represents what I have been suggesting for some time now. This “next generation in cloud productivity” will make it easier for companies to collaborate internally, through a browser, without having to install software in the traditional manner we have become accustomed to with software packages. The reality is that many organizations still have fear around cloud-based computer offerings, especially because of security and reliability reasons, but that has not deterred large organizations from trying to direct profits at the “cloud” industry, which according to MarketResearch.com, could be a $25 billion market by 2013. I.B.M., Microsoft, Google, and Amazon (to name a few), would not take such a gamble on a paradigm shift away from a computer-centric world, if it did not think profits could be had.
Thus, the need for data governance as an overall risk management strategy needs to be addressed throughout the organization, and legal counsel needs to be attuned to that shift.