Information Governance Checklist

1. Strategy and Planning

Define information governance objectives aligned with business goals
Identify key stakeholders and form an information governance steering committee
Assess current information management practices and identify gaps
Develop a comprehensive information governance strategy
Create a roadmap for implementing information governance initiatives
Establish metrics to measure the success of information governance programs
Secure executive sponsorship and support for information governance initiatives
Allocate resources and budget for information governance programs

2. Policy and Procedure Development

Create an overarching information governance policy
Develop data classification and handling policies
Establish data retention and disposal schedules
Create policies for data privacy and protection
Develop procedures for managing metadata
Establish policies for information access and security
Create social media and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies
Develop procedures for legal holds and e-discovery
Establish change management procedures for information governance
Create policies for data quality and integrity

3. Information Lifecycle Management

Map out information flows across the organization
Implement data classification schemes
Establish processes for data creation and capture
Develop procedures for data storage and archiving
Implement data retention and disposal processes
Establish procedures for data migration and conversion
Develop processes for managing unstructured data
Implement version control and change tracking for documents
Establish procedures for managing email and messaging data
Develop processes for managing big data and analytics

4. Technology and Infrastructure

Assess current information management systems and tools
Implement enterprise content management (ECM) systems
Deploy data loss prevention (DLP) tools
Implement e-discovery and legal hold software
Deploy data classification and tagging tools
Implement records management systems
Deploy data archiving and backup solutions
Implement data quality and cleansing tools
Deploy information rights management (IRM) solutions
Implement data governance dashboards and reporting tools

5. Compliance and Risk Management

Identify relevant legal and regulatory requirements
Conduct regular compliance audits
Implement processes for handling data subject access requests
Establish procedures for data breach notification and response
Conduct regular risk assessments related to information governance
Implement privacy impact assessments (PIAs) for new projects
Establish processes for third-party risk management
Develop procedures for cross-border data transfers
Implement data encryption policies and procedures
Establish processes for ongoing compliance monitoring

6. Training and Awareness

Develop information governance training programs for all employees
Conduct role-specific training for information stewards and custodians
Implement awareness campaigns for data protection and privacy
Provide training on legal hold and e-discovery procedures
Conduct regular security awareness training
Develop training materials for new information governance tools and processes
Establish a program for ongoing education and certification in information governance
Create an information governance intranet site or knowledge base
Implement a system for tracking training completion and compliance

7. Monitoring and Improvement

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for information governance
Implement regular auditing and monitoring processes
Conduct periodic assessments of information governance maturity
Establish processes for continuous improvement of information governance practices
Implement feedback mechanisms for employees and stakeholders
Conduct regular reviews of information governance policies and procedures
Establish a process for evaluating and adopting new information governance technologies
Implement data analytics to identify trends and areas for improvement
Conduct post-implementation reviews of information governance initiatives
Establish an annual information governance report for executive leadership

Tip:

Remember that information governance is an ongoing process, not a one-time project. Regularly reassess your organization's needs and adjust your information governance strategy accordingly to ensure it remains effective and aligned with business objectives.

Note:

Successful information governance requires a cultural shift within the organization. Foster a culture of data responsibility by emphasizing the importance of proper information management to all employees and stakeholders.