Definition
Data governance refers to the policies, processes, and controls that ensure data is accurate, consistent, secure, and used responsibly across an organization. In the context of AI agents, data governance determines what data agents can access, how they use it, and how their actions are audited.
Example
A data governance policy that ensures AI agents can access customer names and email addresses for communication but cannot access payment card numbers or social security numbers.
Why it matters
AI agents with unrestricted data access are a compliance nightmare. Proper data governance ensures agents have access to exactly the data they need, and nothing more.