What is a data inventory?

A data inventory is a comprehensive list of all the types of data an organization collects, collects, stores and/or processes. This includes information about the source of the data, the purpose of the data, the type of data, the duration of storage, and any other relevant information. In North Carolina, data security law requires organizations to keep a data inventory. This is a way for the state to ensure businesses are taking the necessary steps to protect their customers’ personal information. For example, companies must know which databases contain customer information, the kind of data stored in each, who has access to the data, how data is secured, and how long it is retained. Keeping such information up-to-date in a data inventory can help ensure data privacy and compliance with the law. A comprehensive data inventory also helps organizations know when they need to update their security measures if a particular type of data is no longer needed or if changes need to be made to the way data is stored or handled. Keeping a data inventory allows organizations to take proactive measures to protect customer data and meet their legal requirements.

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What is a data inventory?

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