📊 Data Governance and Ethics for EasyCare A Comprehensive Approach to Data Management and Compliance

📌 Authors:

Akimuddin Aslam Shaikh | National College of Ireland Mohammed Musthafa Keloth Poyil | National College of Ireland Ebin Sujin | National College of Ireland Alan Thomas | National College of Ireland 📌 Module: Data Governance and Ethics (H9DGE) 📌 Institution: National College of Ireland 📌 Project Focus: Data Governance Implementation for EasyCare Insurance & Financial Planning

📌 Project Overview This project presents a comprehensive data governance and ethics framework tailored for EasyCare, an insurance and financial planning company. The study emphasizes data security, compliance with GDPR, risk management, customer trust, and ethical data practices.

The report explores the need for structured data governance, outlining key roles, responsibilities, operating models, and regulatory compliance measures for EasyCare. It also discusses ethical frameworks and their implications on data-driven decision-making.

🔍 Key Highlights ✅ Developed a structured Data Governance Program to improve data integrity, security, and compliance. ✅ Ensured GDPR compliance by establishing policies for data security, privacy, and risk mitigation. ✅ Defined organizational roles including Chief Data Officer, Data Stewards, Data Owners, and Risk Managers to oversee governance activities. ✅ Applied John Ladley’s 8-Phase Data Governance Framework for structured implementation. ✅ Ethical Audit: Compared Deontological (Duty-Based Ethics) vs. Utilitarian (Outcome-Based Ethics) in data practices.

📊 Data Governance Strategy & Implementation 🛡️ Key Governance Elements for EasyCare Aspect Implementation Strategy Data Security & Risk Management Role-based access control, encryption, multi-factor authentication Regulatory Compliance Aligning policies with GDPR & local data laws Customer Trust & Transparency Secure data handling & transparent policies Data Stewardship & Ownership Assigning responsibilities to ensure compliance & accountability Data Quality & Integrity Regular audits, validation checks, and stewardship practices 🔹 Key Finding: Implementing a well-defined governance framework improves EasyCare’s data security, compliance, and operational efficiency. 🔹 Data Roles & Responsibilities: Clear distinction of duties ensures secure and ethical handling of customer data. 🔹 Ethical Implications: Auditing IT systems from Deontological & Utilitarian perspectives ensures fairness and compliance in decision-making.

📌 Ethical Frameworks in Data Governance ⚖️ Deontological Ethics (Duty-Based Ethics) ✔ Emphasizes compliance with rules and regulations (e.g., GDPR). ✔ Ensures data subject rights like consent, access, and deletion. ✔ Prioritizes data transparency, fairness, and accountability.

📊 Utilitarian Ethics (Outcome-Based Ethics) ✔ Focuses on maximizing benefits for all stakeholders. ✔ Ensures data-driven decision-making that minimizes harm. ✔ Prevents bias in AI algorithms and ensures fair analytics.

🔹 Key Takeaway: A balanced Deontological + Utilitarian approach ensures both legal compliance and ethical decision-making in EasyCare's IT systems.

📌 Results & Insights ✅ Structured Data Governance ensures regulatory compliance and mitigates risks. ✅ Role-based security enhances data protection and prevents unauthorized access. ✅ John Ladley’s 8-Phase Framework provides a structured roadmap for governance implementation. ✅ Ethical evaluations ensure fairness and prevent data misuse.

📌 Future Recommendations ✔ Implement AI-driven data governance tools for real-time monitoring. ✔ Expand ethical frameworks to include Bias Auditing & Explainability in AI models. ✔ Develop a risk-based compliance strategy for evolving regulations.