Statista forecasts a data volume of 181 zetabytes for the year 2025. The interesting question is, who are these data owners? Who controls how the data is used, accessed and transformed? Data ownership is a combination of responsibility, monitoring functions and authorisations. In this article, we explain what a data owner is, how it differs from data stewards and data custodians, what skills and responsibilities are required for a data owner and what the market outlook is.

What is a data owner?

Data owners are persons or organisations that are responsible for the Data in a specific Database or domain responsible are. They guarantee the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data across business processes and platforms. They are usually represented on the Executive Board with voting rights or as attending members without voting rights.

Data owner vs. data steward vs. data custodian

• Data Owner: You bear the ultimate responsibility and have control over the Data. He decides who is authorised to access the data and is responsible for security, accuracy and compliance.
• Data StewardYou act on behalf of the Data Owner to manage and oversee the data. You ensure that the data is provided and used in accordance with the instructions of the data owner and within the defined scope, principles and guidelines.
• Data Custodian: You set the data owner or Data Steward operational control over the data. They manage the technical aspects of data access, storage and security. They also ensure that the Security and access control measures are set up correctly.

What they all have in common is that they play an important role in the general management and control of data within the organisation, but with different powers and responsibilities.

A data steward is essential to ensure the security, quality and integrity of company data in the age of big data. Find out more about the tasks of this position in our blog article:

Know how: Data steward in the job profile

Tasks of a data owner      

Data ownership

Data ownership refers to the digital or physical possession of data. A data owner maintains and stores the data securely and ensures the integrity and availability of the data. They secure the data to prevent unauthorised access, damage or loss. They also ensure the accuracy, completeness and retrievability of the data when it is needed, using the appropriate storage solutions and technologies.

Rights of use of internal data

This is about the ethical and legal rights that a data owner has over their data. They use the rights to the data to control data access, use and distribution. They can dictate to other parties how they sell, share or use their data. These rights are usually protected by regulations to prevent unauthorised access and protect the interests of the owner.

Control and management of data

A data owner manages and regulates their data. This task includes setting up access controls, defining user rights and creating protocols for handling data. 

Quality assurance

This task includes the duties of a data owner to secure, manage and maintain their data. The data owner takes relevant measures to prevent data loss, data breaches or misuse and is responsible for the life cycle of the data from creation to deletion.

Data security and data protection are central functions for securing operational data and value chains. Protect yourself in the best possible way and get comprehensive advice on this topic:

Data security: compactly explained

Skills of a data owner

Data owners are responsible for the Data governance The role of data owners is of central importance as they define the functions of the various parties involved in the management, security and utilisation of data assets. Effective data owners enable innovation and data-driven decision-making across the board. To fulfil this role, data owners need hard and soft skills to align data with the goals of the business and achieve synergies with other data roles.

Hard Skills

Soft skills

A data owner must have strong leadership skills to lead and influence data governance initiatives, make strategic decisions and oversee cross-functional teams. Communication is also key; must be able to communicate both verbally and in writing, clearly articulate data governance policies and explain complex data terms to non-technical stakeholders.

Strategic thinking is essential. A data owner should be able to align data management processes with business objectives, design long-term data governance plans and anticipate future data needs and issues. Another important aspect is problem solving, i.e. identifying, analysing and solving data-related problems while developing effective solutions.

The Cooperation is equally important. The role involves building strategic alliances, fostering a collaborative environment and working seamlessly with different departments and cross-functional teams. Finally, strong ethical judgement is critical. A Data Owner must ensure the integrity and confidentiality of data and commit to making fair and impartial decisions.

How do you become a data owner?

Becoming a data owner requires a combination of education, work experience, personal and professional development and leadership development. Below you will find a pathway for those seeking a career in Data Ownership.

• EducationObtain a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as business administration, with an optional advanced degree in business analytics or data management.
• Practical experience: Start with an entry-level position, such as IT support or data analyst, and then move up to a mid-level position, such as business analyst or data manager.
• Further qualificationsAcquire technical skills such as data modelling and SQL, develop project management skills and understand data governance and compliance.
• CertificationsObtain certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Data Management Professional.
• Management experience: Lead data projects and prioritise the improvement of soft skills such as communication. Leadership skills and strategic thinking.
• NetworkingAttend industry events, join professional networks, and learn about the latest innovations and new directions in data management. 
• Management skillsDemonstrate how your data management efforts impact the organisation, maintain data integrity and security, and build trust.

In the dynamic environment of the data world, data management centres play a crucial role, as they are constantly evolving to meet the growing challenges and opportunities in dealing with data.

Changing data roles: key competences for the future

The labour market for data owners 

The labour market for data owners is becoming increasingly rewarding as various industries place importance on data governance, data management and regulatory compliance.

Demand and trends

Demand for skilled data professionals is high as companies begin to prioritise roles in data administration and management. According to a report by Robert Half, there is a significant need for data management leadership positions. Several organisations are also looking for new permanent positions or replacements for vacant seats on their board. This trend is in line with the increasing volume and complexity of data that organisations need to manage.

Insights into the industry

Many industries are actively hiring data owners and related functions. We will examine some industries as case studies.

• Healthcare: Companies like Cigna are hiring data experts or positions for customer behaviour analysis, claims analysis and healthcare outcomes analysis.
• Finance: Financial institutions like J.P. Morgan, Chase and Well Fargos need Data Owners to manage data quality and compliance, and use Data analyses to make strategic decisions.
• TelecommunicationsCompanies such as Verizon and AT&T place great importance on optimising the customer experience and network performance through the use of data analysis.

Remuneration

Remuneration for data-related roles varies greatly depending on the industry and position. According to Datamation, salaries for senior data management roles at large financial institutions range from USD 99,750 to USD 287,750. 

Alexander Thamm GmbH also regularly employs and is looking for Data Owners (m/f/d) and various roles in the areas of Data Management, Data Strategy and Data Governance at all career levels.
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