---
title: "Business Data Strategy: data strategy is a board matter"
description: "A business data strategy defines which data supports which decisions, who owns it and where to invest first. A matter for the board, not an IT task."
canonical: "https://simo-online.com/en/services/business-data-strategy"
---

# Business Data Strategy: data strategy is a board matter

A business data strategy defines which data supports which decisions, who owns it and where to invest first. A matter for the board, not an IT task.

Dargestellte Fassung: https://simo-online.com/en/services/business-data-strategy

## Business Data Strategy

A business data strategy defines which data supports which business decisions, who is accountable for it and in what order to invest. It is derived from the corporate strategy and is a matter for the board, not an IT task.

### From the strategy to the data that carries it

- A data strategy starts with the question of which decisions your company has to make over the coming years. Where do we invest, which markets do we serve, which risks do we take? For each of these decisions we clarify which data it needs, in what quality and how current.
- From this we derive which data really matters for your business. Not every data source deserves the same attention. A good data strategy sets priorities and says openly what will not be tackled for now.
- Governance is part of the strategy: who is accountable for which data, which rules apply and how decisions about data are made. In companies covered by NIS2 or DORA, the management body carries personal responsibility for parts of this. That is why we develop the data strategy together with the managing directors and do not delegate it to IT.
- The result is a strategy on a few pages and a roadmap with investment areas. We state the expected benefit as a target that you can review later.

### A management instrument that steers and safeguards

#### Data that supports decisions

The strategy links your most important decisions to the data they need. Effort on data quality goes where it counts for the business.

#### Accountability you can evidence

A data governance framework defines roles, responsibilities and decision paths. You can show auditors and supervisors how your company handles data.

#### Compliance as an architectural principle

GDPR, the EU AI Act and industry-specific rules are built into the data architecture from the start rather than checked after the fact. That saves late rework.

#### A plan the management steers

The roadmap fits on a few pages and names targets you can review. It stays a leadership tool instead of disappearing into a drawer.

- Goals of the corporate strategy
- Decisions and the data they need
- Governance: roles, rules, accountability
- Priorities and investment areas
- Regulatory requirements for data
- A data strategy on a few pages
- A governance model with clear roles
- A roadmap with key figures as targets

### Translate the goals

From your corporate goals we derive the decisions that data has to support.

### Clarify the need

We record which data each decision needs and where it is missing today.

### Define governance

We describe roles such as data owner and the rules they work by.

### Prioritise the roadmap

We rank investment areas by impact and effort and set key figures as targets.

### Where do the figures in the risk report come from?

A financial services provider has to prove to its supervisor where the data in its risk reports comes from. The data exists, but nobody is accountable for it and changes are not documented. Together with the managing directors we define the business-critical data domains, appoint data owners and describe the evidence paths. The next audit request can be answered with existing documents instead of days of individual research.

- Data exists but is not used
- Management carries personal responsibility under NIS2 or DORA
- Before investing in AI or new platforms

Architect. It builds on the Management Clarity from BISA or BEIA.

### How long does a data strategy take?

That depends on size and starting point. We agree the scope with you after the on-site entry engagement, based on the Management Clarity.

### Why is data strategy a matter for the board?

Because it decides on investments, accountability and risks. With NIS2 and DORA, management's responsibility for information security and ICT risk is also set out in law.