The Data Governance Fundamentals certification, rooted in the Enterprise Big Data Framework (EBDF), is a comprehensive program designed to help professionals master the EBDF Governance System. The curriculum provides the structural logic and essential vocabulary required to transition data from a technical by-product into a strategically significant organizational asset.

Module 1: Foundations of Data Governance

• The Economics of Data: Understanding data as a non-rivalrous organizational asset and identifying the operational and financial costs of poor governance.
• The Evolution of Governance: Exploring the five key drivers that have shifted data governance from a technical function to a strategic enterprise mandate.
• Core Architectural Layers: Distinguishing between the three layers of the EBDF Governance System: Leadership & Governance (authority), Data Governance (operational instruments), and Data Management (technical properties).

Module 2: Leadership & Governance Capability

• Strategic Initiation: Learning to align data strategy with organizational goals, utilizing the Data Governance Maturity Model, and developing a robust business case and Charter.
• Human Accountability: Establishing the authority of the Data Governance Council and applying RACI frameworks to distinguish between the accountability of Data Owners and the duties of Data Stewards.
• Compliance and Risk: Translating global regulations (like GDPR and CCPA) into operational obligations and maintaining a Data Risk Register to prioritize mitigation efforts.

Module 3: Data Governance Capability

• Standards and Glossaries: Developing a taxonomy for data standards and utilizing a Business Glossary to ensure consistency across the enterprise.
• Policy Hierarchies: Designing a structured policy framework that includes Master Policies, Domain Policies, and Procedures for areas such as data quality and privacy.
• Operating Rhythms: Mastering dynamic governance workflows, including issue escalation, data asset onboarding, and continuous improvement through regular meeting cadences.

Module 4: Data Management Capability

• Quality and Integrity: Measuring data quality through core dimensions—accuracy, completeness, and consistency supported by data profiling and monitoring programs.
• Security and Confidentiality: Implementing the “CIA” triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability) through encryption, masking, and access controls.
• Privacy and Auditability: Operationalizing “Privacy by Design,” fulfilling data subject rights, and ensuring transparency through robust audit trails and traceability.

Module 5: Governance in Practice

• Implementation Roadmap: Navigating a phased implementation approach while identifying common failure modes, such as a lack of executive buy-in.
• Governance Technology: Evaluating categories of governance tools (catalogs, lineage, and quality platforms) while avoiding “tool-first” strategies by ensuring framework-tool alignment.
• AI and Culture: Managing the specific governance risks of AI-assisted systems and training data while using stakeholder engagement to sustain cultural change.

By completing this program, participants are equipped to build sustainable, enterprise-scale governance capabilities that ensure data is trustworthy, ethical, and ready for advanced applications like Artificial Intelligence.

The Data Governance Fundamentals course is designed for professionals involved in data governance, management, or compliance, as well as those seeking to establish effective governance frameworks to ensure data quality and security. The target audience includes:

• Executive and Strategic Leadership: This includes Chief Data Officers (CDOs), who are accountable for the value and quality of the organization’s data portfolio, as well as CFOs, CEOs, and other senior leaders who must understand how governance supports strategic decision-making and reduces regulatory risk.
• Business Accountable Roles (Data Owners): Senior business leaders (such as Directors or VPs) who hold strategic accountability for specific data domains, ensuring their fitness for purpose and compliance with policy.
• Operational Experts (Data Stewards): Domain experts embedded within business units who manage day-to-day data quality, accuracy, and appropriate use.
• Technical Specialists (Data Custodians): IT and security professionals responsible for the physical management of data assets, including storage, access controls, and technical security.
• Compliance and Risk Professionals: This includes Data Protection Officers (DPOs), Legal counsel, and Risk Managers who must translate complex global regulations, such as GDPR and the EU AI Act, into practical governance obligations.
• Data Consumers: Every individual or system within the organization that uses data for business activities, as they must use data in accordance with established policies.
• Anyone Interested in Data Governance: Individuals from any industry or role who want to develop foundational knowledge in data governance principles, tools, and best practices to support their professional growth.

This course is ideal for professionals at any stage of their career who are looking to strengthen their knowledge of data governance, whether to enhance their organization’s governance strategies or advance their own expertise in managing data effectively.

The Data Governance Fundamentals course culminates in an official APMG examination, designed to assess participants’ understanding of core data governance concepts. This structured evaluation ensures that learners have acquired the foundational knowledge needed to confidently design and implement effective data governance frameworks. Below are the key details of the examination:

• Material Allowed: This is a closed-book exam. No study materials, including the course guide, are permitted during the examination.
• Exam Duration: The exam duration is 60 minutes. For candidates taking the exam in a language other than their native or working language, an additional 25% of time is provided, extending the duration to 75 minutes.
• Marks and Scoring: The exam comprises 40 multiple-choice questions, each worth 1 mark. There is no negative marking, and unanswered questions do not earn marks. To pass, participants must score at least 26 marks (65%). A higher pass mark of 30 marks (75%) is required for individuals aiming to become certified trainers.
• Complexity: The questions range across Bloom’s Levels 1, and 2. Level 1 focuses on recalling basic facts and definitions, such as identifying key components of a governance framework. Level 2 involves understanding and explaining concepts, like differentiating data governance from data management.

This examination validates that participants have developed a solid foundation in data governance, equipping them to apply their knowledge effectively in organizational contexts and advance their careers as data governance professionals.