Dark data and the umbrella principles of information governance are impacting eDiscovery, legal technology and broader business practices. Gartner defines dark data as the “information assets organizations collect, process and store during regular business activities but, generally fail to use for other purposes” and the storing and securing of dark data typically incurs more expense than value. In an emerging world where we are slowly transitioning from narrowly identifying discrete sets of data (eDiscovery) to proactively defining the value of data on an organizational level (information governance), we are learning that there is something to fear in the dark.
The Big Picture
For a decade, the legal industry focused on eDiscovery as part of the legal technology “big bang.” However, our scope is now widening to acknowledge the strategic learning opportunities to be derived from holistic data management in which eDiscovery exists as significant sub-field and not a singular solution. The volume of enterprise data has grown beyond traditional reactive eDiscovery strategies and is affecting how organizations perceive risk assessment and litigation preparedness and how attorneys represent clients and guide them towards defensible data solutions. Even with advanced predictive analytics, it is fast becoming a mathematical impossibility to respond quickly and efficiently to a legal matter when institutional data hoarding obstructs data management best practices. IG is the ability to efficiently organize and access relevant organizational information and break down what are typical issues that interfere with effective inter-departmental communication and knowledge sharing. This information clutter detracts from exploiting the data that runs our personal and professional lives so, where do we turn next to capitalize on the structure that IG provides?
Turning on the Light
The premise of managing dark data is to turn on your metaphorical lights and assess the value of your enterprise data that has been saved and stored but currently provides no meaningful use. Dark data represents a mind-shift in the way that we think about our data. Like our grandmother’s attics, organizations allow exponentially growing data to collect; unanalyzed, unstructured and seemingly dormant until litigation or regulation rears its head on top of corporate responsibilities including protecting PII, HR protections, compliance requirements, etc.
In addition to managing risk and maintaining litigation preparedness, shining a light on your dark data through “Big Data” analytics has the potential to create competitive market and organizational opportunities. Mine your data to better understand your business and to evaluate your institutional structure and, depending on your organization, the sky could be the limit. With an ongoing assessment of unstructured data, you have the choice to use it or lose it. Create a substantive business plan engaging all interested parties and, if the dark data isn’t useful, strategically dispose of it. This process reduces costs by eliminating storage fees and streamlining infrastructure to enhance efficiency. More than merely sorting data, an IG strategy implementing a dark data component reduces risk and develops a defensible retention and disposition plan.
Comments