Curation of Data Objects

Curation of data objects plays a vital role in enhancing the usability, quality, and governance of metadata within the Data Catalog. However, the ability to view, edit, or enrich these objects is strictly controlled through role-based access permissions. These permissions ensure that only authorized users based on their assigned roles can perform specific actions such as viewing metadata, editing details, assigning tags or terms, and managing lineage.

This structured access is managed through a combination of metadata and data-level permissions, which define what users can see or modify within the catalog. Along with these permissions, clearly defined governance roles such as Data Owners, Stewards, and Custodians are assigned to support proper data stewardship, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

Role-based Access Control

Role-based access control assigns specific metadata and data permissions to users based on their roles. These permissions determine the level of access and control over cataloged data objects.

  • For Meta-Read permissions, users associated with this role and granted access to a particular connector/schema/data object can view and access data objects exclusively within that connector. This implies they can access detailed data object information, such as descriptions, profiling statistics, and other relevant terms.

  • On the other hand, Meta-Write permissions allow users associated with this role to access a particular connector/schema/data object to view and actively curate, edit, and refine its details. This privilege level enables changes like modifying term descriptions and custom fields, adding tags, incorporating terms, and adjusting lineage and relationships.

Users and roles without access permissions to the connector won't be able to see the data objects in the Data Catalog.

Data Catalog Permissions

Meta Permissions

Meta Read

View the Metadata

Meta Write

View and Edit Metadata

Data Permissions

Data No Access

Cannot View Data

Data Preview

View Sample Data & Profile Statistics

Data Read

View Sample Data, profile Statistics, Query the Data Source system using Query Sheet (Restricted to only perform SELECT functions), and Download the Data

Data Write

View Sample Data, profile Statistics, Query and edit the Data Source system data using Query Sheet, and Download the Data

Special Privileges

ADM

Admin roles hold Meta Write and Data Write privileges on the data objects, allowing them to administer security settings and make changes.

Crawled and cataloged metadata may lack the necessary information about the data, often only containing the data object name or a basic source description. Moreover, data object names can be technical and challenging for data consumers, making it difficult to understand the data's business value.

Curation enhances data objects by providing additional details that improve their contextual understanding. This process adds value and context to the data, making it easier to discover, analyze, and manage.

Meta-Write permissions privileges can only edit and update (curate) data objects.

Governance Roles on Objects

Dedicated Governance Roles and Teams are assigned to objects, along with Metadata and Data permissions.

Governance Roles on Objects

Effective governance ensures the quality, integrity, and compliance of cataloged data objects. A Governance Framework supports this through key roles such as Steward, Custodian, and Owner. A core feature of the framework is the ability to address and resolve issues raised by business users related to data objects.

  • Data Stewards: They are responsible for most data governance functions, such as metadata curation, reporting, and controlling data quality issues.

  • Data Owners: They own the data of a business unit and often play a significant role in defining access privileges.

  • Data Custodians: They are techno-functional resources with business and technical knowledge. With Meta-Write permissions, custodians can build lineage, create data quality rules, and more.

Organizations can customize their Governance roles and add additional Governance Roles (4, 5, 6) as needed.

To learn more about Governance Roles on Objects, please click here.

Edit Data Object Title, and Descriptions

The catalog's summary page displays critical information, briefly overviewing each data object's key attributes. Meta-Write permission privileges can modify the object's name by providing a business title. It can also provide business and technical descriptions to define its purpose and function.

Users cannot add any special characters to Object Titles, as this is not supported.

Assign Tags to Cataloged Objects

Tags offer a flexible way to group data objects, enhancing their management and discovery within an application. They can be assigned to multiple data objects, and each data object can have multiple associated tags. This flexibility allows streamlining the search process for all data objects linked to a specific tag. For example, assigning a tag like "customer details" to relevant data objects allows for identifying all the objects associated with customer information.

To learn more about Tags and how to assign them, please visit: Tags.

Assign Terms to Cataloged Objects

Establish connections between terms and cataloged data objects to enhance context, add meaning, and support a deeper understanding of the data landscape.

To learn more about Business Glossary Terms, please click here.

Add Custom Fields for Metadata Enhancement

Custom fields provide a flexible way to add additional details to data objects, glossary terms, tags, DQRs, or ROPAs. The added custom fields and the standard data object attributes appear in the respective summary pages.

Manage Sections enables customization of left and right sections within the application. Admins can add, edit, hide, reposition, or delete any section as needed.

To know more about Custom Fields and how to use them, please click here.


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