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📖 What is Data Owner?

A Data Owner is an executive or manager responsible for the overall classification and protection of a specific data set. They define the access requirements and determine the data's classification level based on its value and sensitivity to the organization.

🥋 Sensei Says:

"Distinguish this from the Custodian. The Owner makes the high-level decisions and bears ultimate responsibility; the Custodian simply implements those decisions."

📚 Certification: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

🔑 What are the Key Concepts of Data Owner?

▸ Responsible for assigning the classification level of data based on its sensitivity and the potential impact of unauthorized disclosure or loss.
▸ Defines the access control requirements and determines who has a legitimate 'need to know' to access the specific data set.
▸ Holds ultimate accountability for the protection of the data, even after delegating technical implementation tasks to a data custodian.
▸ Periodically reviews and updates data classifications and access permissions to ensure they align with current business needs and risk profiles.

🎯 How does Data Owner appear on the CISSP Exam?

You may be asked to identify the specific role responsible for deciding whether a new dataset should be classified as 'Confidential' or 'Secret' based on the potential business impact of a data breach.

A scenario might describe a situation where a system administrator is implementing backups; you must distinguish that the administrator is the Custodian, while the executive requesting the backups is the Owner.

Expect questions where you must determine who is authorized to grant access to a sensitive file when a user requests permissions, emphasizing that the Owner, not the IT staff, approves access.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Data Owner also be a Data Custodian?

In small firms, roles may overlap, but CISSP emphasizes segregation of duties. The Owner defines the security requirements (the 'what'), while the Custodian implements the technical controls (the 'how') to meet those requirements.

Does the Data Owner perform the actual encryption of the data?

No. The Data Owner mandates that the data must be encrypted based on its classification level, but the Data Custodian, such as a system administrator, performs the actual technical encryption process.

Related Terms from Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Data Custodian Common Criteria (ISO/IEC 15408) Standard Vulnerability Assessment Honeypot Annual Loss Expectancy (ALE)

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