The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the way we manage data and business operations. For the most part, companies are moving full-speed ahead with implementing AI across a wide range of business processes. The role of artificial intelligence in information governance has gained popularity, especially for companies that have migrated to the cloud.

Forbes estimates that over half of businesses use AI for fraud management and cybersecurity. Is it the right option for your business?

Table of Contents

• Opportunities for Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance
• Challenges of Implementing AI in Information Governance
• Information Governance in the Age of AI
  • What is Information Governance?
  • How is AI Changing Information Governance Technology?
    • Improving Data Quality and Accuracy
    • Automating Compliance Tasks
• The Benefits of Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance
• The Risks of AI in Information Governance
• Strategies To Overcome the Challenges of AI in Information Governance
  • Establish Clear Policies and Procedures
  • Invest in Human Oversight
• How Cloud Migration Affects Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance

Opportunities for Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance

The role of artificial intelligence in information governance ranges from enhancing data analytics to automating routine tasks. Take a closer look at how this innovative technology can transform the way organizations process and store information:

• Enhanced Data Analytics: Machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics can identify patterns and trends in large data sets, providing valuable insights to aid decision-making processes.
• Automated Routine Tasks: Engineers can program AI to undertake repetitive tasks such as basic event log analysis. This frees employees to focus on more complex aspects of information governance.
• Risk Assessment: AI algorithms can evaluate and rank potential risks, enabling businesses to prioritize mitigation efforts. This extends to data security risks, where AI can detect unusual patterns and possible breaches.
• Improved Compliance: AI can maintain data compliance by automatically sorting and storing data according to regulatory standards. This can simplify the process of audit trails and ensure businesses stay up-to-date with their compliance responsibilities.
• Efficient Data Management: AI can streamline data management, from data cleansing to classification. This contributes to more effective governance and better data utilization. We’ve got another blog post that covers some of the differences between information governance and data governance; check it out.

Challenges of Implementing AI in Information Governance

Despite its potential for transformation, implementing AI technology presents certain challenges. Consider the following concerns:

• Cost: While AI can streamline processes, many companies lack the financial resources for large-scale deployments. Furthermore, data management tools, such as deep learning algorithms, tend to be pricey.
• Security: AI is only as secure as the data fed to it and how it processes and protects that data. Any malicious inputs can lead to erroneous results that can negatively affect operations. Additionally, there are fears of "hackers" infiltrating AI systems with malicious intent.
• Human Error: Despite its capabilities, AI still requires some human input for optimal performance. Poorly trained staff or incorrect data inputs can lead to serious issues.
• Ethical Concerns: AI can create ethical dilemmas, such as biased decision-making or automated discrimination. This can lead to serious legal consequences and negative press for businesses.

Information Governance in the Age of AI

Understanding information governance becomes crucial as companies weigh the pros and cons of using artificial intelligence. An understanding of information governance provides a foundation to build your IT governance framework while deciding what role AI and machine learning play in the mix.

What Is Information Governance?

Information governance refers to the multi-disciplinary framework that manages information at an enterprise level. This framework covers controls, policies, and procedures. It supports an organization's immediate and future regulatory, legal, risk, environmental, and operational requirements.

Effective information governance ensures that high-quality data is available to support business operations. It helps organizations comply with regulations, protect sensitive data, improve operational efficiency, and make strategic decisions. Organizations may face risks without a robust framework. Those risks include regulatory penalties, security breaches, and loss of customer trust.

How Is AI Changing Information Governance Technology?

Artificial Intelligence in information governance is redefining the landscape through workflow automation, enhanced data analytics, and sophisticated risk management tools. Here's how AI alters and improves the core components of governance and propels organizations toward a more data-driven operational approach.

Improving Data Quality and Accuracy

AI algorithms can process vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. They can identify and rectify errors in data, such as duplicates or inconsistencies, thus improving data quality. High-quality data is essential for accurate analytics, effective decision-making, and regulatory compliance. AI also tracks file changes and can keep backups of different versions.

Automating Compliance Tasks

Organizations must adhere to various laws and regulations. These laws cover data privacy, security, and usage. AI can automate many compliance tasks, which streamlines the process. For example, some companies use AI-powered tools to archive communications for compliance with SEC regulations (and other applicable regulations)

The Benefits of Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance

Despite the many challenges and risks, AI offers several benefits. These are some of the many reasons organizations should seek solutions to AI challenges in IT governance rather than avoid them:

• Improved Labor Efficiency: By automating manual processes, AI can reduce the need for overtime and labor costs. This can affect hiring projections and how companies design jobs.
• Enhanced Accuracy: AI algorithms are incredibly accurate when analyzing data. This can lead to more precise decision-making. This, in turn, improves regulation compliance and risk management.
• Round-the-clock Protection: AI can monitor data and network activity 24/7. It can detect unusual activities or security threats. This helps organizations identify and address potential risks quickly, even when the cybersecurity team is off or there is only a skeleton crew for the night shift.
• Scalability: As companies grow, they must scale up their IT infrastructure and resources to meet increasing demands. Economic downturns can also necessitate temporary needs for scaling down. AI can help enterprises scale quickly and effectively without compromising data security or quality.

The Risks of AI in Information Governance

While AI has many benefits, it also poses significant risks when implemented in information governance. Here are some of the risks organizations should account for:

• Data Privacy and Security: AI algorithms can access large amounts of sensitive data. If these are not properly secured, there is a risk of unauthorized access or misuse.
• Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Organizations must ensure their AI solutions comply with the applicable laws and regulations. Failure to do so can result in significant fines or penalties.
• Lack of Transparency: AI algorithms can be complex and difficult to understand. For example, some AI chatbots lie or “hallucinate,” and engineers do not know why or how to stop them. The lack of transparency can make understanding the steps bots took to arrive at their conclusions difficult.

Strategies To Overcome the Challenges of AI in Information Governance

As with any new technology, artificial intelligence in information governance has challenges. Here are the two main ways to overcome these obstacles.

1. Establish Clear Policies and Procedures

Clear policies and procedures form the backbone of a robust information governance strategy, particularly when incorporating AI technologies. These guidelines outline how to handle data throughout its lifecycle — from creation and storage to use and deletion. Consistent adherence to these policies ensures organizational compliance with regulations and standards. Compliance reduces the risk of public embarrassment and million-dollar fines.

2. Invest in Human Oversight

Effective application of AI in information governance requires human oversight. Regardless of the sophistication of AI systems, human judgment must be a part of the decision-making process. Humans play a pivotal role in setting ethical standards, making contextual decisions, and identifying and rectifying biases that might creep into AI systems. Workers must also receive adequate training on how AI works, how to use it, and what tasks to entrust bots with.

How Cloud Migration Affects Artificial Intelligence in Information Governance

Cloud migration offers an enhanced scope for incorporating artificial intelligence in information governance. The cloud provides an adaptable, scalable, and secure environment for storing and managing data. With cloud migration, organizations can leverage the technology more efficiently and effectively. Choose Cloudficient for comprehensive services to ensure a seamless and efficient transition to the cloud that meets your specific governance needs.