IT Fundamentals · Concepts
Data Fundamentals
Where organisational data lives, how it is structured, who owns it, and how it is protected and retained.
FoundationalUpdated 2026-09-01
Overview
Data exists as structured records in databases, semi structured payloads in APIs and queues, and unstructured files in collaboration platforms. Each form has different discovery, protection and retention characteristics.
The governing questions are ownership, classification, location, retention and lawful use. Answer those and technical controls follow naturally.