Which role is accountable for implementing data controls?

The role that is accountable for implementing data controls is the Data Custodian. This individual is responsible for the technical environment and maintains the infrastructure that supports data security and integrity. The Data Custodian executes policies and procedures defined by the Data Owner, ensuring that proper controls are applied to protect the data during its lifecycle.

In this context, the Data Custodian is crucial for applying the necessary controls to manage access, storage, and transmission of data, adhering to guidelines that align with the organization's security policies. Their duties typically involve implementing technical safeguards such as encryption, access controls, and monitoring systems to ensure that data is protected and managed appropriately.

While the Data Owner defines the data management policies and has the ultimate accountability for the data itself, the actual implementation of the associated controls falls within the purview of the Data Custodian. Other roles, such as the System Administrator and IT Security Manager, also play important parts in the larger security framework but do not specifically focus on the hands-on data control implementations like the Data Custodian does.