Building and sustaining a data inventory

This guide helps any organisation build and sustain a data inventory.

What is a data inventory

A data inventory is a structured register of all the data assets your organisation holds — what they contain, where they live, who is responsible for them, how they can be accessed, and how sensitive they are.

Think of it as a map of your organisation's data. Like any map, it is only useful if it is kept current and accurate.

A well-maintained data inventory enables your organisation to:

• Find data quickly, without relying on institutional memory or hunting across systems.
• Share data confidently, with a clear understanding of what rules and sensitivities apply.
• Meet legislative and regulatory obligations, including under the DATA Act 2022, privacy legislation, and sector-specific requirements.
• Reduce duplication and waste, by making existing data assets visible before new ones are created.
• Support research, policy and service delivery, by connecting data custodians with data users.
• Build trust, by demonstrating that your organisation knows what data it holds and manages it responsibly.

The six steps

These steps provide a practical path to building your inventory. They follow the ONDC methodology and are enriched with stewardship, quality and maturity considerations from DMAT and complementary frameworks. You can enter at any step that matches your current state.