/ 10 Data Governance Tools to Consider in 2025

10 Data Governance Tools to Consider in 2025

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What are data governance tools?

Data governance tools are the secret sauce behind organizations’ ability to harness the full potential of their data. In today’s data-driven landscape, businesses generate an unprecedented amount of information. Without proper management and oversight, this data can quickly become overwhelming and even detrimental to decision-making. 

Data governance tools provide a structured approach to managing, organizing, and securing data assets. They ensure data quality, compliance, and alignment with business objectives. These tools empower organizations to extract valuable insights while maintaining data accuracy, security, and integrity.

How to choose the data governance tool

There is a lot to think about when choosing the right data governance tool. Keep these things in mind as you start comparing which options are best for your company: 

  • Data ownership and stewardship: Ensure the platform supports clear data ownership and accountability. This promotes data integrity and compliance by defining roles and responsibilities for managing data.
  • Cost: Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including licensing fees, implementation costs, and potential scalability expenses. Consider the tool’s return on investment in terms of improved data quality and operational efficiency.
  • Data alignment: Look for tools that align with your organization’s industry-specific regulations and compliance requirements. The tool should be flexible enough to adapt to evolving data governance needs.
  • Ease of use: A user-friendly interface simplifies the learning curve, enabling swift integration across teams and minimizing disruptions. With intuitive navigation and straightforward functionalities, employees can quickly grasp the tool’s capabilities, ensuring smooth data management processes and enhancing overall productivity.
  • Technical proficiency: Opting for a user-friendly solution that requires minimal IT intervention ensures that your team can independently manage and navigate the platform. By choosing a tool that empowers non-technical users, you alleviate the burden on IT resources and expedite the implementation process, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine support tasks.
  • Centralized management: By consolidating data governance processes onto a single platform, organizations can efficiently manage data quality, security, and compliance from one unified hub. This approach enhances collaboration, simplifies data administration, and enables swift decision-making, fostering a cohesive data governance strategy that aligns with business objectives.

10 data governance platforms to consider in 2025

Data governance software example

Many of the tools below will support your company in managing your data and governance, though very few of these tools are built only for data governance. Many of these tools also support business intelligence or back-end data connection and management.

Depending on your organization’s needs, consider the overall suite of features available on top of the data governance features. If your goal is better and more secure data movement, choosing tools that focus on API or secure storage will help drive these goals forward. But if you’re looking to level up your data-powered decisions, then doing a comparison of how business intelligence tools support data governance will be critical. 

Here is our list of the tools that offer some of the best data governance features:

  • Domo

Domo stands out as an end-to-end data management platform, offering data integration, transformation, visualization, and advanced analytics capabilities. This comprehensive suite enables the connection of raw data all the way to actionable insights. Because the platform supports every aspect of data management, Domo has a strong data governance framework built into the platform. Domo’s approach to data governance is systematically embedded within its architecture, affording organizations the means to uphold data accuracy, safeguard security, and adhere to compliance. Through centralized data management, customizable workflows, and real-time monitoring, Domo ensures meticulous data quality and integrity, fostering seamless collaboration among stakeholders. Domo’s data governance, combined with the suite of additional data management features, makes the platform ideal for teams not only pursuing data-centric insights but also exacting governance over their data.

Key Features: Centralized data management, customizable workflows, real-time data monitoring

Pros: User-friendly interface, advanced data monitoring, collaboration capabilities

Cons: Possible higher learning curve for advanced features

  • Collibra

Collibra is a data governance platform that provides organizations with comprehensive tools to manage, catalog, and oversee their data assets. Collibra offers functionalities such as data lineage tracking, metadata management, and policy enforcement to ensure data quality, compliance, and collaboration. In comparison to Domo’s holistic end-to-end data management, Collibra specializes primarily in data governance, offering a dedicated suite of tools designed to maintain data integrity, foster regulatory adherence, and facilitate informed decision-making.

Key Features: Data management, data dataloging, governance workflow automation

Pros: Robust data cataloging, workflow automation, collaboration features

Cons: Focuses only on data governance, requires additional tools to support other company initiatives. 

  • Axon

Informatica’s Axon software platform is a data governance and cataloging solution that helps organizations ensure data quality, compliance, and collaboration. Its approach to data governance encompasses features such as data quality management, compliance tracking, and collaborative tools, allowing for detailed oversight of data assets. In comparison to Domo’s comprehensive solution, Axon focuses specifically on data governance and cataloging, providing specialized functionalities to maintain data quality and compliance while facilitating collaborative efforts among stakeholders.

Key Features: Data quality management, compliance tracking, collaboration tools

Pros: Strong data quality management, compliance tracking, integration with Informatica Suite

Cons: May require additional tools integrated for full functionality

  • Alation

Alation is a data cataloging and governance platform. Alation’s data governance approach includes data cataloging, data profiling, and collaborative governance. These features empower organizations to ensure data quality and accessibility while fostering collaboration among data stakeholders. Compared to other tools on this list, Alation’s focus on data cataloging is rather narrow. However, it offers a unique blend of data understanding and collaborative tools for streamlined decision-making.

Key Features: Data cataloging, data profiling, collaborative data governance

Pros: User-friendly data cataloging, collaborative tools, improved data discovery

Cons: Advanced governance features require technical expertise

  • Dataiku

Dataiku serves as an integrated AI and machine learning platform, encompassing data governance features to ensure data quality, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Dataiku’s data governance strategy aligns data management with AI-driven insights. Compared to other tools on this list, Dataiku offers a robust suite of data governance features that support the whole lifecycle of data at your organization. Combining AI capabilities on top allows it to cater to organizations seeking both advanced analytics and meticulous data oversight.

Key Features: AI integration, data quality monitoring, privacy compliance

Pros: Comprehensive AI integration, data quality monitoring, end-to-end platform

Cons: May be overwhelming for smaller businesses

  • erwin Data Intelligence

erwin Data Intelligence offers a comprehensive data governance platform that integrates data cataloging, lineage tracking, metadata management, and governance workflows. erwin’s approach ensures end-to-end data visibility and compliance, making it a robust solution for organizations aiming to enhance data quality and regulatory adherence. Unlike Collibra or other tools on this list that support a variety of data governance capabilities, erwin Data Intelligence excels in offering detailed data lineage tracking alongside metadata management. This tool’s specialty is mapping data flow for comprehensive governance oversight.

Key Features: Data lineage tracking, metadata management, governance workflows

Pros: Detailed data lineage, robust metadata management, integrated governance

Cons: Implementation complexity for larger organizations

  • Ataccama ONE

Ataccama ONE is a self-service data management platform featuring data quality, cataloging, and governance capabilities. Its approach to data governance includes self-service data management, data quality tools, and governance workflows. This makes Ataccama ONE a versatile solution for organizations seeking user empowerment and meticulous data oversight. Unlike Axon’s emphasis on data quality and compliance, Ataccama ONE combines self-service capabilities with data governance, offering a unique blend of user-friendly tools for data management and governance.

Key Features: Self-service data management, data quality tools, governance workflows

Pros: Self-service capabilities, data quality tools, streamlined governance

Cons: Initial learning curve for self-service features

  • Talend Data Fabric

Talend Data Fabric is a comprehensive data integration and integrity platform that also includes data governance functionalities. Talend’s approach to data governance integrates seamlessly with data integration and integrity features, enabling organizations to manage data across different environments while ensuring data quality and compliance. Talend Data Fabric’s specialized focus on data integration makes it a good choice for data governance, alongside other all-encompassing solutions such as Domo for holistic data management capabilities.

Key Features: Data integration, data integrity, cross-platform governance

Pros: Robust data integration, cross-platform management, scalability

Cons: Some advanced features may require technical expertise

  • SAS Data Management

SAS Data Management offers a comprehensive platform encompassing data quality, integration, and governance capabilities. Its data governance approach includes robust data quality management, integration features, and compliance tracking, providing organizations with a unified solution to maintain data accuracy, streamline processes, and adhere to regulatory standards. In contrast to erwin Data Intelligence’s focus on detailed data lineage, SAS Data Management excels in offering a comprehensive suite of data quality, integration, and governance functionalities, making it a well-rounded choice for organizations.

Key Features: Data quality management, integration, compliance tracking

Pros: Strong data quality management, integration capabilities, compliance features

Cons: Licensing costs for full suite access

  • IBM Cloud Pak

IBM Cloud Pak for Data is a comprehensive data and AI platform that integrates data governance, analytics, and machine learning capabilities. Its approach to data governance includes data cataloging and compliance management, allowing organizations to manage data assets and ensure adherence to regulations. When compared to Axon or Alation, IBM Cloud Pak stands out with its broader integration of analytics and machine learning features within its data governance framework.

Key Features: Data cataloging, compliance management, governance workflows

Pros: Robust data cataloging, compliance tools, integration with IBM ecosyste

Cons: Advanced features may require specialist knowledge

Choosing the best data governance platform

Selecting the right data governance software solution can be a transformative decision for any company. When you’re making the decision, dive into the features and functionalities offered by each solution. Take note of whether a tool supports essential elements like data cataloging, metadata management, and data lineage tracking. Carefully assess the ease of use and intuitive interface—a user-friendly platform can significantly impact successful adoption across your teams. 

By prioritizing scalability, functionalities, user-friendliness, security, compliance, and support, you’re on track to finding the data governance software solution that seamlessly aligns with your unique business needs. With the right tool in hand, you’ll not only manage your data efficiently but also foster an environment of informed decision-making, paving the way for future growth and success.

Domo’s platform, coupled with the array of data governance tools available, empowers businesses to navigate the complexities of data management. Whether you’re a small startup or a global enterprise, the right data governance tool can catalyze your journey toward data-driven success.

Data governance software FAQs

Have additional questions about data governance platforms or how to choose the best data governance tool? We’re here with answers.

Q: What are the technologies used in data governance?

Data governance relies on a suite of essential technologies to manage and safeguard data effectively. Metadata management tools capture data context, while data cataloging platforms create searchable data inventories. Lineage tracking maps data journeys, access controls ensure security, and data quality tools rectify inaccuracies. Collaboration platforms promote teamwork, policy enforcement automates rule adherence, and encryption safeguards data. Master data management maintains data consistency and privacy solutions aid compliance. Data auditing and monitoring track changes, ensuring accountability. Together, these technologies establish a robust data governance framework, enhancing data quality, security, and regulatory compliance.

Q: What is a data governance tool?

A data governance tool is a software solution designed to manage, organize, and ensure the quality, security, and compliance of an organization’’s data assets. It provides functionalities such as data cataloging, metadata management, data lineage tracking, access controls, and policy enforcement. By using a data governance tool, businesses can streamline their data management processes, enhance data accuracy, and ensure that data is used in alignment with regulatory and business requirements.

Q: What are the three pillars of data governance?

The three pillars of data governance are data quality, data security, and data compliance. They lay the foundation for effective data management. By upholding these principles, organizations can ensure trustworthy, secure, and compliant use of their data assets.

Check out some related resources:

Data Governance: Framework and 7 Best Practices

Benefits and Challenges of Data Governance

Streaming Analytics: What It Is and How It Works

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