Enterprise Architecture principles
6. Data integrity and quality
- Last reviewed
- 8 June 2026
- Owner
- Head of Architecture
Ensure accurate, consistent and reliable data across DfE. Use master data sources and, when mastering data, make it available to other services through interfaces.
Rationale
Reliable data drives informed decision-making and operational efficiency.
Duplication or poor data management practices reduces user trust, introduces errors, discrepancies and data quality issues, whilst increasing the cost and effort of data collation and analysis.
By creating and using trusted shared data sources, services can provide consistent data, improve user experience and trust, and reduce data engineering costs, in preparing data for analysis.
Implications
Use authoritative data sources without creating copies, to ensure data consistency, integrity and quality.
Authoritative data sources must have availability and scalability to meet service demands, with appropriate support and service levels.
Embed data management and governance practices in the organisation for both operational and analytical data.