Data governance in NHSA Module 3 is best described as:

• A. A legal requirement to store data in cloud servers
• B. A method for patient data encryption only
• C. A set of guidelines for patient satisfaction surveys
• D. A framework for data quality, stewardship, access, and policies to ensure reliable, secure, and compliant data use.

Answer: (D)

Data governance is the framework that defines how data is managed across its life cycle—who owns data, how quality is maintained, who can access it, and what policies guide its use to ensure reliability, security, and regulatory compliance. The description that includes data quality, stewardship, access, and policies captures this broader governance role, ensuring data is trustworthy and usable while staying compliant. The other options focus on a single aspect or a different concept entirely: storage location, encryption as a sole focus, or guidelines for collecting survey data, none of which cover the comprehensive management and policy-driven approach that governance embodies.