The importance of data management has been highlighted by a recent attack on one gaming company.
According to an article in the Financial Times, the hacking attack on Sony, which resulted in the details of millions of users being stolen, was "a failure in management" more than a failure in the security technology.
Sony is thought to have lost around $171 million, but the reputational impact will not be known for some time.
As chief executives "struggle to stay afloat" with their data management practices in this "risky new ocean of digital data", the article's authors, professors from the NYU's Stern School of Business, suggested: "Intent-based governance provides a more pragmatic basis for managing security and privacy."
Furthermore, the writers suggested that directives are required to push firms into distinguishing between consumer data that they are explicitly given and data acquired as a by-product of commerce and integration.