ROT is a common challenge faced by organizations of all sizes, as it can lead to wasted resources and increased costs. To address this issue, organizations may turn to data governance and management solutions such as data mapping and classification, data archiving, and data deletion. Additionally, there are several consulting firms and specialized software providers that can help organizations to identify, manage and reduce ROT.
What is ROT?
ROT, or Redundant, Obsolete, or Trivial data, refers to information that is no longer necessary or valuable to the organization that possesses it. Factors such as personal files on company storage, data hoarding, poor data management, and uncertainty about proper disposal all contribute to the buildup of ROT data.
Why managing ROT can have a positive impact on ESG?
Managing ROT data can have a positive impact on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies by reducing the amount of unnecessary data produced and stored. This not only reduces the energy consumption required for storage and processing, but also improves organizational sustainability and responsible governance.
Data rot, also known as data decay or data degradation, refers to the loss of data integrity over time due to various factors such as hardware failure, software corruption, or aging. The consequences of data rot can have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of an organization.
How data ROT can lead to an increase in carbon emissions
1. Additional resources to recreate or reacquire lost data
If data rot results in the loss of important information, it can lead to the need for additional resources to be used in order to recreate or reacquire the lost data, resulting in an increase in carbon emissions.
2. Additional hardware or software to store and access data
Secondly, data rot can also lead to the need for additional hardware and software to be used in order to store and access data, thus contributing to an increase in carbon emissions through the production and transportation of new hardware and software.
3. Reduce efficiency of organizations’ operations
Finally, data rot can also affect carbon footprint indirectly by reducing the efficiency of a company’s operations, leading to inefficiencies, and a reduction in productivity, which in turn can contribute to an increase in carbon emissions.
How organizations can manage their ROT data
By implementing regular data reviews, proper data disposal and recycling practices, and developing policies and procedures for data management, organizations can effectively manage ROT data and avoid data rot, and improve their Environmental, Social and Governance performance.
1. Regular data reviews
To effectively manage ROT data and avoid data rot, organizations should implement regular data reviews. This can be done by creating a schedule to review and assess the relevance and value of data on a regular basis, such as annually or semi-annually. Additionally, companies can establish guidelines for employees to follow when storing and managing data, to ensure that data is being properly categorized and maintained.
2. Implement proper data disposal
Another way to manage ROT data is by implementing proper data disposal and recycling practices. This can include securely wiping or shredding physical documents and properly disposing of electronic devices.
3. Develop internal policies for data management
To improve data management, companies can also develop policies and procedures for data management. This can include guidelines for data storage, backup, and archiving, as well as protocols for data security and disposal.
4. Implement data management software
Another way to address the ROT problem is to implement a data management software like DataIntell. This type of software helps organizations to identify and eliminate ROT data, and to keep track of data usage. DataIntell can also help companies to automate the data review process, and to monitor data usage and security, by giving alerts and providing actionable insights.
Managing ROT data for improved ESG with DataIntell
In conclusion, managing ROT data can improve organizations’ ESG performance by reducing energy consumption and improving sustainability. DataIntell is a software that can help organizations identify and eliminate ROT data, automate data reviews, and monitor usage and security. By implementing regular data reviews, proper data disposal and recycling practices, developing internal policies, and using DataIntell, organizations can effectively manage ROT data and avoid data rot.
