Which of the following is a benefit of effective data governance?

Enhanced data quality and security stands out as a key benefit of effective data governance. Establishing a robust data governance framework ensures that organizations systematically manage their data assets, leading to improved accuracy, consistency, and reliability of the data they rely on for decision-making. This enhanced quality means that stakeholders can trust the insights derived from the data, which is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and competitive advantage.

Additionally, effective data governance enhances security by controlling access to sensitive data, enforcing data protection policies, and ensuring compliance with regulations. As organizations navigate increasing regulatory demands and the need for data privacy, strong governance practices help safeguard against data breaches and minimize risks associated with data misuse.

In contrast, while improved marketing strategies and lowering compliance costs could be seen as indirect benefits of good data governance, they do not directly capture the essence of data governance's primary objectives. Increased hardware requirements is generally not aligned with the goals of data governance, which typically aims for optimal use of existing resources rather than additional infrastructural demands.