Which term serves as a single source of truth within the organization?

• A. Data Classification
• B. Data Storage
• C. Data Inventory/Data Mapping
• D. Data Capture

Answer: (C)

Having a single source of truth means there is a centralized, trusted reference for data definitions, locations, and quality that all parts of the organization rely on for decision-making. Data Inventory/Data Mapping does exactly this: it inventories all data assets across the enterprise and maps how data flows between systems, what each data element means, where it resides, and how it’s transformed. This creates a canonical reference that reconciles disparate data and supports consistency, data quality, and governance. For example, the customer identifier should represent the same underlying concept across CRM, ERP, and analytics, and the mapping clarifies fields, formats, and lineage.

Data Classification focuses on labeling data by sensitivity or category for protection and governance, which is important but doesn’t by itself establish a centralized, reconciled data view. Data Storage is about where data is kept, which can still be fragmented across systems and doesn’t ensure a single authoritative source. Data Capture concerns how data is collected, not how it is standardized or harmonized across the organization.