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

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

• A. Data Use
• B. Data Recovery
• C. Data Inventory/Data Mapping
• D. Data Integrity Management

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is having one authoritative source of data that everyone in the organization relies on. A single source of truth means there is a canonical version of data that all systems reference to avoid conflicting values and confusion. Data inventory and data mapping together create that centralized reference by cataloging what data assets exist, where they reside, and how data elements move and transform between systems. This explicit documentation of data sources, definitions, and lineage helps ensure everyone works from the same, well-understood data, which is the essence of a single source of truth. Data inventory/data mapping provides the visibility and control needed to designate a trusted origin for each data element and to align how it’s produced and used across the organization. In contrast, data use focuses on how data is consumed, data recovery deals with backups and restoration, and data integrity management is about maintaining quality and consistency—important, but they do not by themselves establish the centralized, canonical reference that enables a single source of truth.