Introduction
Governing data is no longer a matter of choice: it is an imperative for companies that want to grow safely and intelligently.
And the market has already noticed this: according to a global research by Precisély published in 2025 , 71% of organizations say they have an active data governance program, a significant jump compared to the 60% recorded in 2023 .
What does this data reveal? That data governance came out of theory and entered into practice. In an accelerated cloud growth scenario, knowing where your data is, who can access it and how to ensure your integrity is no longer just a IT agenda, and has become a strategic requirement .
But not everything is simple on this path. As companies adopt cloud solutions, new complexities arise. More environments, more integrations, more data circulating. And it is precisely in this context that the paas ( platform as service ) platforms gain protagonism. They promise speed and scalability in application development, but also challenge (and at the same time facilitate) data governance.
In this article, we will explore how PaaS can be used in favor of cloud governance . If you are starting to understand this universe and want clarity to make good decisions, this is the right content for you.
Enjoy the read!
Why is data governance essential in the cloud?
The cloud has changed the game : Applications multiply, data transit at high speed, and teams access information from anywhere. But in this same rapid pace, a new concern arises : how to keep control without locking innovation?
According to a CDW with IT professionals , 63% of companies consider the lack of governance one of the main obstacles to managing cloud environments . In other words, even with advanced technologies available, the challenge is not only in tools, but how to organize the use and flow of data strategically.
This is because, unlike traditional infrastructure, the cloud is dynamic, distributed and shared . Data may be fragmented between applications, geographies and suppliers. Without a clear model of governance, this scenario favors redundances, inconsistencies and loss of visibility about what really matters.
Therefore, talking about cloud data governance is not just to discuss security or compliance. It's about creating solid bases to grow, innovate and make reliable decisions, even in complex environments. Governing well is having clarity, trust and context - three fundamental ingredients for any digital organization.
Now that we understand why this theme is important, it is worth deepening the role of Paas in this scenario. After all, how can this model possible (or complicate) the cloud data governance?
PAAS: What is it, what it is for and why it influences governance
Building an application of zero used to be like setting up the entire structure of a building: from plumbing to façade. Platform as Service ) model came to simplify this process . It offers a ready base , with all the necessary infrastructure for teams to focus on business logic and value delivery.
In practice, PAAS allows developers to create, test, and put solutions in the air without dealing with servers, operating systems or technical updates . Which once took weeks, now it happens on days - or even hours. It is a revolution in the way of innovating, and that is precisely why so many companies have adopted this model.
But all this agility has a side effect : part of the control over the data becomes delegated to the platform provider. And when this happens, important questions arise: "Where exactly the data is being processed? What rules are being applied by default? Is there traceability?"
It is at this point that Paas is no longer a technical choice and begins to directly impact the data governance strategy. Each new application developed and each integrated integration generates and consumes data at increasing volumes and speeds. And without a clear management model, complexity can grow faster than the ability to control .
On the other hand, when well explored, Paas can be a powerful ally of governance . Many of the resources it offers (such as automation, access control, version and integration with external tools) are born ready to support structured management.
Now that we understand how Paas works and why it influences the way we deal with cloud data, it's time to explore what really needs to be governed. Let's go to the fundamental pillars of this journey!
The pillars of data governance in the cloud
Speaking of governance is often confusing a process with bureaucracy. But when we look closely, we realize that it is actually a set of guarantees . Guarantees that company data is useful, protected, reliable and understandable.
In the cloud, where data transit faster and with different environments, these pillars become even more important. It is not just about having data, but having data that makes sense, is safe and can be used clearly.
Next, we explore the three indispensable foundations of cloud data governance.
Data quality
Having available data does not mean having useful data. When we talk about quality, we are going beyond well-filled spreadsheets : it is about ensuring that information circulating between systems, applications and people is accurate, updated, complete and consistent.
In the cloud, this challenge grows. Poor configured integrations, duplications in different environments and absence of automatic validations are common sources of noise. This affects from tactical reports to artificial intelligence strategies (AI).
Good governance ensures that data quality is continuously monitored, with clear policies and well -defined metrics . Only then is it possible to trust the analysis and prevent important decisions from being made based on distorted information.
Security and privacy
For a long time, data security has ceased to be a differential to being a prerequisite . In the cloud, where everything is most dynamic and distributed, care for access, authentication, encryption and compliance with laws such as the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) needs to be on the front line of decisions .
But it is not enough to protect the data with firewalls or robust passwords. We need to think about security as a flow : who accesses, when, with which level of permission and how long. Thus, the privacy of the data must be respected at each stage of the journey, from collection to disposal.
Governance enters precisely as the structure that organizes this protection . It defines rules, audits exceptions, automates blockages and allows data to be available only to those who need it, and in the right context.
Transparency and traceability
Knowing that a data exists is not the same as knowing how it was created, transformed or used. Therefore, tracking the origin, path and changes of each information is as important as protecting it.
Traceability, also known as data lineage , is what allows us to identify where information came from, which systems it went through, who changed it and why. This gives technical ballast to the analysis and assumption -based decisions
Transparency is based on the data catalog , a repository that organizes, classifies and describes the company's information assets. With it, each area knows which data there is, where it is stored, and how they can be used safely and efficiently.
Without traceability, governance loses the ability to prove what was done . Without transparency, she loses users' adhesion . And neither can miss in environments where data grow exponentially.
These pillars form the basis of data governance. And when taken to the Paas universe, they gain new complexities and require extra attention. Therefore, in the next section, let's understand what are the main points of attention of this scenario, and why it is so easy to lose control if there is no clear strategy from the beginning .
Attention points to get the best of paas with governance
The Paas model has made room for companies to gain speed, scalability and more freedom to innovate , without carrying the weight of managing the entire infrastructure. But, like every strategic choice, it also brings points that deserve attention so that this autonomy works safely and well structured.
One of them is visibility . Although the platforms are increasingly offering audit and monitoring resources, it is important to be clear about which layers are managed by the provider, and which one are under the management of the internal team . Understanding this division well helps keep control over who accesses what, when and how.
Another point is the Multi-Tenant model , common in Paas. This architecture, which allows multiple companies to share the same infrastructure in isolation , is one of the great differentials to climb efficiently. But it also requires attention to settings, permissions and good safety practices, to ensure that each environment follows protected and separate , as it should be.
It is also worth remembering that each PAAS platform comes with its own rules, APIs and operational standards . This is precisely what makes development more agile, but it also reinforces the importance of understanding how these features work to make the most of them, maintaining flexibility to evolve when the business asks .
Finally, there is the cultural factor : for teams seeking agility, governance may seem one more step in flow. But in practice, it is what ensures that this agility happens in an organized way , with less rework and more confidence between the areas.
In the end, all these points must be seen as part of the game. Recognizing how each piece fits is what transforms potential bottlenecks into opportunities to structure a governance that does not limit - but enables sustainable growth .
And the best part? All of this is viable in practice. Therefore, in the next section, we will explore how to start implementing a solid and realistic data governance in stopped environments without locking innovation.
How to implement an effective data governance in Paas
In a Paas environment, governance needs to be born with systems, grow with data and adapt with the business. This requires less rigidity and more practical intelligence .
Check out how to take the first steps with consistency and vision of the future:
- Start with questions, not with tools : "What data really matter to your business? Who needs to access them and why? What risks your operation can't run?" These answers guide policies even before opening the first dashboard .
- Use what Paas already offers, but with criteria : access controls, logs , resting encryption - many native resources already support governance. But they only work when used consistently with the rules of your business;
- Connect governance with those who develop : It is no use creating rules at the top of the tower. In Paas, governance needs to be on pipeline : in deploy , the version, the APIs. The more integrated to development, the more natural and the less forgotten it will be;
- Bring other tools to the game : If native features don't cover everything, complement with catalog platforms, monitoring and safety. But without exaggeration: excess tools can disrupt more than help if there is no alignment and correct integration between them;
- Make governance a continuous and visible practice : Audit is not suspicious but to ensure that what was agreed is being fulfilled. What's more, it is creating confidence between technical, business and compliance . That is, it is not about watching: it is about doing together.
In Paas, to govern data is not to lock innovation. This is what allows it to happen safely, scalably and sustainable. And, like every solid change, it begins with small well -founded decisions that, when they become routine, gain strength to evolve along with the business.
But it is not enough to implement policies: it is necessary to keep governance alive in everyday life, adapting practices, reviewing processes and involving those who are part of the operation. This is what we will see below!
Good practices to maintain alive governance in everyday
Governance that only exists on paper is equal to the password policy that no one respects: is there, but does not protect anyone. In PAAS environments, where the new happens all the time , governance needs to be light enough to keep up with the pace, and strong enough to support growth.
In fact, governance lives (or dies) in the details . In architectural decisions, in the accesses granted without discretion, in the routines that stay for later. The secret is intended: to make governance a habit , not an exception .
Here are practices that help turn good ideas into consistent behavior :
- Start by what already exists : your paas probably already offers logs , alerts, permissions, metrics. Use this. What is native, besides being more integrated, tends to be more reliable and easy to maintain;
- Automatize without automating common sense : Rules can and should be applied by scripts . But the context, why the rule, needs to be understood by people. Governance is not only "what to do," but also "why we do it like this";
- Do not audit as punishment : Review access, checking integrity and validating policies is not to seek guilty. It is a way of taking care of the operation. Those who audit clearly, improve safely;
- Put governance in everyday conversation : when developers, analysts and managers talk about data with the same language, everything flows better. Governance is no longer a “IT thing” and becomes a collective commitment;
- Do not expect crisis to review the model : has changed the team? Increased data volume? Did a new system come in? Time to review. Governance that adapts is governance that lasts.
In the end, keeping governance alive is less about rigidity and more about coherence . Coherence between what the company wants to protect and how it builds it every day. When well cared for, she doesn't lock the business: she releases the way .
Skyone: How do we put governance to work in real life?
For Skyone , data governance is not theory: it is practical . And practice applied in environments that are most often complex, hybrid and constant transformation.
We work with companies that do not have the “ideal scenario” designed in the laboratory. They have legacy systems, multiple integrations, cloud platforms operating at the same time. It is in this real context that governance needs to work - and that's exactly where we enter.
In our projects, governing data starts before any tool . It starts clearly: what data really matter, who needs to access it, and what cannot fail. From this, we connect systems, automate flows and give visibility to what is happening, without locking the operation.
We are proud to deliver robust technology, but our differential is in the way we think with the customer . Because the translation between technology and business is part of our daily work. For us, governance is born already integrated with the solution, not as an item that comes later.
In practice, this means making it viable what seems difficult: maintaining control without losing speed . Make the rules work in the code. And create an environment where data circulates safely, traceability and purpose .
If there is one thing we have learned at Skyone , it is that data governance really works only when it makes sense to those who use the data on a daily basis. And it is exactly this kind of governance that we seek to build.
Want to understand how this could work in your reality? Talk to one of our experts and find out how together we can turn governance into real value for your business!
Conclusion
Data governance has already been seen as something that was resolved with rules and controls. Today, it is the one that separates well-informed decisions from betting in the dark , especially in a scenario where data flows, transforms and grows within Paas platforms.
The point is that there is no unique recipe. What exists is the need to see governance not as a brake, but as a foundation : it supports agility safely, responsibility innovation, and predictability growth.
If this content brought new perspectives or lit some warning, great! This means that you are at the right time to rethink how data is treated in your business, and what can be done in practice to evolve more confidence .
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Sidney Rocha
with over 20 years of IT experience, Sidney Rocha helps companies on the cloud journey, systems, data & IA integration. Acting in various segments and clients of Mission Criticism, he focuses on efficiency and business strategy.
In his Skyone blog, Sidney explores from cloud architecture and performance optimization strategies and cost reduction to intelligent data implementation and artificial intelligence, enables