What is Metadata?
Metadata provides detailed information about files and it lets us understand what they contain, and therefore how they need to be managed. Without metadata, any two (or more) files can look and feel the same.
The ability to not only identify, but then also apply rules and actions to files based on content and context, facilitates streamlined, enterprise-wide, data governance.
A good Information Governance strategy starts with the complete understanding of content through the application of metadata – to identify what the content is, where it lives across all data repositories and how each piece of content will be handled – now and in the future.
5 Ways to use Metadata:

1) Start with file metadata.
Tombstone metadata defines what it is at the file level.

2) Layer rich metadata.
Rich metadata applies attributes about the file contents.

3) Understand the context.
Metadata gives better understanding of content beyond straight searching.

4) Add rules to rich metadata.
Disposition rules dictate what to do with content at all stages and priorities.

5) Other applications beyond IG & IM.
Apply the same processes & procedures to other areas of the business.
The management of metadata has real business applications beyond Information Governance and Information Management use cases such as:
- eDiscovery: Using rich metadata helps sort for relevance and privilege, early case assessment, litigation readiness and other “left of the EDRM” applications.
- IT & Business Transformation: Consistent application of rich metadata tagging employs best practices on content creation, storage, management, usage and disposal.
- Data Privacy: Use metadata to find sensitive & personal data and apply AutoRedaction and access security controls to permission user access.