CYBERSECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF WEAK DATA GOVERNANCE IN CLOUD-BASED DATABASES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

As organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based databases, ensuring data security has become a paramount concern. This study explores the cybersecurity implications of weak data governance in cloud environments through a comparative analysis of 30 organizations across the healthcare, finance, and e-commerce sectors. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study evaluates Governance Effectiveness Scores (GES) alongside Cybersecurity Incident Scores (CIS), incident response times, and breach frequencies. The findings reveal a strong negative correlation between governance maturity and cybersecurity risk, with weak governance significantly increasing vulnerability to threats such as unauthorized access, misconfigurations, and ransomware. Regression analysis further confirms that governance effectiveness is a critical predictor of cybersecurity outcomes, even when controlling for industry, cloud provider, and regulatory compliance. Visual tools such as radar charts and heatmaps illustrate the disparity in governance dimensions and incident profiles. The study highlights the urgent need for organizations to treat data governance as a strategic imperative, emphasizing its role in reducing risk, improving resilience, and ensuring regulatory compliance in cloud environments.