Cloud data governance in-light of the saudi vision 2030 for digital transformation

Digital transformation in Saudi Arabia is one of the core elements to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. In this paper, we argue that data governance plays a vital role for the success of this vision. This role is further emphasized when considering the country's appetite for emerging technologies such as cloud computing solutions. A thorough survey of literature shows that data governance in general and for cloud computing, more specifically, is under researched. This paper puts the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 for digital transformation under a test. Supported by an empirical study, this paper provides an early warning of a highly likely failure if data governance is not integrated in the vision as a driver for digital transformation. An empirical survey, using a self-administered questionnaire, is conducted to explore and evaluate the status of data governance in the Saudi Arabia. The results of the study reveal that despite the wide recognition of the importance of data governance, especially for cloud computing, there is a consensus that this area is really in its infancy and almost absent from the Saudi organizations. © 2017 IEEE.