Data mapping
Data mapping is the process of identifying and connecting data flows between systems to understand how personal information is collected, shared, and stored.
What is data mapping?
Data mapping is a foundational privacy and governance process that visualizes how data moves through an organization’s ecosystem. It links data sources, systems, and processing activities to provide a clear picture of where personal data resides and how it is used.
Data mapping supports compliance with regulations such as the GDPR, CCPA, and CPRA, which require organizations to document their processing activities. It also enhances transparency, risk management, and data quality by providing a single source of truth for all data flows.
Why data mapping matters
Data mapping enables organizations to meet global privacy and compliance requirements by maintaining visibility over data operations. It ensures personal and sensitive data is handled properly, supports accurate DPIAs, and helps identify risks such as unauthorized transfers or storage.
Mapping also streamlines responses to DSARs, enabling teams to locate and retrieve personal data quickly.
From a business perspective, data mapping improves data governance, facilitates integration projects, and strengthens trust by providing transparency into how and why data is processed.
How data mapping is used in practice
- Documenting how personal data is collected, processed, and shared across systems
- Supporting GDPR and CPRA recordkeeping requirements for processing activities
- Identifying cross-border data transfers and high-risk processing operations
- Connecting data flows to specific business functions, assets, or vendors
- Enabling automated data discovery and classification for compliance
- Improving collaboration between privacy, security, and IT teams through shared visibility
Related laws & standards
- EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
- California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
- ISO/IEC 27701 (Privacy Information Management)
How OneTrust helps with data mapping
OneTrust automates data mapping to identify, document, and maintain records of processing activities across systems. The platform enables organizations to visualize data flows, classify personal information, and generate reports for regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
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FAQs about data mapping
Data mapping documents relationships and flows between systems for compliance and governance, while data lineage traces the origin, movement, and transformation of data across its lifecycle.
Privacy, data governance, and compliance teams typically maintain data maps, working closely with IT and security teams to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Under the GDPR, organizations must maintain a Record of Processing Activities (RoPA). Data mapping provides the structure and visibility needed to fulfill this obligation and demonstrate accountability.
