3.1 Providing a single source of validated information

A good data management system comprises a single data repository. Independent data managers oversee the infrastructure, and governance groups determine policies and practices relating to functionality, access and use of the system. Data may be submitted using multiple means, but should be integrated, stored, analysed and presented in one system. For example, data should not be managed using multiple spreadsheets stored in different locations. In this case, the absence of a single repository means that multiple versions of the same data may be available, with no way for the user to know which one is the most accurate and up to date.

This does not mean that back-up versions cannot be created and stored. This is a different process, and such back-ups are named and flagged as back-ups: they will never be changed, updated or modified, unless the primary repository is lost and a back-up is restored in its place.