What is the purpose of conducting a data audit according to DAMA-DMBOK?

Conducting a data audit serves the critical purpose of assessing data quality and ensuring compliance with governance policies. This process involves a thorough examination of data assets to identify issues related to accuracy, consistency, completeness, relevance, and timeliness. By focusing on data quality, organizations can pinpoint deficiencies that may lead to poor decision-making and operational inefficiencies.

Moreover, a data audit verifies compliance with established governance policies, which are designed to protect data integrity, security, and availability. This compliance aspect is vital for organizations, especially those in regulated industries, as it ensures that data management practices align with legal and ethical standards.

The other options reflect important aspects of data management but do not capture the primary purpose of a data audit. For instance, while improving storage efficiency, evaluating employee skills, or analyzing system costs can be beneficial activities, they do not fundamentally address the central intent behind conducting a data audit as outlined in the DAMA-DMBOK framework.