Which of the following describes the practice of ensuring that data is well organized and maintained?

Data management encompasses a set of practices and processes aimed at ensuring that data is collected, organized, stored, and maintained effectively. It involves strategies for data governance, data architecture, data security, and data lifecycle management, ensuring that data is easily accessible and usable over time.

Effective data management establishes a framework for maintaining the integrity and usability of data, allowing organizations to derive valuable insights while ensuring compliance and efficiency. It prioritizes the systematic handling of data from its creation through its active use to its eventual archiving or deletion, which is crucial for optimal decision-making and operational efficiency.

In contrast, data reliability focuses on the consistency and dependability of the data, meaning that it should accurately reflect the true situation it represents. Data preservation involves safeguarding data from loss or corruption, ensuring that it remains intact over time but does not necessarily cover the organizational aspects. Data quality control emphasizes the processes to maintain the quality of data, such as validating its accuracy and completeness, but it is a function within the broader realm of data management. Thus, the choice that best captures the holistic practice of keeping data organized and maintained is data management.