What is the main function of a data custodian?

The main function of a data custodian is indeed to execute decisions made by the data owner. The data owner is responsible for defining the policies and standards regarding data management, access, and security. Once those decisions are made, the data custodian puts them into practice, ensuring that the data is managed according to the owner's directives. This involves managing the storage, maintenance, and protection of the data, as well as enforcing the access controls determined by the data owner.

While the data custodian may also act in collaboration with others to advise on practices or utilize data for organizational needs, these functions are secondary to their core responsibility of executing the data owner's decisions. The distinctions in roles highlight the data custodian's implementation and operational focus within the overall data governance framework.