Who is primarily responsible for safeguarding data according to the directions provided by the data owner?

The data custodian is primarily responsible for safeguarding data according to the directions provided by the data owner. In a typical information security framework, the data owner determines the policies and guidelines regarding how data should be handled and protected based on its sensitivity and organizational requirements. The data custodian, on the other hand, is responsible for implementing those policies in practice. This role involves the technical aspects of protecting the data, such as ensuring data is stored securely, backed up appropriately, and accessed only by authorized individuals.

In this context, the data custodian acts as a bridge between the data owner's guidelines and the actual management of the data, ensuring that all protective measures are followed and that data integrity is maintained. This role encompasses aspects of access control, data storage security, and compliance with relevant laws and policies, strongly aligning with the commitment to safeguard the data as dictated by the data owner.

While the data owner establishes the security requirements, the other roles listed, such as application administrator and security administrator, typically focus on specific systems or applications rather than the overall data protection responsibilities vested in the data custodian role.