The DAMA Guide to the Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBoK) serves as a testament to the ever-evolving nature of the data world. The second edition of the book, released by DAMA International in 2017, features updated contributions from more than 120 data professionals and highlights 11 core data management “knowledge areas.”
As a whole, the 600-page tome is considered the gold standard of reference guides for data professionals, whether they are just starting in the industry or have been practicing within it for decades. Knowledge workers, data governance leads, project managers, executives, technical staff, data analysts, data architects, and anyone else involved with data may consult the DMBoK in their jobs.
CDMP Certification and the DMBOK Learning Plan
Train to get certified as a data management professional. (Use code Cyber2025 to save 25% through December 8, 2025!)
What Does the DMBoK Cover?
The DMBoK includes the latest processes, best practices, and principles within data management. It focuses on 11 main topics:
- Data Governance
- Data Architecture
- Data Modeling & Design
- Data Storage & Operations
- Data Security
- Data Integration & Interoperability
- Documents & Content
- Reference & Master Data
- Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence
- Metadata
- Data Quality
In addition to that, the latest edition of the DMBoK contains dedicated sections for data ethics, big data, data integration and interoperability, and data management maturity assessment. To illustrate how these different subjects are interconnected, DAMA International created the Data Management Framework, or DAMA Wheel. It includes the 11 knowledge areas and puts data governance at the center of the wheel, to highlight how it underpins every data management activity.
The Goals of the DMBoK
The DMBoK offers a variety of benefits to data professionals who use it.
- To provide information about data governance best practices, roles and responsibilities, deliverables and metrics, and maturity models for data management
- To standardize data management practices across the field
- To serve as a functional framework for the implementation of these practices in any business context
- To establish a formal vocabulary for these concepts
- To clarify the scope of what these practices can and cannot do
- To provide a vendor-neutral overview of management practices and potential alternatives for specific situations
How Data Professionals Use the Book
- Learn best practices in data management to perform better at their jobs
- Study it while enrolling in CDMP exam training
- Build and implement data management practices within their organizations
DMBOK and CDMP Preparation:
Data Management Fundamentals
Gain a comprehensive foundation to prepare for your CDMP certification – January 13-15, 2026.
(Use code Cyber2025 to save 25% through December 8, 2025!)
