The Challenge

A large North American food and industrial ingredients manufacturer faced growing pressure to improve its data governance posture.

With over 1,500 employees and operations spanning multiple facilities, the company initially attempted to implement a data governance program in-house. However, the effort focused heavily on technology alone—without addressing the people and process components critical to success.

Their DIY approach lacked the structure and clarity needed for long term sustainability, and progress stalled. The tipping point came when the company began planning a Microsoft Copilot rollout. Leadership had heard horror stories of sensitive data leaks caused by poor governance and realized that without strong data classification and access controls in place, they risked a similar fate.

With limited internal expertise and heightened concerns over accidental exposure, the company needed a trusted partner to guide them toward a more secure and compliant data environment.