What is a Dataflow Diagram (DFD)?

• A. A visual representation that illustrates data flow between systems, helping to manage data quality and privacy.
• B. A diagram showing network topology performance.
• C. A statistical chart of data usage.
• D. A document listing all data owners.

Answer: (A)

A Dataflow Diagram is a visual map of how data moves through a system, showing the processes that transform data, the places data is stored, and the paths data takes between internal components and external sources or destinations. This focus on data movement and transformation makes it a powerful tool for understanding data quality and where privacy controls should be applied, since you can see where data originates, how it’s changed, and where it’s stored or released. DFDs typically include processes, data stores, data flows, and external entities, and they’re commonly used to analyze and design information systems.

It isn’t about how a network is laid out or how well the network performs, which would be a network topology diagram. It isn’t a statistical chart of how data is used. It also isn’t a document that lists who owns data.