Information Asset

An information asset is any collection of data, document, system, or technology resource that has value to an organization and therefore needs to be identified, managed, and protected. In industrial and regulated manufacturing environments, information assets include both digital and physical records that support operations, quality, safety, and compliance.

What an information asset includes

In manufacturing and industrial operations, information assets commonly include:

• Production data, such as batch records, machine parameters, and process histories
• Quality and compliance documentation, including nonconformance reports, CAPA records, and audit trails
• Engineering and technical information, such as drawings, specifications, PLC logic, and recipes
• Systems and databases, for example MES, historian databases, ERP master data, and LIMS data sets
• Standard operating procedures, work instructions, and training records
• Supplier and customer data, including material certificates and delivery records
• Cyber-physical information, such as OT network configurations, access control lists, and system logs

The term can apply to both structured information (databases, configuration files, log records) and unstructured information (PDF procedures, email threads with deviation approvals, scanned paper records).

What an information asset is not

An information asset is not just any piece of data. It typically:

• Has identifiable business, operational, safety, or compliance value
• Has an owner or custodian responsible for it
• Requires control over accuracy, access, retention, and, in some cases, confidentiality

For example, transient sensor noise that is never stored or used would not usually be treated as an information asset, while archived sensor trends used for investigations and optimization normally would be.

Operational meaning in manufacturing

In practice, classifying something as an information asset means it is brought under formal governance. Typical activities include:

• Cataloging the asset in an information or asset register, including owner, location, and criticality
• Defining access control rules, backup and restore needs, and change control requirements
• Applying document control or data integrity practices, such as version control and audit trails
• Assigning retention and disposition rules aligned with regulatory and business needs
• Including the asset in risk assessments for cybersecurity, data integrity, and business continuity

For OT and IT systems like MES, SCADA, historians, and ERP, the system itself and the data it stores are often treated as separate, but related, information assets.

Relationship to risk and compliance

Many information security and data governance frameworks expect organizations to identify and classify information assets before they can manage risks effectively. In regulated manufacturing, this often includes:

• Identifying which assets contain regulated records, such as electronic batch records or device history records
• Classifying criticality for safety, product quality, and regulatory reporting
• Defining controls for data integrity, including traceability, completeness, and accuracy
• Flagging assets that contain export-controlled or confidential technical data

Common confusion

• Information asset vs. physical asset: A physical asset is a tangible resource such as a machine, robot, or building. An information asset is the data and information associated with these resources, such as maintenance histories, calibration records, or control programs.
• Information asset vs. record: A record is a specific type of information that provides evidence of an activity or decision. An information asset can be broader and may include records, reference data, configuration data, and working documents.
• Information asset vs. data: Not all raw data is treated as an asset. An information asset usually represents data that has recognized value, context, and management responsibilities.