About this demo
This resource provides best practices for enriching metadata in Atlan using custom metadata, helping teams add unique, business-specific context to their data assets. Since every organization’s needs differ, Atlan allows users to extend beyond basic metadata (like owners, descriptions, and certifications) with custom fields that enhance search, governance, and usability.
The guide explains how custom metadata can be used to improve searchability by creating more filter options, enhance the end-user experience by using familiar terminology, and integrate outputs from other tools such as data quality or orchestration platforms. Examples include adding metadata for source systems (e.g., Salesforce, Workday, Zendesk), data warehouse presence, or ETL pipeline details like job links, run dates, and run status (page 5).
It also demonstrates how to use custom metadata for governance, such as tracking intellectual property rights (license type, provider) and assigning levels of importance (Gold, Silver, Bronze) to distinguish asset quality and readiness (page 5).
The deck provides templates and examples (pages 6–7), showing how metadata groups can be designed for deployment details, observability metrics (e.g., completeness, consistency, validity, accuracy), regulatory requirements, and states like completion status. Each property should include a description explaining its purpose and can be applied selectively to relevant asset types.
By implementing these practices, teams can ensure their metadata model reflects their unique workflows and governance needs. This leads to more discoverable, transparent, and trusted data assets, while giving both business and technical users the context they need to work effectively.