Who is primarily responsible for authorizing access to application data?

The correct answer is the data owner, as this individual is primarily responsible for the management and oversight of the data within an application. The data owner possesses authority over the data's access rights and ensures that permissions align with the organization’s policies and regulatory requirements. They have a comprehensive understanding of the sensitivity and value of the data they manage and make critical decisions regarding who can access it, at what level, and under what circumstances.

The role of the data owner encompasses defining access controls based on the data's classification and determining the appropriate security measures to protect it. This involvement is essential to ensure that the data is only accessible to individuals who require it for their roles, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches.

In this context, while the application administrator may manage the application that hosts the data, their focus is more on the technical aspects of the application rather than the authorization of data access. Similarly, the data custodian typically handles the day-to-day management of data but does not have the authority to grant access. The security administrator's role is predominantly to enforce security policies and controls but not to define who has access to specific data sets. Thus, the data owner stands out as the key figure in making decisions regarding access to application data.