Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for data characterization and tracking via cohesive information units. In particular, the system may be structured to define a cohesive information unit (“CIU”) which may serve as the fundamental functional unit that serves as the basis for data electronically stored, transferred, modified, and/or copied within computing systems. Each CIU may be electronically associated with metadata which serves to identify the CIU as the CIU is stored and/or in motion. Rather than allowing applications and/or users to change the data within the CIU directly, the system may write subsequent CIU's to reflect proposed changes by the applications and/or users. In this way, the system provides a secure and reliable way to maintain authenticity of data within the entity system.