Governance is paramount to supporting business strategy, mitigating risk and ensuring the survival of any organization. Effective IT governance helps create value and provides a competitive advantage, in addition to contributing to the achievement of strategic objectives. In addition, it encourages employees to take responsibility for their computer data.
In this article we will see why it is important to set up IT governance within your organization, as well as the key elements to consider when doing so.
What Is IT Governance?
“The primary objective of a strong IT governance framework is to ensure that investments in information and IT management deliver business value, and to mitigate the risks that are associated with IT, such as cybersecurity threats and misalignment of IT and operational priorities” – Government of Canada.
IT governance is a management process that, with the application of good practices, makes it possible to optimize IT investments in order to contribute to value creation and performance, and to control IT risks. All of this must be done while also demonstrating compliance and ethics within the organization.
Elements To Consider In IT Governance
According to the ITGI (IT Governance Institute), the five elements of IT governance are:
- L’alignement stratégique (IT Strategic Alignment)
- La fourniture de valeur (IT Value Delivery)
- La gestion des risques (IT Risk Management)
- La gestion des ressources (IT Resource Management)
- La mesure des performances (Performance Measurement)
And the five elements of action are:
- Aligning the information system with the company’s strategy
- Optimizing the performance of the information system
- Evaluating the value and profitability of the information system deployed
- Identifying and controlling the operational risk related to the information system
- Anticipating future developments
Your IT Practices Are Your Responsibility
You are responsible for your online safety, and with remote working, this is even more important. Employees in most organizations are currently working from home, and this means it is even more difficult to have control over IT security. These employees become responsible for the data of the organization. We also offer cybersecurity training for employees.
It is essential to have governance within your organization to plan, install and manage your technological infrastructures effectively, and thus avoid security breaches on electronic devices, both personal and professional. You must also comply with security policies and measures depending on the importance of your data.
Doing an evaluation of your governance model can help you identify deficiencies. Here is an example from IBM (International Business Machines Corporation).
In Short
The implementation of IT governance is essential. Every organization is responsible for its IT security. IT governance helps support business strategy, mitigates IT risks, and creates value in the organization.
If you have more questions about IT governance, consult one of our specialists at MS Solutions now!
