Even in business where the focus of action is not technology, IT is one of the sectors that most demands attention and dedication from managers. Due to the advancement of technology, this sector is responsible for the efficient exchange of information, as well as ensuring the security of data stored by companies. In this sense, efficient IT governance helps the company to think of practices, methods and processes that make its activities even more efficient, and can make the business reach all its goals .
However, IT governance and IT management are still very confused concepts , and it is necessary to understand how these two factors work in practice. In order to understand this distinction, we can use as reference the information brought by one of the most used management tools around the world, COBIT (Control Objectives Information and Related Technology).
Based on the logic of this principle, we can see that the elaboration of a strategic plan differs entirely from its execution, that is, we separate the idealization from practice. While IT governance is a process that is under the responsibility of the executive sectors of a business, IT management is the responsibility of managers responsible for the sector.
Thus, we can understand IT governance as the strategic part of IT goals development , while management is responsible for performing tasks and activities that help achieve these goals. Thus we can understand the following obligations as the main responsibilities of IT governance:
- Determine and evaluate the objectives of the sector;
- Perform performance monitoring and compliance with the standards;
- Bring greater prioritization of the necessary paths for a more assertive decision making;
- Ensure all stakeholder needs and conditions are properly observed.
IT management is responsible for planning, construction, execution and monitoring of sector activities, in order to achieve the defined goals. Understand the role of this professional better with this video:
The challenges of implementing an efficient IT governance
The main challenges for implementing IT governance are in the company's organizational culture. This is because the company culture involves from project structuring to the good practices that should be applied during the processes.
To escape this obstacle, it is important for the company to invest in training for its employees as a way to provide more efficient internal communication and more intelligent change . Some companies prefer to have a specialized consulting service to identify the main problems and overcome these challenges.
One way to determine what are the main problems of implementing IT governance is through performance indicators. However, it is important to know that when a problem happens, the solution is not always changing the process, and it is necessary to investigate possible gaps of understanding and need for changes in organizational culture.
To succeed in implementing efficient IT governance, the company needs to have efficient monitoring mechanisms that help increase learning and make processes continuously improved.
Signs that your company needs IT governance
It is very easy to identify the need for a IT governance process within your business. This is why it is important to stay aware of some factors such as:
Has your company already suffered a security violation?
Cyber safety is much more than the use of cybercriminous attack locking software and tools . There is no point in security tools if the company does not adopt a complete approach that allows the protection of your data.
Excessive confidence and lack of proper policy can be extremely harmful. If your company has already suffered any kind of security violation , it is a more than clear sign that it is necessary to implement IT governance within the business.
Your company wants to grow
The expansion of a business needs much more than just a larger space. All management policies within the company need to adapt to this new growth stage, and this includes its IT industry. Due to increasing demand for quick and efficient connections, and a safer exchange of actions, it is important to have a more assertive and intelligent management process.
Your company cannot solve urgencies
We know that with the growth of cyber attacks, it is very important that the company has an action plan that can face threats and mitigate damage. To ensure a competitive differential, it is essential that your business has an action protocol capable of dealing with various types of threats in a sensible and transparent way.
What tools are key to IT governance?
Also known as frameworks, the tools used in IT governance consist of a set of procedures, methods and practices that allow differentiated IT management.
These tools help the company have access to more realistic processes about processes, as well as ensuring advantages such as:
- Creation of strategies with efficient direction ;
- Avoid failures;
- Reduce risks;
- Allow a more efficient collaboration among employees;
- Deliver guidelines and action plans for greater efficiency.
Among the main tools used for IT governance today, we can mention:
COBIT
COBIT - Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies is one of the most commonly used IT governance frameworks around the world . It is based on five central principles, which are:
- Evaluate, drive and monitor;
- Align, plan and organize;
- Build, acquire and implement;
- Deliver services and support;
- Monitor, evaluate.
The main focus of this tool is the transformation of the goals and objectives of a business into reality. Bringing efficient process management and the greater control of information technology in a simplified way, COBIT shows what should be done in the sector.
Itile
Information Technology Infrastructure Library is a complete library with a set of practices for efficient process management. One of the main objectives of this tool is to value process management efficiently and quality in customer experience.
Like COBIT, it is a framework widely used by companies of various sizes. It is composed of five books that are:
- Service strategies;
- Service design;
- Service transition;
- Service operation;
- Continuous improvement of the service.
By bringing more flexibility, it can provide a more functional infrastructure for the company.
Gasti
IT information management is a tool that helps in interaction and adds values and benefits between the areas of the company . It helps to define a more functional coordination and collaboration structure to favor teamwork.
This tool has three basic pillars:
- People;
- Processes;
- And tools.
Scrum
This technique is aimed at companies that need to favor the collaboration of teams between various tasks, and is used in projects that require the management of various activities at the same time. This tool is sprint -based, which consists of planning meetings held at specific intervals (usually from 1 to 4 weeks).
Each of these sprints are defined guidelines, tasks and objectives that must be achieved so that the company achieves the success of a project. Each sprint has well -defined procedures, forecast and control.
Step by step to create an efficient IT governance implementation plan
As we have seen in other materials on our blog, IT governance, although directly related to information technology sector, can bring many benefits to the company as a whole. By implementing this process, the company optimizes industry productivity and brings more security to its data . Its implementation must follow some important steps, such as:
ADOPTION OF SAFETY POLICIES
Given the serious consequences that can be caused by the theft and leakage of data in the business environment, it is very important that the company knows how to protect itself. Security policies help to establish a suitable parameter to increase information security.
Use encryption
Adopting encryption is extremely recommended to ensure an extra layer of protection for stored and manipulated data in the business. It consists of a set of techniques that make data unreadable for unauthorized users.
Encryption is one of the most recommended methods for companies seeking to avoid the risk of leakage and information theft.
Have a confidentiality policy
Within a company, managers and employees must be fully aware of the importance of keeping the data confidential and obeying a pre-established security policy. The creation of a confidentiality policy is essential to ensure that all users understand the importance of this and comply with the established rules.
Employees need to be oriented on the importance of confidentiality of information and should be aware of what are the best practices to ensure data security.
Use technological tools
Many Internet traps can make a company's data and information end vulnerable, and cause a lot of damage to the business. For this reason it is essential that the business has appropriate tools and features such as Lumiun Box , which allows intelligent and effective access control , reducing the incidence of information leakage, increasing access control and team productivity.
Controlling internet access within your business is much more than just blocking unproductive sites. Access control allows the company to have smarter management of its resources and can keep its employees focused on what is really important to the business strategy.
Risk management
This is another fundamental step for the implementation of efficient IT governance in your company. At this stage all points of vulnerability are identified that may favor incidents and an analysis of all possible solutions to be applied according to specific situations are identified.
This way, the company can reduce the impact of unforeseen events and ensure rapid management in case of incidents.
Have result and performance indicators
The smartest way to know if the implementation of efficient IT governance within your company is in accordance with expectations, it is through performance indicators. For this reason, the company needs to know what are the objectives to be achieved and if the results delivered are according to the expected.
These indicators help to find out if the process is being followed according to the established planning, so that your own team can answer important questions, such as: what problems are causing impact, how these problems can be solved and what next project to start.
Are you looking for a more efficient tool to contribute to efficient IT governance? Contact us and find out like Lumiun Box You can help you!
