Why IT Governance is Important to your Organisation?
With information and data a valuable asset in today's working environment, applying IT governance through automation and secure procedures is critical to business success.
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What is Governance?
As the volumes of data collected and available to organisations continue to rise exponentially, Governance remains a critical part of everything that is done within an organisation. With data becoming more and more important to organisations, data protection and security must be up to scratch. A typical governance plan defines systems and processes to be used as well as the roles and responsibilities and level of accountability of those within the company in relation to government. Essentially governance controls what information is accessed and shared while adhering to the particular measures in place. Relating this to IT means applying a formal framework to ensure that the organisation's technology investments support specific business needs. IT governance also allows companies to comply with their industry standards while also streamlining operations.
Importance of Governance?
Applying the correct and necessary type of governance within your organisation should address a number of issues that can arise within an organisation. Firstly, correct governance can address frustration and confusion for users caused by delayed processes and insufficient security permissions leading to constant access requests. This is usually followed by a lack of guidance around such issues meaning longer resolution times and a potential risk to certain information.
The second and most common issue it addresses is data and technology sprawl, with information stored at various locations resulting in staff having difficulty in finding relevant information to complete tasks leading to less engagement and productivity.
Lastly, a sufficient governance plan addresses issues of lower adoption. When workers are confused around permissions and features of technology, it leads to lower adoption and efficiency as well as a need for more intervention from IT. With a correct strategy in place, users know what procedures and features to follow and use for each task. As well as how to use automation features to streamline tasks and avoid delays.
Applying Governance in an Organisation
To apply IT governance within your organisation must begin assessing the specific business needs in terms of governance and levels of risk around information sharing. Then the business must consider the technology they have in place or plan to put in place and decide how you will govern the users of the technology systems. Governance principles should be applied to technology such as Microsoft 365 that encompasses data sharing through email, MS Teams, document sharing, and storage and workflows which ensures particular users will have different roles around this. Developing a Microsoft 365 governance plan create rules around all parts of the Microsoft 365 that would be leveraged within the organisation, who would be responsible for what aspects of this and why what access is required for each user as well as is who is responsible when issues may occur. Essentially, this creates established rules to ensure the technology is used appropriately to protect information while streamlining processes. A governance plan should outline how these procedures and rules are aligned with future growth and organisational change.
For more information on how you can to you can regain control over technology and data sprawl, join us for our webinar series to discover how to kick start your governance plan and future-proof your technology investment.
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