Information technology (IT) is becoming more and more complex. It is also an ever-changing and critical field. Many organizations use an IT management system to drive change, become more profitable, create value, create structure, reduce risk, and increase productivity and efficiency.
An IT management system controls and manages IT services in an organization through established processes, procedures, policies, plans, standards, and requirements. In a world teeming with data, information, and devicesthat provide analytics, organizations must find ways to guide and control their technology and tools, as well as the people who use them.
What are some IT management best practices? And why are they important to your organization and its use of technology? Here's what you should know.
IT governance goals
When creating an IT management system, it's essential to keep the goals and objectives of the model in mind. Common goals include:
- Aligning IT goals with overall corporate goals
- Aligning daily business practices with IT practices
- Ensuring IT practices are aligned with business and departmental key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Maintaining compliance with rules, laws, and regulations related to data and technology - legal, financial, and others.
- Minimizing risks
- Ensuring organizational accountability
- Expanding and adding value
- Measuring and tracking performance
- Building a culture of continuous improvement
- Sharpening core business practices and policies
- Correct assignment and delegation of roles and responsibilities
- Creating a system of checks and balances
- Evaluate resources and identify areas for improvement
- Optimization of return on investment (ROI)
- Increasing stakeholder satisfaction
- Analysis of information and reports
- Delivering tangible results
- Improvement of security
- Why is IT governance important?
An IT management system helps lay the groundwork for achieving your company's goals. You'll be confident that your business is operating safely and within the law. It will also allow you to manage risk effectively and better predict your performance as an organization.
But most importantly, IT governance bridges theory and practice. In essence, it serves as a bridge between the management, development, and use of technology. It allows you to optimize your ROI and better prioritize your investments.
IT governance best practices
So, how do you establish IT governance principles and put them into practice in your organization? Here's what you need to do to build a robust infrastructure and use your resources effectively.
Define success
What are your goals for your IT processes? Before you start implementing your plan, define what success looks like for your organization, including how IT should align with your overall business goals.
Define roles and responsibilities
Create a solid team. When it comes to IT management, roles should be clearly defined. Each IT team member must understand their responsibilities and how they must collaborate to achieve their organization's goals.
Aligning IT goals with business goals
When formulating IT goals, you should always keep business goals in mind. Your technology practices should elevate and support the organization's overall goals, contributing to your ideas.
Prioritize risk management
Working in technology, you will always face risks. This is one of the main reasons why you need to implement an IT management system. Prioritizing threat management and risk assessment is a significant point in your strategy to stay ahead of the curve.
Train employees
Employees should take an active role in developing and creating technology-related policies and procedures. Beyond getting the word out, ensure your employees understand how to use your technology safely and effectively. This will help protect the entire organization - one wrong move can jeopardize the whole business.
Continue to evaluate your IT practices
IT management requires frequent assessment. Best practices, rules, and structures are constantly changing in the technology world, and you must continue to review and monitor your procedures to ensure compliance and relevance.
The main IT governance models
Several examples of IT management serve as models for successful management and implementation.
COBIT
Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) is one of the most widely used industry standards for IT management, especially among enterprises. Created by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), COBIT aims to ensure quality by defining many IT processes.
ITIL
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is an international standard that provides a framework for how information technology behaves in an organization and how it supports business practices.
Calder-Moir
Calder-Moir is not a single IT management system but an approach to coordinating multiple systems. By using this model, organizations are able to maximize the benefits of numerous systems.
CMMI
The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) offers a scale that allows enterprises to assess their performance, results, and overall quality regarding oversight and control of software development processes.
COSO
The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) establishes internal controls, not just IT functions. This model ensures that the organization operates following industry policies and standards.
FAIR
Factor Analysis of Information Risk (FAIR) is a newer IT risk management framework. With this model, business managers can better assess technology risks and the likelihood of cybersecurity issues.
What's the best IT risk management system?
While some models are used more often than others - COBIT is probably the most common - choosing the most appropriate IT management system for you depends on several factors, such as:
- Where your organization operates
- Your size
- The nature of the work you do
- The flexibility and leadership you need
- The areas that need improvement
- Your goals and objectives
Regardless of your goals and priorities, having an IT governance model in place is critical, especially as you grow and technology becomes more complex. Not only will it help you stay structured and compliant, but it will also help you gain a competitive advantage.
