IT governance frameworks have never been more critical than they will be in 2025. Last year, over 40% of small businesses reported some type of cyber attack on their company. Some of this can be attributed to human error or outdated equipment, but even with every precaution taken, your company can still be at risk which is why the need for IT governance is so important.
The focus for 2025 should be to mitigate risks, focus on improving customer and employee knowledge of your systems, and either upgrade or update your current systems to make sure they are not only strong, but compliant with any state or federal regulations that apply to your type of business as well as storage and use of data.
The Value Of IT Governance In 2025
Data breaches alone cost companies billions of dollars last year. Let’s also not ignore the damage these attacks do on customer service relations and trust in your business. Spending the time and money to review and improve your current efforts could be one of the best decisions you make to protect and strengthen your company for the new year.
Implementing IT Governance Best Practices
Effective IT governance begins with a clear understanding of objects and metrics. For example, what are your key performance indicators (KPI’s) for success? Your IT initiatives can have an impact on your business goals so it makes sense to incorporate your efforts with those goals beginning with these steps:
- Adopt a suitable governance: Selecting the best framework depends on your organization, the industry you are in, the services or products you provide, the size of your business, the state you are in and any regulations that apply. Before you start looking for the best options, first look for the ones that cover all those needs.
- Train your team: The best IT team around cannot protect you from mistakes made by your employees. Train your team on best practices, how to protect their information as well as the companies and make sure they have IT access for any questions or assistance they may require.
- Focus on cybersecurity and data protection: Your biggest threat each day is going to be the data that you own. Whether it’s B2C, B2B, or employee data, you need to protect it from threats.
- Utilize best platforms: Your IT team can guide you to what platforms are ideal, especially when it comes to what works best for your company. You do not need the most popular or expensive brands. However, you do need a platform that is reliable and will check every box, not just for you, but for your customers as well.
Managing data threats is becoming a big part of the success of any business. Your customers expect and depend on you to protect their information and that trust, if broken, can cost you more than money.
Compliance Is King
When in doubt, focus on what is compliant with state and federal regulations. IT teams focus on this first before they look into functionality or any other feature. This is the best place to start when determining what options are going to be the most beneficial for you. You should also invest your time into making sure that all platforms are updated. Outdated platforms are one of the key reasons for data breaches and attacks.
IT governance framework can have a major impact on your business in 2025 and needs to be heavily scrutinized. As you learn what options are available, work with your team to determine what’s the best fit for you and your team.