Discussion: Hot Topic: Strategic Alignment

Discussion: Hot Topic: Strategic Alignment

A Chief Information Office (CIO) is a senior executive in the organization and has to manage and ensure successful implementation of information and computer technology systems. To achieve these responsibilities, a CIO ought to be agile and respond quickly to emerging trends and the needs of the organization and its relevant stakeholders. Besides, addressing operational issues in the organization, CIOs must also interact with employees and other stakeholders as they address organizational development (Karanja, 2017). Besides, the CIO has to ensure that information security policies and plans are aligned to the overall strategic objectives of the organization as will be demonstrated in this task.

How to Ensure Information Security Policies and Plans align to Strategic Objectives of the Organization

There are notable strategies that can be used to ensure than an organization’s security policies and plans reflect the strategic objectives. The first way is to ensure that the employees and other stakeholders understand what the policies are and the contribution they make to the organization (Cram, Proudfoot & D’arcy, 2017). The policies can better be adhered to when there is a mutual understanding between stakeholders that they are necessary and impactful to the organization. When the employees are competent and they understand the key role of the policies, they will largely contribute towards achieving the strategic objectives of the organization.

The second strategy is to ensure that the security system controls are integrated to other IT services. It is important that the security system is utilized in in a manner in which it was designed. For instance, the success of an integrated IT service delivery strategy will rely on the manner in which the security controls are integrated with the IT services. Therefore, every security policy needs to be hooked to specific functions in the organization. The other way is to develop an organizational culture where users, managers as well as IT professionals can appreciate the need for the system security and hence can make good decisions regarding the information risk (Ilmudeen, Bao & Alharbi, 2019). Ensuring a good culture sets the precedence towards acceptability and integrating all security decisions with the overall goals of the organization.

Another way to ensure security policies align with the strategic objectives of the organization is by understanding the risks involved with implementing the policies. The security threat facing each department could be different. Therefore, a useful exercise is to always outline the top risks that each of the department is likely to face. Once the risks are well outlined, individual protection measures can be put in place for every department as well as the necessary sensitization programs to ensure full compliance by all the departments. Besides, it may be necessary to list users that may be at a greater risk of security threats like phishing and hacking so that they get the required training and back-up system for the sake of the entire organization.  

How to Encourage People to Comply

One of the critical aspects of information security system implementation is the ability of all stakeholders to comply with the set security policies. This is particularly critical for stakeholders that may not be IT compliant. However, there are notable strategies that can be used to encourage compliance.

Use of peer instruction and Training Videos

One of the effective ways to ensure that employees adhere to the set information policies is by allowing peers to sensitize those who are not IT compliant on the basic IT systems as well as explaining why the organization should have the policies in place. Peer instruction and training videos that are often updated helps to provide real-life experienced regarding risks and vulnerabilities when the policies are not in place (Tu et al., 2017). Peer instruction can be implemented during free time such as over lunch hour or during team building sessions where people meet and share experiences on the different policies and their role to the effective functioning of the organization.

Explaining the Reasons behind the set Policies

One way to ensure that people comply to the set policies is by first informing or sensitizing them on the need to have the policies in place. CIOs or organizations should demonstrate to the people that the set policies have value to every employee and the organization at large. Furthermore, it is important to underscore how the expected behaviors will eventually translate to a more secure enterprise (Glaspie & Karwowski, 2017). Live examples of where the policies have been used and the attained impact will form the basis of discussion as to why the policies are required. When employees are convinced that the policies will result in positive implications, they are likely to comply. On the contrary, a blanket set of policies which don’t scale with risks may likely reduce the compliance from key players in the organization.

Relating Security Information to Personal data

It is important that players of network security implementation start by building an employee awareness and explaining how corporate cybersecurity can relate to the employee’s personal data. Walking the stakeholders through a privacy and value exercise will help improve the level of awareness about personal privacy and security. Having open and candid discussions about the possible risks the lack of policies will have on personal data will stimulate the interest in the employees (Monzelo & Nunes, 2019). Furthermore, providing engaging training and continuous training opportunities can help the employees to value the importance of having a security system and hence comply to the established security regulations in the organization.

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