eDiscovery professionals are information professionals and vital to that broader community. Working within the broader context of your organization, it becomes critical to have an information governance program in place to ensure the safety and security of your data. But how do you evaluate the effectiveness of your information governance program? In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on assessing your information governance program and identifying any areas for improvement. By following these guidelines, you can protect your organization from potential risks and ensure compliance with regulations.
Evaluating your information governance program is crucial to confirm your organization’s compliance with laws and regulations and guarantee your data’s security. We’ll examine the steps you must take to assess your information governance program.
Identify the scope of your program
When identifying the scope of your information governance program, it’s important to consider all covered information types. All covered information types include data from employees, customers, and partners. You should consider all forms of data, such as personal and sensitive information, and how it’s collected, stored, and used. By understanding the breadth of information covered, you can ensure that your program is comprehensive and effective in managing and protecting all data.
Review your policies and procedures
When reviewing your organization’s information governance policies and procedures, ensuring they align with industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and your organization’s goals is important. This alignment can help ensure that your organization complies with legal and ethical standards while protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure. Take the time to evaluate each policy and procedure carefully, and consider seeking input from relevant stakeholders to ensure that all perspectives are considered. Regularly reviewing and updating your information governance policies and procedures can help ensure the ongoing safety and security of your organization’s data.
Evaluate your data and information management practices
When evaluating your data and information management practices, reviewing how your organization collects, stores, and shares data and information is important. Evaluating practices can help you identify potential risks or vulnerabilities in your processes. By carefully examining how you handle data and information, you can ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to protect sensitive data and maintain the trust of your customers and stakeholders. Whether at a small firm or a large corporation, you must understand your data and information management practices and continually assess and improve them over time.
Assess your training and awareness programs
Assessing your training and awareness programs is crucial to ensuring that your staff has received adequate training on information governance policies and procedures. To do this, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of your training programs. Assessment can be done through various methods, such as surveys, quizzes, or assessments. By regularly assessing your training programs, you can identify gaps or areas of improvement and adjust your training accordingly. You’ll ensure compliance with information governance policies and increase the overall awareness and understanding of your staff on the importance of information governance.
Review your incident response plan
Reviewing your incident response plan is crucial to ensuring your organization is prepared to handle any potential security incidents. To do this, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of your incident response plan. Review can be done through various methods, such as simulated scenarios, tabletop exercises, or reviews. By regularly assessing your incident response plan, you can identify any gaps or areas of improvement and adjust your plan accordingly. Ensuring your incident response plan will confirm a timely and effective response to security incidents.
Measure your program’s success
Measuring the success of your information governance program is essential to ensure that your organization is equipped to manage and protect critical data effectively. To do this, you need to evaluate the effectiveness of your program regularly. Measurement can be done through various methods, such as audits, risk assessments, or reviews, but likely a combination. By regularly assessing your information governance program, you can identify gaps or improvement areas and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Assessing your information governance program is crucial for the success of your organization. By regularly evaluating its effectiveness, you can identify gaps or improvement areas and adjust your strategy accordingly. Assessment will help you comply with regulatory requirements and increase your staff’s overall readiness and understanding of the importance of proper information management. Remember, effective information governance is a fundamental pillar of any successful organization, so take the necessary steps to ensure your program is up to par.
Inglis has authored several books, including ‘Advancing from eDiscovery to preDiscovery’ and ‘INFORMATION: The Comprehensive Overview of the Information Profession.’ His writing has been featured in U.S. News & World Report, The Providence Journal, Yahoo! Finance, CMSWire, and others. When not adding to his collection of certificates and certifications (SIPC, CIP, ERMm, SharePointm, BPMm, E2.0m, ECMm, IMCP), he is likely spending time with his wife, Deanna, and son, Conor Atom.