Digital governance and trust: a peek into the future

The strategic value of data and tech­no­logy is a hot topic within orga­ni­sa­tions globally. They are thus looking for ways to master data gover­nance in order to achieve the maximum benefit while creating a culture where stake­hol­ders trust how their data is used.

At this Beltug/​ISACA event, we focused on the role of digital gover­nance and trust profes­si­o­nals who bring the knowledge and expe­rience needed to align IT with business stra­te­gies, to manage IT invest­ments for maximum return on invest­ment, and to support resi­lience in IT opera­tions while mini­mi­sing risks.

We heard use cases from NATO and PSA, offering insights, best practices and inspi­ra­tion on how to implement digital gover­nance practices in the orga­ni­sa­tion and increase trust in digi­ti­sa­tion. Then, we presented the findings from ISACA’s Global State of Digital Trust 2023 survey. After­wards, a panel discus­sion took on the future of digital gover­nance and trust: how will it look moving forward, and what are some of the major chal­lenges to overcome? During the break, parti­ci­pants also had the chance to test their knowledge of digital gover­nance and trust practices with an inter­ac­tive quiz based on ISACA’s Gover­nance of Enter­prise IT (CGEIT) certi­fi­ca­tion (questions and results are available for our members).

User story: IT governance at NATO Headquarters

The migration into the new NATO HQ building and the increase in digi­ti­sa­tion gives a unique flavour to the question of how IT gover­nance is managed. Claudio shared his expe­rience regarding NATO Head­quar­ters’ IT gover­nance as one of the ways to increase the effi­ci­ency and effec­ti­ve­ness of a complex and evolving orga­ni­sa­tion and to inspire trust. The goal is to provide high-quality, cost-effective and consis­tent IT, including cyber defence, for the users and commu­ni­ties it serves.

Claudio Solano, NATO HQ Technical Design Authority, Chief Tech­no­logy Office, NATO Infor­ma­tion & Commu­ni­ca­tion Agency

User story: Data governance methodology at PSA – How to make data governance actionable?

PSA operates three container terminals and one breakbulk terminal in Antwerp, and is part of the Singapore-based PSA Inter­na­ti­onal. Peter shared how it made data gover­nance actionable:

• Why did it develop its data gover­nance standard?
• What are the roles & responsibilities?
• What are tips & tricks and next steps?

Peter Witsen­burg, IT & Data Gover­nance Manager, PSA Belgium

The state of digital trust – an ISACA Global Research Report

With the ever-expanding digital footprint, digital trust becomes criti­cally important for e‑commerce and for main­tai­ning an organisation’s good reputa­tion. Koen shared the latest findings from ISACA’s The Global State of Digital Trust 2023 survey (available for our members), which includes feedback from more than 8000 digital trust profes­si­o­nals around the world. This second annual report contains data and insights into global appro­a­ches and percep­tions about digital trust in areas including fami­li­a­rity, priority, confi­dence, maturity, obstacles and respon­si­bi­lity. Five key takeaways help orga­ni­sa­tions streng­then digital trust as they move forward with digital transformation:

1. A generally accepted defi­ni­tion of digital trust is the confi­dence in the integrity of the rela­ti­ons­hips,
   inter­ac­tions and trans­ac­tions among providers and consumers within an asso­ci­ated digital ecosystem.
2. Digital trust can make or break an organisation.
3. Digital trust does not neces­sa­rily require a signi­fi­cant budget allo­ca­tion or the creation of a new C‑suite position.
4. Today’s 24/​7 Internet-connected society means that one person’s bad expe­rience can be broadcast around
   the world in real time.
5. Many orga­ni­sa­tions can benefit from digital trust-related guidance and frame­works by selecting the knowledge
   areas that directly benefit their unique context and business model.

Dr. Koen De Maere, Director, ISACA Belgium Chapter

We focussed on the role of #Digi­talG­over­nance and trust profes­si­o­nals who bring the knowledge and expe­rience needed:

♦ To align IT with business stra­te­gies
♦ To manage IT invest­ments for maximum return on invest­ment
♦ Support resi­lience in IT opera­tions while mini­mi­sing risks

It was great to see our members sharing knowledge, exchan­ging their expe­rience and contri­bu­ting to the panel debate at the end of the session. 

A big thank you to our speakers for setting the scene and sharing their best practices: Claudio Solano (NATO), Peter Witsen­burg (PSA Belgium), Koen De Maere, PhD, CISM, CGEIT (ISACA), Liviu LUCA, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CISSP, Sergey Butakov (Concordia Univer­sity of Edmonton, Canada), Isabel Pedrosa(Coimbra Business School, Portugal).

To conclude: Hybrid event, insightful presen­ta­tions, high inter­ac­tion, vivid discus­sions! The topic at hand: #ITGover­nance. More info (Members only)

More info can be found @ Beltug Special thanks for all the pictures to Ann Guinée