Three Steps to Application Access Governance Maturity

Rapid cloud adoption has introduced new challenges for IT and security teams to implement consistent, effective Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) processes across all cloud and on-premises applications. As the threat landscape changes, the need for tighter security is ever-increasing: cyberattacks and data breaches are on the rise – and these events can do significant damage to your organization. Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) were regulations developed in response to the financial crash in 2008. They were intended to force businesses and especially financial institutions to adopt best practices and adequately utilize technology. Violating either of these regulations is costly, and there is a solid track record of enforcement. For example, Banks have been fined $243 Billion for non-compliance since 2008.

But implementation is easier said than done. Organizations often tackle their full environment by starting with their key financial system, and then including relevant and interactive systems that are in scope for SOX, HIPAA, etc. This continues until they can address the full scope of their environment. Irrespective of where applications lie in the maturity process, following these steps helps further an application’s governance maturity, ensuring continued compliance and standardized monitoring.

This is where governance best practices come in. The goal of any governance program is to clean your environment, maintain that state going forward, and optimize governance and risk management practices. Companies can accomplish this by looking to the Capability Maturity Model for establishing standardized, measured, controlled, repeatable processes that allow for continual improvement and optimization. We’ve created a straightforward three-step process to develop a high-functioning risk management program at your organization. We call it: Get Clean, Stay Clean, and Optimize. Read this white paper to learn more!