CobiT

Details on the Topic

What is CobiT?

CobiT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) is an IT governance framework developed by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) in 1993. In 2000, the IT Governance Institute, an ISACA sister organisation, took over responsibility. CobiT breaks IT governance key tasks down into processes and controls, providing guidance for the systematic alignment of an IT organisation to the requirements of the company.

The Key Tasks of IT Governance

IT governance forms an essential part of management responsibilities. By providing appropriate organisational and control structures, it ensures optimal business process support and IT service value proposition. IT Governance comprises the following five key areas:

• Strategic Alignment: Aligning the IT organisation to the business strategy as well as assessing and improving IT value proposition
• Value Delivery: Measuring the added value generated by the IT organisation
• Resource Management: Efficient use of resources such as applications, information, infrastructure and people, as well as optimisation of investments
• Risk Management: Identifying and analysing risks to avoid unpleasant surprises and to define the company's risk tolerance
• Performance Measurement: Monitoring and controlling all services regarding their alignment to the corporate strategy

Processes and Control Objectives in CobiT

To cover these core areas, CobiT defines the following four domains:

• Plan and Organise
  Definition of strategies, processes, and organisational structures
  Management of resources, risks, projects, and quality
• Acquire and Implement
  Implementation, maintenance, adjustment, and operation of hardware and software solutions
• Deliver and Support
  Definition, deployment, and continuity of services
• Monitor and Evaluate
  Monitoring performance and compliance with internal and external requirements

In total, these four domains comprise 34 individual processes. These, in turn, include various control objectives which must be implemented to reach the individual process targets.

CobiT Benefits

An IT organisation oriented towards CobiT offers your business a variety of benefits:

• Integration of IT governance into corporate governance
• Clear definition of management responsibilities for the IT organisation
• Efficient and effective organisational structure
• Clear communication of policies, standards, and processes
• Optimal monitoring and reporting structures

CobiT in Your Company

In 5 project steps, plan42 helps you develop and implement a successful IT governance strategy based on CobiT. Would you like to learn more about our services regarding CobiT? Please feel free to contact us.