GEIT allows organizations to make more effective use of resources; ISACA’s Guide assists with GEIT implementation
Successful implementation of Governance of Enterprise IT (GEIT) can transform the role IT plays in organizations and, in turn, empower enterprises to reach their goals, according to a new guide from global IT association ISACA.
“Getting Started With GEIT: A Primer for Implementing Governance of Enterprise IT” is intended for those who are new to GEIT or have been tasked with implementing a GEIT structure. The guide contends that GEIT shifts IT’s role within an organization from passive to proactive, positioning the IT function as integral to defining and achieving business goals.
The guide is a free download for ISACA members and available for purchase for non-members at http://www.isaca.org/getting-started-with-GEIT.
GEIT, according to the guide, is “concerned primarily with organizing the IT resources of an enterprise for the purpose of satisfying stakeholders’ needs. It is meant to bring alignment among high-level strategic objectives, operational-level activities and work outcomes.” The benefits organizations can expect from successful GEIT implementation include:
- Lower costs
- Greater control
- More effective use of resources
- Better strategic alignment and risk management
Christos Dimitriadis, Ph.D., CISA, CISM, CRISC, ISACA Board chair and group director of information security for INTRALOT said, “GEIT is critically important for businesses to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources needed to achieve their goals. This guide presents the steps needed for enterprises to quickly add value for stakeholders.”
COBIT 5, a business framework for the governance and management of enterprise IT, defines seven steps for the implementation of GEIT:
- Initiate program
- Define problems and opportunities
- Define road map
- Plan program
- Execute plan
- Realize benefits
- Review effectiveness
The guide notes the importance of developing a business case that makes the business benefits resulting from GEIT clear in order to secure the internal support needed to approve implementation. Once implemented, GEIT can be used to address gaps resulting from changing stakeholder or regulatory requirements.
