The Work
Practical risk and controls for your organization.
Where To Focus
Areas where Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance questions arise strategically and operationally.
Every organization is unique. Highly regulated banks and financial institutions, healthcare and utilities face complex external regulations. Global scale can also drive regulatory compliance challenges. Conners & Associates guides compliance to the natural result of applying practical, well designed controls and documentation.
In practiceYour policies, processes and procedures define senior management's direction. Start there and define compliance consistent with your objectives, culture and goals.
Achieve compliance based on how you address the risk(s) identified. Not how a book or legislation defines it. Bridge the gap with documentation and evidence.
In practiceMultiple tools, processes and procedures are often not understood as permutations of the same control. That communication can effectively address audits and operational understanding.
Not all vendors pose the same degree of risk and classifying the risk(s) can focus your time spent on vendor reviews and controls. Be aware of your contract and any User Control Considerations (UCCs); if you aren't managing these, you are not managing your vendor.
In practiceBusiness is dynamic and vendor agreements to outsource components of your IT operations can change, increase or decrease in importance and risk to the business. Take the time to clearly understand that and adjust contracts accordingly.
Global companies can be challenged by the matrix of regulations across their operations and client locations. The solution is not a piece of software but proactive, risk aware communications with all levels of management and the Board.
In practiceRegulatory requirements are typically proposed and the business must anticipate requirements such as the EU AI Act, GDPR and others that can carry significant penalties.
If your organization grows by acquisition or is contemplating a divestiture, IT and risk can assist you in estimating costs, pricing and contract terms in support of your legal and M&A team.
In practiceIT and risk are often the "last to know" and then additional costs are identified that were not anticipated. Higher onboarding costs, legacy software that is out of support, potential regulatory actions.
Critical systems which are out of vendor support. Personnel who are not adequately trained on legacy systems. The speed and criticality of change in your business can magnify technical debt.
In practiceKnowing that systems are outdated, out of support and a lack of knowledgeable personnel is not the same as doing something about it.
What are the risks that could stop operations?
Engagement
Conners & Associates can work with you to structure a solution that integrates with your staff, priorities and culture.
Conners & Associates can work in a role to maintain stability while you take the time to identify the right hire. Many of our clients have engaged us to define the CISO role, ITRM Director or Team Leader for 2LOD. We can work with you to define the role and any title you are comfortable with. We have even been engaged to support the CISO for budgeting.
It's difficult to address the complexities of risk within IT while working with highly technical people, management and external audit, vendors and contractors. Conners & Associates will help you to translate and mature the ITRM function.
Advisory Services often take the form of a specific project, such as a review of IAM/PAM capabilities or recommendations on how to expedite critical vulnerability remediation that is past due.
Questions
Next Step
One conversation is usually enough to know whether the question applies to you.
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