IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ISO27002

For many companies, their intellectual property can often be more valuable than their physical assets. Having an effective IT governance strategy in place can protect this intellectual property, reducing the risk of theft and infringement. Data protection, privacy and breach regulations, computer misuse around investigatory powers are part of a complex and often competing range of requirements to which directors must respond. There is increasingly the need for an overarching information security framework that can provide context and coherence to compliance activity worldwide.

IT Governance is a key resource for forward-thinking managers and executives at all levels, enabling them to understand how decisions about information technology in the organization should be made and monitored, and, in particular, how information security risks are best dealt with.

The development of IT governance - which recognises the convergence between business practice and IT management - makes it essential for managers at all levels, and in organizations of all sizes, to understand how best to deal with information security risk. The new edition has been full updated to take account of the latest regulatory and technological developments, including the creation of the International Board for IT Governance Qualifications. IT Governance also includes new material on key international markets - including the UK and the US, Australia and South Africa.

Alan Calder is a founder-director of IT Governance Ltd, which provides IT governance and information security services through its website www.itgovernance.co.uk. He is the author of Corporate Governance, IT Governance and International IT Governance, all published by Kogan Page.

Steve Watkins is Corporate Services Manager of HMCPSI and was Head of Quality and Operations at Focus Central London and was, before that, Quality Manager at Business Link. Alan Calder and Steve Watkins were responsible for one of the first companies (BLLCP) to achieve BS 7799 registration when the standard was first promulgated in 1996.

They have aided other organizations since then to implement effective information security management systems, and have been involved in the development of both the accredited certification scheme and related training standards.