Tips

Tips

• How to prep for the GDPR breach notification rule

  As companies prep for GDPR compliance, its breach notification rule is making waves. Csaba Krasznay, security evangelist at Balabit, discusses how to prep for Article 33 of GDPR.  Continue Reading

• Blockchain implementation: Connecting the missing DLT links

  Blockchain implementation is helping streamline governance processes, but a few questions must be answered first to take full advantage of distributed ledger technology.  Continue Reading

• RM principles should guide compliance management system development

  Regulatory agencies offer broad guidance for compliance management system development, but companies may be best served by referring to widely accepted risk management principles.  Continue Reading

• Prepare now for an AI-assisted ITSM strategy

  What does it mean to have an AI-assisted ITSM strategy? Pink Elephant's Jennifer Wels outlines seven areas where AI can be applied to ITSM.  Continue Reading

• IT areas of focus in 2018 include outcome-based security services, data lakes

  Rahul Singh, managing director at IT outsourcing advisory Pace Harmon, dissects the 2018 trends in three important IT areas for CIOs.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing economics: Juggling availability, performance and cost

  Companies must answer complicated questions about cloud computing economics as emerging platforms offer attractive IT capabilities that come with unexpected costs.  Continue Reading

• Why EA should take the lead on improving customer experience

  The business shift to digital goods and services gives IT a critical role in improving the customer experience. Here's why CIOs are assigning enterprise architecture the job.  Continue Reading

• Reshape the role of the PMO for the digital era

  The project management office needs a new mandate to be a player in digital transformation. Matt McWha offers advice on how to rethink the role of the PMO.  Continue Reading

• Get a grip on evaluating cloud management platforms

  Software for managing multicloud computing environments can help companies tame the tumult. An industry expert gives tips on how to assess products.  Continue Reading

• Data asset curation: The guidelines to determine information usability

  Keeping track of existing data assets is increasingly difficult, but detailed curation of this vital company information can help streamline evolving digital governance processes.  Continue Reading

• CIO strives to tie cloud metrics to business value

  As CIOs gain experience in cloud computing, the cloud metrics they use are changing. Read how one CIO makes business value a priority in deciding which cloud services make sense.  Continue Reading

• A cloud implementation methodology for legacy apps

  Maximizing the benefits of cloud while minimizing risk requires a fine-tuned migration strategy. Here, Scott Lowe lays out a cloud implementation methodology for legacy apps.  Continue Reading

• Executing strategies: Close the gap between vision and implementation

  That vision thing won't do CIOs much good if they fail to execute on strategy, management experts say. Here's how to overcome the hurdles that can get in the way of success.  Continue Reading

• Two IT leadership strategies that made me a successful CIO

  A new way to prioritize IT activities and an epiphany about leadership made all the difference in Niel Nickolaisen's career as an IT leader. Read about these two IT leadership strategies.  Continue Reading

• Break the bottleneck with this new IT/business engagement model

  CIO teams need to interact more directly with business stakeholders -- from the digital sophisticates to the digital naïfs. Here are five elements of a new business engagement model.  Continue Reading

• The power of positive four-letter words to unlock employee potential

  Four-letter words like can't and don't crush an employee's potential and quash creativity. Have the courage to use positive four-letter words and watch what happens.  Continue Reading

• Product line management is fundamental to the new IT operating model

  Digital transformation requires CIOs to rethink the way IT operates. At the center of the new IT operating model is product line management, explains CEB's Matt McWha.  Continue Reading

• Social movements offer CIOs a model for sustaining innovation

  How to sustain innovation is a challenge for startups and large companies alike. Studying the ties that bind social and political movements could help.  Continue Reading

• Become a change agent: Stop procrastinating

  Don't be like the white-haired bride and groom who put off the big event until they could afford it. Now is the time for action, says organizational agility expert Joseph Flahiff.  Continue Reading

• Mobile security issues and solutions

  Mobile technology usage is growing just as the number of threats facing mobile data is growing. CIOs must combat mobile security issues to stay ahead in the mobile-dominated world.  Continue Reading

• Aligning IT and compliance procedures increasingly a business priority

  Companies' regulatory management and tech teams often still operate independently, but businesses are starting to recognize the benefits of IT and compliance procedure alignment.  Continue Reading

• Delegator vs. micromanager: What kind of boss are you?

  Being a delegator is one of the hardest jobs for a leader. Joseph Flahiff explains.  Continue Reading

• Without IT process documentation, companies risk being held 'hostage' by IT

  As cybersecurity breaches surge, it's important that company leadership know what IT is up to. Kevin McDonald explains why IT process documentation is a must-have best practice.  Continue Reading

• Three keys to a good business reorganization

  The typical reorg evokes fear, stress and suspicion -- and kills productivity. Here's how to change that.  Continue Reading

• 8 free IT budget plan templates for CIOs

  Creating a reliable IT budget plan is no cinch, especially in today's digital age. Here, we've rounded up free, customizable IT budget templates to help.  Continue Reading

• The steps to effective cybersecurity incident response

  Planning and foresight are essential to any cybersecurity incident response plan. Follow these steps to make sure you're ready for a data breach.  Continue Reading

• How to test your DR/BC plan

  Woe to the IT organization that hasn't taken its DR/BC plan out for a spin. The right kind of testing will close the gaps and save IT and the business a lot of grief.  Continue Reading

• Writing a statement of work? Here's what you should include

  A project's success can hinge on having clear and specific details about it. Download this free checklist to see critical elements of a statement of work.  Continue Reading

• Free statement of work template examples for CIOs

  Statements of work are critical in helping CIOs keep projects on track and meet business goals. Check out these free statement of work template examples.  Continue Reading

• How organizational agility will save and destroy your company

  Aiming for organizational agility? Prepare to change how you scope work, structure teams, develop talent, practice leadership, and deliver and sell your products.  Continue Reading

• How to govern your IT outsourcing provider after the ITO deal is done

  The best ITO deals need tweaking as time goes on. Good governance ensures that you and your IT outsourcing provider are on the same page.  Continue Reading

• Infographic: Strategic IT plan checklist for CIOs

  A company's IT strategy can determine whether it sinks or floats in today's competitive marketplace. Download our free checklist to find out what components should be in your strategic IT plan.  Continue Reading

• Larry Wall's programmer virtues and 'vices'

  IT pros who are lazy, impatient and hubristic are just what CIOs need. Gartner analyst Danny Brian explains why in this SearchCIO tip.  Continue Reading

• Staff shortage impacted by security and compliance skills demand

  The data threat landscape has forced companies to rethink hiring processes before a staff shortage negatively impacts security and compliance.  Continue Reading

• Gartner: DevOps is good; DevSecOps is better

  Make way for DevSecOps. According to Gartner analyst David Cearley, CIOs need to add security professionals to their DevOps teams.  Continue Reading

• Loss of focus chief reason for startup failure

  Too much passion, too little passion, too many cooks -- there are many factors that can lead to loss of focus and, ultimately, to startup failure.  Continue Reading

• Private cloud termination agreement: What CIOs need to know

  Relationships between companies and their cloud providers can be fleeting. Knowing this, it's important for CIOs to think about exit strategies before they sign that cloud contract. David Rutchik, a partner at Pace Harmon LLC, offers advice.  Continue Reading

• SOX compliance reliant on data governance strategy, with IT support

  SOX compliance hinges on an effective data governance strategy, but much needed help is available from information technology tools and processes.  Continue Reading

• Free RFP template examples for ERP

  Use these free RFP template examples for ERP to make the best use of your business' technology resources.  Continue Reading

• Three steps to keep IT policies and procedures regulatory compliant

  Corporate compliance and risk management expert Jeffrey Jenkins shares how he ensures IT policies and procedures remain in sync with current compliance regulations.  Continue Reading

• Four elements of creating business agility

  Organizational agility expert Joseph Flahiff lays out four practices that lead to business agility.  Continue Reading

• Free IT templates for CIOs and technology managers

  SearchCIO rounded up free IT templates from around the Web to help technology managers organize their IT departments, projects and service offerings.  Continue Reading

• Free project management template examples for strategic IT planning

  These free project management template examples from around the Web provide project guidelines and strategic IT planning tools to CIOs and IT leaders.  Continue Reading

• Best project management practices for CIOs and IT managers

  The best project management practices emphasize efficiency over chaos, so we've gathered some top project management tips from our sister sites.  Continue Reading

• Preparation underway for Dodd-Frank conflict mineral disclosures

  Dodd-Frank conflict mineral provisions create new disclosure rules for public companies. In this tip, learn how to prepare for the regulations.  Continue Reading

• CIO tip: Learn how to present a risk-management plan to the board

  CIO tip: Companies are getting serious about risk management plans -- and leaning on CIOs to help them.  Continue Reading

• Three strategies to align organizational compliance and security goals

  Compliance and security departments sometimes have an adversarial relationship, but organizations can benefit from aligning their strategic goals.  Continue Reading

• Free technology roadmap template examples for CIOs

  These free technology roadmap templates and examples will clear up your organization's strategic vision, combining detail with overarching goals.  Continue Reading

• Four steps to defining and articulating the role of risk management

  Risk management programs are under pressure from all quarters. Here are four steps to defining and articulating the role of risk management.  Continue Reading

• Free cost-benefit analysis template examples for CIOs

  Check out this collection of free cost-benefit analysis examples to determine, in a systematic way, which decision or project is the most beneficial to your organization.  Continue Reading

• Project management lessons learned shouldn't be limited to postmortems

  Making project lessons learned part of the project management lifecycle through Agile best practices.  Continue Reading

• Data storage strategy: Pre- and post-cloud computing

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen lays out how the cloud has simplified his data storage strategy … and satisfied his company's data dumping resistance.  Continue Reading

• Free mobile device policy template examples for CIOs

  Is the influx of mobile devices out of control at your organization? These free mobile device policy template examples can help you create guidelines.  Continue Reading

• Free IT organizational structure chart templates for the CIO

  Use these free IT organizational structure chart templates to illustrate the relationships and hierarchy between various IT roles in your enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Free IT department budget template examples for strategic investments

  Making strategic tech investments could help your business stay afloat. Take a look at these free IT department budget templates from around the Web.  Continue Reading

• Making a business case for data storage and backup

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen lays out how he gets the business to invest in storage and backup technologies starting with a business case for the value of data.  Continue Reading

• Free IT service catalog templates for the CIO

  Creating and updating an IT service catalog can keep your business running smoothly. Check out these free IT service catalog templates on the Web.  Continue Reading

• Eliminating change management process chokeholds

  Learn which aspects of the change management process cause bottlenecks, as well as ways to get around them.  Continue Reading

• Five tips to help guide green compliance at your organization

  As more industries push for environmentally friendly processes, green compliance is a major concern. Here are tips to help incorporate the right green IT practices at your organization.  Continue Reading

• Is your SaaS system in line with SOX compliance requirements?

  A SaaS vendor can provide many benefits, but adhering to SOX compliance requirements remains a concern. Here’s help to stay compliant when using Software as a Service.  Continue Reading

• How CIOs can avoid big chaos through a BI data steward

  With big data comes big responsibility. CIOs can avoid big chaos during an ERP integration with the help of a data steward.  Continue Reading

• Agile project management helps overcome IT obstacles

  Traditional project management can ruin the best-intentioned IT efforts. It's time to get flexible and interact with stakeholders using Agile methods.  Continue Reading

• How protecting against the OWASP Top 10 helps prevent compliance risk

  Mapping security processes to protect against the OWASP Top 10 could ease Web application vulnerabilities and help some companies stay compliant.  Continue Reading

• How adopting an ITIL framework can lead to cost savings for business

  An ITIL framework isn't easy, but it can drive huge cost savings. Learn how ITIL cost reduction strategies translate back to your business.  Continue Reading

• How GRC, sustainability and CSR relate to one another

  How your organization determines the relationships among GRC, sustainability and CSR depends on the context of each item -- and is dependent on management's goals.  Continue Reading

• Seven categories for evaluating mobile device management products

  Do you need a mobile device management product to control an employee-driven revolt against corporate-issued devices? Consider these MDM selection tips.  Continue Reading

• Private cloud computing is more than a virtualized environment

  Private cloud computing will take hold in 2011, experts say, as enterprises move beyond a virtualized environment to such cloud attributes as metered use and chargeback.  Continue Reading

• Must-have ITSM tool features

  When looking for an ITSM tool, audit the capabilities of the tool sets you have in place, and follow this check list of must-have features.  Continue Reading

• AML compliance and money service businesses

  Money service businesses are a growing part of the financial services industry but compliance with anti-money regulations is critical.  Continue Reading

• Storage area network fundamentals: The right questions to ask

  Will a storage area network be a good fit in your IT environment? Consult our guide to storage area network fundamentals, including how to evaluate your current setup and needs.  Continue Reading

• Don't skip ITIL Service Design: Questions, checklists to get started

  ITIL Service Design sits between strategy and implementation -- and is often skipped by midmarket companies. Learn which questions and checklists can keep Service Design simple.  Continue Reading

• How to decide if changing technology vendors is worth the time, risk

  The cost savings offered by a second-tier vendor may or may not be worth the risk and expense of migration. Here's how to decide when to make a switch.  Continue Reading

• Threat management for information systems relies on categorization

  Every information system faces threats, but not all threats should be treated equally. ISO 27005 offers a guide on how to categorize threats to your organization.  Continue Reading

• HIPAA-covered entities' first step should be a quality assurance plan

  HIPAA-covered entities must leverage or install a good QA team, an effort that should be driven from the top down and be part of the strategic plan of the technology organization.  Continue Reading

• 10 must-have steps for an effective SMB information security program

  No information security program would be complete without these security tips from the NIST, which has compiled advice just as security threats to smaller businesses are on the rise.  Continue Reading

• Even with a PPM solution, IT project and portfolio challenges remain

  A PPM solution can help you allocate resources among IT projects and calculate ROI, but it's no panacea for organizational issues. Here's why.  Continue Reading

• How AML compliance applies to remote deposit capture

  Financial institutions rushing to deploy remote deposit capture (RDC) need to consider how the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering regulations apply to the technology. In this tip, Dan Fisher explains what measures institutions need to take ...  Continue Reading

• Why it may not be ideal for your lawyer to be your compliance officer

  While lawyers bring a certain expertise to the table, business leaders need a broader range of technical, security and communications skills in their compliance officers.  Continue Reading

• Cost reduction tips for your strategic sourcing contracts

  CIOs should revisit their strategic sourcing contracts and work closely with their suppliers to analyze current spending and achieve maximum cost reductions.  Continue Reading

• How to perform a cost/benefit analysis: Build a model, not a number

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen recommends doing a cost/benefit analysis based on building a working model, not numbers.  Continue Reading

• Database security: Who should have access?

  The only users who should be allowed full access to any data store should be your system administrators. What about everybody else?  Continue Reading

• Computer recycling: Dangers for even the well intentioned

  Recycling computers involves more than just passing them off to another company for cleaning. Due diligence requires CIOs to go even further to make sure data is eradicated.  Continue Reading

• Software license agreements: Scope is key

  Been through a usage audit lately? Here are some license terms to watch for so you'll be on the up and up.  Continue Reading

• Data warehouses: Tips for building a disaster recovery plan

  Data warehouses are more mission critical now. Read these tips to find out how to build them into a disaster recovery plan.  Continue Reading

• Laptop security best practices

  Laptops can free employees to work remotely, allowing them to telecommute and travel easily. But that freedom comes with security perils.  Continue Reading