Streamlining Digital Assurance and Protecting Your Business Assets

Protecting digital assets and ensuring digital security has become increasingly important in the technologically advanced world we live in today. This article sheds light on the significance of digital assurance and how businesses can safeguard their valuable assets. Prof. Yuri Bobbert, the editor of Strategic Approaches to Digital Platform Security Assurance (ISBN: 9781799873679), explores the challenges faced in implementing digital security, the need for a central information security management system (ISMS), and how Agile and DevOps methods address these issues effectively.

In the digital age, the number of security incidents and their financial impact has increased significantly. Combating cybercrime and protecting critical business data require a collaborative effort rather than relying solely on a single IT person. Unfortunately, many companies still use complex spreadsheets to demonstrate compliance, leading to unreliable and scattered data that poses additional risks. Demonstratuing “assurance” become more and more important when people want to “rely” on you taking all the appropiate measures.

To efficiently manage the administrative burden and comply with multiple legislative directives, (in the EU 12 new legislations towards Digital Platforms such as Cybersecurity Act and AI Act are announced) businesses require a centralized approach to risk, security and compliance. Implementing Agile and DevOps methods can optimize the compliance process by using smarter, intuitive tools and technologies that provide, instant actions, real-time alerts and improved reporting.

The Agile and DevOps methods connect different silos within the organization, ensuring everyone is aligned regarding security and privacy efforts. Automation of control testing and periodic tasks facilitates governance over digital security and compliance with regulations. Additionally, it offers an annual security and privacy report, akin to a CFO's financial report, providing a comprehensive overview of the organization's digital assets, risks, controls, and recommendations for improvement.

Agile and DevOps methods go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach by allowing businesses to map their security measures to more than 100 international regulatory frameworks. This feature in the Anove technology that was build after the book, enables companies to comply with local regulatory requirements in various markets, making it easier to expand globally and differentiate from competition.

The Agile and DevOps methods simplify the security officer's role by enabling them to focus on the most significant risks, security measures and investments to make in collaboration with business stakeholders. The Anove system quantifies risks in monetary terms and calculates the best security investment through the Return on Security Investment (ROSI) calculation. This approach ensures that security investments align with business goals, maximizing their impact.

In the fast-evolving digital landscape, safeguarding digital assets and complying with numerous legislative directives is essential for any x-Tech (such as FinTech, MedTech, and EdTech) company. Adopting Agile and DevOps methods for security and privacy management provides a comprehensive solution to streamline digital assurance efforts, centralize risk and compliance controls, and optimize security investments. By leveraging these methodologies and reimagining the role of security officers, businesses can effectively protect their digital assets and maintain their customers' trust in a rapidly changing digital world.

Yuri Bobbert is a business scientist. He is CEO of Anove International and academic director / professor at Antwerp Management School (AMS). Bobbert holds a double PhD from both the University of Antwerp and Radboud University. He is specialized in establishing risk, security, and compliance functions within a wide variety of organizations. He advised +300 companies. Bobbert served for 10 years as CEO of B-ABLE and 6 years as CRO/CSO of UWV and NN Group. At NN Group he led the merge with Delta Lloyd. Bobbert published +100 papers and books. His last book is about Skills and capabilities for Digital Value Creation.

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