Conversely, large corporations have long identified a field of practice which provides balance to this previously lopsided equation, this practice is known as Information Governance. Information Governance brings together elements of Business Operations, Information Technology, Security, Privacy, Risk, Legal and Information Management. The practice aims to ensure the effective collection/creation, use, protection, retention, transfer and disposal of information throughout its lifecycle as it moves through the organization.

It is tempting to look at Information Governance as being something that only applies to large companies, with large risks, and large budgets to cover this additional complexity. However, if you look more closely, the symptoms many companies in the SMB space struggle with, could be addressed by taking on an Information Governance approach. In other words, the fuzzy issues that surround your current IT challenges come into focus when we apply the Information Governance lens. By treating information as the critical asset that it is and giving it attention above and beyond the technology, a new realm of Business Productivity, Security, Privacy and Risk Management unfolds.

What does this mean for your business?
Increased efficiency and reduced risk is good for business, and this is the goal of Information Governance. With a holistic view of how we manage information through its lifecycle, we can now look at business processes, and the technology used, to make real improvements to business operations. We can manage information as a critical asset, protect it, drive value from it and increase the efficiency of business processes with which we process it. Deploying technology solutions for small and medium-sized businesses that have a full consideration of Information Governance can provide dramatically improved results compared to technology-focused deployments. So, when looking at your IT challenges, consider a broader Information Governance viewpoint to drive the value that you are looking for.