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COBIT

IT governance model

The Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) is a set of best practices for IT management, developed by the Information Systems Audit & Control Association (ISACA) and the IT Governance Institute in 1996. ISACA continues to develop and maintain the globally recognized COBIT framework, assisting IT professionals and business leaders in fulfilling their IT governance responsibilities while creating value for the organization.

COBIT 5, the latest version of the framework, provides a comprehensive view of the governance of enterprise IT, emphasizing IT’s pivotal role in delivering business value.

COBIT’s evolution includes:

  • COBIT 1.0 (1996) – The first edition.
  • COBIT 2.0 (1998) – Added Management Guidelines.
  • COBIT 3.0 (2000) – Expanded framework.
  • COBIT 4.0 (2005) – Revised, followed by COBIT 4.1 (2007).
  • COBIT 5.0 (2012) – Integrated with Val IT and Risk IT, building upon the Business Model for Information Security (BMIS) and IT Assurance Framework (ITAF).

Based on 4 Principles

COBIT 4 is founded on four core principles for the governance and management of enterprise IT:

Meeting Stakeholder Needs

Covering the Enterprise End-to-End

Enabling a Holistic Approach

Internal Auditor

Addresses 7 Enablers

The COBIT 5 framework identifies seven categories of enablers

Principles Policies Frameworks

Guide day-to-day management by translating desired behaviors into actionable guidance.

Processes

Organized sets of practices and activities designed to achieve specific objectives and produce outputs in support of IT goals.

Organiza-tional Structures

Key decision-making entities within the enterprise.

Culture Ethics Behavior

Often overlooked but essential factors in successful governance and management activities.

Information

Vital for organizational operation and governance; frequently the key product of the enterprise.

Services Infra-structure Applications

Technologies and systems that provide the enterprise with IT services and processing capabilities.

People Skills Compete-ncies

Necessary for the successful completion of activities and making informed decisions.

Governance & Management

  • Governance ensures enterprise objectives are met by evaluating stakeholder needs, conditions, and options, setting priorities and decisions, and monitoring performance, compliance, and progress against agreed-upon objectives (EDM).
  • Management plans, builds, runs, and monitors activities in alignment with the direction set by the governance body to achieve enterprise objectives (PBRM).

COBIT 5 Implementation:

COBIT 5 implementation follows three life cycles:

  1. Programme Management
  2. Change Enablement
  3. Continual Improvement Life Cycle

Features and Benefits

COBIT 5 is the premier business framework for the governance and management of enterprise IT. It integrates the COBIT 4.1, Val IT 2.0, and Risk IT frameworks, drawing from ISACA’s IT Assurance Framework (ITAF) and the Business Model for Information Security (BMIS). COBIT 5 is aligned with widely recognized frameworks and standards such as ITIL, ISO, PMBOK, PRINCE2, and TOGAF, providing a comprehensive solution for enterprise IT governance.

Components of COBIT:

  • Framework – Organizes IT governance objectives and best practices by IT domains and processes, linking them to business requirements.
  • Process Descriptions – Provides a reference process model and a common language for all members within the organization. These processes are mapped to responsibility areas such as plan, build, run, and monitor.
  • Control Objectives – A complete set of high-level requirements for effective control of each IT process.
  • Management Guidelines – Helps assign responsibility, agree on objectives, measure performance, and clarify interrelationships with other processes.
  • Maturity Models – Assesses maturity and capability per process, identifying gaps and areas for improvement.

COBIT 5 helps enterprises of all sizes derive optimal value from Information and Related Technology by balancing the realization of benefits with the optimization of risks and resource use. The framework addresses both business and IT functional areas and considers the IT-related interests of internal and external stakeholders.

Key Benefits:

  • Ensures the availability of high-quality information to support business decision-making.
  • Promotes innovative and efficient use of IT to maximize business benefits.
  • Establishes checks and balances that ensure operational excellence through effective technology usage.
  • Enhances cost-effectiveness in IT services and technology operations.
  • Helps ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Fosters trust in the organization’s competency and capability to manage IT effectively.

Applicability

This applies to any organization possessing vital information assets, including Business Outsourcing Units and the IT Service Sector. These entities must prioritize the protection and management of their critical data to ensure operational continuity and maintain stakeholder trust.