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Information Technology Risk Management

It is clear that virtually all aspects of an organization’s coordination and commerce are enabled by a constant flow of electronic data. More than essential business tools, email, IM, and other forms of electronic data are the most efficient means of non-verbal communication ever developed—enabling workers to instantly and inexpensively share ideas, exchange documents, finalize transactions, and more.  However, the benefits beget very serious and growing information risks.

In today’s organizations, information risk encompasses a range of factors—operational, legal, and regulatory—and can be felt from the largest corporate headquarters to the smallest satellite office.

Operational factors are closely tied to the efficiency of electronic information within business environments. For example, any interruption to email can lead to serious bottom-line repercussions, including an increase in expenses and, ultimately, a loss of revenue. Yet, it is the growing corporate dependence on electronic data that often brings these systems to a halt. Overtaxed network servers, unable to handle the ever-increasing volume of email and IM, slow to a crawl or fail altogether; those complex (and costly) systems meant to increase corporate productivity and profitability can drain corporations of both.

The legal factors are equally complex. As the importance of email and IM records in corporate lawsuits has risen, so has the burden on organizations for the retention and discovery of electronic information. In 2003, 21 percent of U.S. employers had email and/or IM subpoenaed in the course of a lawsuit or regulatory investigation—more than double the 9 percent reported in 2001—and another 13 percent battled workplace lawsuits triggered by employee email.8

When companies fail to prepare for information risk, those discovery costs can be prohibitive. Even organizations that plan ahead for the retrieval of data can face extreme costs.

In terms of regulatory considerations, U.S. standards are becoming even more demanding. Enforcement of existing regulations—including SEC 17a-4, NYSE 342, NASD 3010, and HIPAA—has increased substantially. What’s more, legislation, such as the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, now holds senior executives personally and criminally accountable for corporate non-compliance.

Organizations must address these extraordinary risks with foresight and focus.

ZANTAZ can help! Our content archiving and electronic discovery solutions give you the ability to discover and produce information assets—or control and manage evidentiary liabilities—ahead of regulatory audits, litigation requests and end-user demands—while optimizing email and file servers and complying with retention and supervision regulations.

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Find out how your organization can benefit from ZANTAZ perspective role solutions.
Contact your ZANTAZ representative today.