Digital governance is the formal governance framework that enables businesses to conduct digital activities ethically and efficiently, avoid legal issues and cyber attacks, remain flexible when disruption strikes and stay agile in response. It encompasses cybersecurity protocols, digital standards, etc.
Implemented incorrectly, overly protective efforts may stifle the internet’s open and free nature as well as innovation it fosters.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity and data security are essential ingredients of economic growth, healthy civic spaces where citizens exercise their rights freely, and robust digital innovation. Therefore, the Department of State’s 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy emphasizes global partnership and engagement to create an open, inclusive, secure, resilient digital ecosystem; align rights-respecting approaches to cyber governance; promote responsible state behavior against malicious activity while offering mutual support; strengthen international partner digital and cybersecurity capacities and increase digital innovation capacity.
A multistakeholder model for Internet and digital governance — comprising civil society, the private sector, academic communities and technical communities — is key to the creation of innovations that benefit all. The Department of State advocates for policies, programs, and assistance that promote competition, consumer choice, vibrant investment in technology research design development deployment while upholding democratic values and human rights. Programs such as these provide support for software engineers and tech companies that incorporate human rights respect into their product lifecycles, strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks that support democratic values, and foster an active, engaged Internet governance community.
Data Privacy
Data privacy is an integral component of digital governance. Proper privacy practices help safeguard sensitive information against cyber attacks, identity theft and other violations of personal privacy that occur online. They also promote an environment in which individuals can realize all the advantages offered by the internet without compromising individual privacy.
Businesses require data in order to effectively serve their customers and operate efficiently. By collecting it, businesses can understand customer needs, offer the services customers want and understand how their operations work – not to mention identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities and implement remediation plans.
Attaining data privacy requires diligent infrastructure management, stringent access controls, comprehensive monitoring and rigorous policies – which can be challenging for companies that must abide by various prevailing laws and regulations that frequently change. Secoda provides a solution to companies struggling to comply with multiple laws by automating data discovery and documentation that streamlines applying privacy controls across systems; its AI capabilities quickly detect sensitive information for special consideration.
Transparency
Transparency is a broad term, covering a wide array of control measures from citizens and elected officials (vertical social accountability) to bureaucracies implementing public policies (internal vertical accountability). Furthermore, transparency practices within organizations as well as with external stakeholders fall within this umbrella term.
Navigating the complex laws governing digital governance presents both businesses and governments with a formidable challenge, making effective structural responses a top priority for many.
Digital governance involves more than simply information management – it requires an awareness of its effect on internal processes and culture, including providing training to boards on current cybersecurity best practices and maintaining open dialogues with regulatory bodies. This is especially relevant given the rising incidence of data breaches affecting all sectors, often with devastating financial repercussions.
Compliance
Your digital governance program needs will vary based on the specific laws and regulations that affect the digital ecosystem in which it exists, as well as any internal policies – for instance, regulations concerning data privacy, accessibility, non-disclosure etc may all need to be satisfied for proper operation.
Governance structures have become a strategic differentiator in the market. Given how rapidly regulatory assessment and risk assessments change, it’s vital that organizations move toward cohered digital governance systems capable of rapidly adapting to changing risks, challenges, and opportunities.
No matter the digital project at hand – whether that be websites, CMSs, subsites, apps, e-communications platforms or email marketing tools – we can create a holistic digital governance plan to facilitate rapid market feedback and growth. Our unified platform simplifies governance structures while improving data protection, access control security and privacy measures as well as eliminating data gaps which put your company at risk of costly penalties.