Does the amalgamation of business and technology excite you? Are you interested in acquiring IT skills like coding, CRM, design, process automation, and data mining? Then we recommend learning IT governance.
Learning these governance practices will help get you started on your path to landing a job in the business technology field. Nowadays, every organization regardless of the industry uses IT for optimal performance, learning essential IT skills will help you stand out in the tech world.
What Is IT Governance?
Information technology, or IT governance, is a process used to monitor information technology decisions that impact the overall success of a business. IT governance along with other types of governance, including corporate and enterprise governance, are used by businesses for efficiency. IT governance controls key IT information stored by the other governance institutes.
The primary goal of IT governance is to ensure that business operations run smoothly and productively. Learning this subject can help you build a career in management, development, cyber security, and other business tech fields.
What Is IT Governance Used For?
IT governance is responsible for ensuring an organization’s goals are met by using effective IT systems. The processes are used to make recurring decisions that support IT investment made by the organization.
Good governance ensures effective and efficient strategies to meet the objectives of stakeholder interests. It also controls data protection and provides measurable results for business objectives. To successfully implement an IT governance management system it will need to be aligned with the overall IT strategy, as well as other business goals.
IT governance is also used to mitigate IT risks such as threats to databases. The governance also evaluates and prioritizes the funding of investments in IT software. It has five major components that are used to successfully deliver the processes:
- Value delivery
- Strategic alignment
- Performance management
- Resource management
- Risk management.
Types of Practices in IT Governance
The processes and coverage used in IT governance vary in organizations depending on their needs. These needs are decided by the organization’s industry, experience, and values. Below are some of the common types of practices in this subject.
Business Technology Alignment
This practice works to bridge the gap between IT capabilities and business needs. Tasks include finding the business pain points, integrating IT with services that lack technology, and analyze gaps in the system that can be improved with IT contribution.
Asset Management
IT governance manages, analyzes, and provides solutions for IT management processes such as IT inventory management and asset lifecycle management. The framework can therefore be used for resource optimization.
Enterprise Architecture
IT governance oversees the fundamentals of business processes. It includes the entire organizational structure, business goals, and enabling IT processes for efficient strategizing.
Information Governance and Security
These frameworks protect data and share the information systems used for operational requirements. This data contains information about employee roles and guidelines.
Learning IT Governance
Learning IT governance essentially covers the subjects discussed in a business management degree in technology. Learning this field requires advanced technical and risk management skills. You can take IT certificate programs, project management bootcamps, and learn risk management skills to succeed in this field.
You can pursue a lot of specialist areas in the IT field, and you can also use these skills to become an IT manager. However, keep in mind that IT governance is usually considered to be a level above IT management. Taking formal courses and getting certified is essential to succeeding in this field.
How Long Does It Take to Learn IT Governance?
The time to learn this skill is completely dependent on your background in technology. If you already work in the project, risk, or IT management area you already possess the background skills required for IT governance. But if you are a beginner, you will have to learn all these necessary skills which could take a few months up to a year.
How to Learn IT Governance: Step-by-Step
- Take the required background courses. This is the first step to learning this subject. If you are a beginner in this subject, then take the necessary IT and business background courses so you can start learning the field.
- Find your area of interest. There are many areas you can choose to specialize in this field. So, research and find what interests you in this field.
- Take IT governance courses. Now, that you are equipped with the background knowledge to excel in this field, you can choose the courses mentioned in this article to start learning this subject.
- Practice. You must have heard that practice makes perfect. This saying also applies here, you need to be confident with your skills and the only way to achieve that is by practicing. Look up videos, articles, and podcasts to find more about the field.
- Get certified. Get certified in the courses that you are qualified for. Enhance your IT portfolio with the certifications.
- Apply for specialized jobs. After completing all these steps you can start applying for the jobs you want. There is a high demand for IT governance jobs in today’s industries.
The Best IT Governance Training and Courses
To master this IT skill, you will need the help of courses, training, books, and other resources. It is important to be fully dedicated to succeed in IT governance. Below are our top picks.
Best Online IT Governance Courses
Online courses are a great way to learn IT subjects, they offer you the technical knowledge and theoretical learning required to excel in the field. Due to the current pandemic, it is also a safe way of learning. However, it is easy to lose focus when learning from your home, so you have to be disciplined and properly manage your time.
IT Governance
- Provider: Udemy
- Prerequisites: Basic understanding of the IT industry
- Price: $15.99 (Subject to Change)
- Time: 2.5 Hours On-Demand
Udemy is one of the best platforms that will help you start your technology career. It offers an excellent beginners course in IT governance. It will teach you the foundations of the information technology industry in the business sector. You will learn about the different frameworks, Base ll, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and learn how to achieve better governance.
You will be able to grasp the concepts discussed in the course better if you have some basic understanding of the IT field. But if you don’t there’s nothing to worry about, you can do research and learn more about the industry prior to taking the course. This course is meant for anyone interested in learning about governance, we recommend it for business owners and anyone interested in pursuing a career in this field.
IT Governance: A Guide For IT Professionals
- Provider: Udemy
- Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with IT
- Price: $16.99 (Subject to Change)
- Time: 3 Hours On-Demand
This Udemy course will teach you everything about IT governance and how it works with the public and private sector. You will learn how it relates to corporate governance, IT management, and organizational coordination. You will also learn how to navigate and use the tools for transforming business landscapes.
It is a great course to gain an understanding of how information technology is used by different businesses for optimal performance. You will also get to learn all about the two main frameworks, COBIT, and ITIL, and about the governance matrix. The class will be beneficial to anyone who wants to start a career in the IT profession, especially in the governance field.
IT Governance Implementation Fundamentals
- Provider: PluralSight
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Monthly: $29, Annually: $299
- Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
PluralSight is another big online learning platform that offers an array of online courses. In this course, you will learn how to implement the theories of IT governance into practical use.
You will first learn the COBIT5 implementation lifecycle, then learn everything about process capability. You will learn how to create your own assessment plan and will gain the skills to succeed in enterprise IT governance by the end of the course.
This is a great course for anyone wanting to get a basic background in COBIT5. After this course, you can choose to take advanced COBIT5 courses to ultimately take the COBIT5 certification exam.
Enabling IT Governance and Management
- Provider: PluralSight
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Monthly: $29, Annually: $299
- Time: 1 Hour 40 Minutes
This is another PluralSight course that teaches IT governance and COBIT5. This course will teach you the specific elements used to establish governance and how to manage them. You will learn the dimensions of each enabler, the good practices by governance enablers, and how to apply those practices. This course also offers practical exercises where you will implement what you have learned by playing the role of a CIO.
By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge required for the COBIT5 Foundation certification exam. This is a great course for IT professionals wanting to boost their IT skills in their portfolio and anyone interested in the governance field.
Best Free IT Governance Courses
We understand that some of you may not want to spend money to learn a new skill, there are also free online courses available where you can learn important technical skills. Below are our top picks for free courses on IT Governance.
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IS/IT Governance
- Provider: Coursera
- Time: 10 Hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
This Coursera course will teach you the use of information systems or technology in business advancement. This is a great course where you will learn about the collaboration of business and IT. You will learn basic finance, management, and accounting skills along with IT skills. This is a four-part course about information systems specialization and you can choose to take all four of the courses to enhance your governance knowledge.
This course will also teach you the businesses that can align their goals with IT investment, evaluate risk management, and learn the different IT systems and their implementation strategies for different businesses. This course is great for anyone wanting to learn and understand how to directly integrate technology into the business. You can also earn a paid certification upon completion.
Introduction to Information Technology for Managers
- Provider: Alison
- Time: 1.5- 3 Hours
- Prerequisites: None
- Price: Free
Are you a manager or wanting to apply for a management position at a company that uses information technology systems, if so this is the course for you. In this Alison course, you will get an overview of the use of IT in businesses.
This course has three modules covering the major IT trends and implications for managers, and how you can use IT to further your company’s productivity and goals. You will get access to resources you can use to further your knowledge on the subject. The course also offers an assessment at end of the third module for you to test what you have learned. You can also earn paid certification to enhance your management portfolio.
Digital Transformation in Business
- Provider: edX.com
- Time: Self Paced
- Prerequisites: Some business and IT knowledge
- Price: Free
This edX course offered by the University of Maryland will teach you how to use the most useful digital technologies for business growth. It is an advanced level course that requires some business and IT knowledge. But if you are a beginner you can start by enrolling in business bootcamps and IT courses to work or start businesses with tech skills.
This course will teach you how technology is transforming the business sector and the connection between organizational strategy and IT. You will also learn how to implement different systems like enterprise resource platforms, customer relationship management tools, and business intelligence applications.
Overall, you will learn how to address IT governance to manage organizational changes. We recommend buying the verified certification offered at the end of the course.
Best IT Governance Books
If you don’t want to get the theoretical knowledge for IT governance from online resources, you can also refer to the following books to learn the subject.
IT Governance: Implementing Frameworks and Standards for the Corporate Governance of IT Alan Calder
If you are an IT professional, manager, executive, or business owner, IT governance is integral for managing business productivity and goals. Calder’s book is aimed at readers interested in the above-mentioned careers. You will learn how to meet today’s corporate and IT requirements and how to deploy the best IT tools for efficiency.
IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ISO27002 Alan Calder and Steve Watkins
This book by Calder and Watkins provides information on IT management and business integration. This is a must-read if you are interested in business management or an IT management position. You will learn about the international markets and how the use of IT governance enhances business in those markets. You will also learn about the latest technological software developments.
Governance of Enterprise IT based on COBIT 5: A management guide Geoff Harmer
Harmer has written this book for practitioners in IT governance including consultants and IT managers. This book will teach you the key concepts of the COBIT5 framework, and risk and compliance management. You will also learn the frameworks of GEIT and the link between corporate and IT governance.
IT Governance Certifications
Obtaining certification will validate what you have learned and show proof of your knowledge, this will likely be required to obtain a job in the IT field. Earning an IT governance certification is a great way to kickstart your career and land one of the best tech jobs.
Below is a list of the best IT governance certification available.
Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Professional Certification
This certification course showcases your ability to design, implement, and handle IT tasks. You can take this Axelos certification course to prove your advanced ITIL skills. There are several expertise levels of these certifications including, basics, practitioner, intermediate, expert, and master.
Before taking the Axelos certification you will have to earn a range of ITIL certifications and have an all-rounded knowledge of the subject. We recommend this for those who have an intermediate level of IT skills. You can use this certification to advance your IT governance career in ITIL.
ISACA CGEIT Certification
ISACA is a well-known nonprofit that offers training, courses, and certification in IT governance. This certification is for the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) which will showcase your skills in advising, assuring, securing, and managing IT governance.
This certification will help you branch into IT management careers such as data security analyst and safety analyst. You can use the exam outlines offered by ISACA to prepare for this exam.
PMI-RMP: Risk Management Professional
This PMI-RMP risk management professional certification will test your ability to assess and find solutions for risks to efficiently capitalize opportunities. You are required to have a background in project risk management experience and education to be eligible for this certification.
We recommend it for project managers who are focused on risk management. This is an excellent certification that will help you advance your career in IT governance and set you apart from your fellow competitors.
Best Online IT Governance Resources
There are plenty of online resources you can use after enrolling in courses and reading books to prepare for a future in IT governance. Below are Career Karma’s top two IT governance resources.
IT Governance Ltd
Youtube is a great resource to acquire many skills. The IT Governance Ltd channel has tons of videos on IT governance and the current market trends related to it. You will find many videos on tips and tricks of using technology software. This is a good place to find out and gain a deeper understanding of the subject.
IT Governance
This governance website provides a plethora of free IT governance resources for you. Resources are available in the form of papers, webinars, case studies, podcasts, and infographics. We highly recommend using these resources as it will give you access to expert information on IT governance products and skills.
Should You Learn IT Governance?
If you are interested in information technology management or risk management, or you want to implement IT for business improvement, then you should learn IT governance. It is a field that dictates the current business practices and models. The field helps meet a business meet an organization’s strategies and goals through IT.
For those who are interested in this field but are beginners, you will be able to succeed by taking basic tech and business courses to start, and then by taking the courses mentioned in this article. If you want to succeed in and of the fields mentioned above, IT governance is an essential skill to learn.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
