Risk, Compliance, and Business Continuity
Risk management identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks that could impact IT services and business operations. Compliance ensures adherence to laws, regulations, and standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, SOX). Business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) are critical components: BC focuses on keeping the business running during disruptions, while DR focuses on restoring IT systems after a disaster. Candidates must understand risk assessment matrices, business impact analysis (BIA), and recovery objectives (RTO, RPO). A common trap is confusing BC and DR: BC is broader and includes manual workarounds; DR is a subset focused on technology recovery. Another trap is treating compliance as a one-time effort; it requires continuous monitoring. Also, be clear on the difference between a risk and an issue: a risk is potential, an issue is current. A worked example: A company must ensure compliance with GDPR. It should conduct a data inventory, implement privacy controls, and regularly audit. Rule of thumb: Prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact; ensure BC plans are tested regularly; and integrate compliance into daily operations.