Risks and governance - Managing IS security and compliance

Cyber governance defines the rules, roles and responsibilities for managing IT security. Without governance, actions remain isolated and ineffective. With tools like Microsoft Purview, this governance becomes measurable: dashboards offer continuous visibility on compliance, access to sensitive data and detected incidents, enabling faster, more fact-based decision-making.

Risk mapping begins with the identification of critical assets: sensitive data, mission-critical applications, strategic infrastructures. Each asset is then assessed according to the threats it faces (cyber-attacks, human error, disasters) and the potential impact on the organization, leading to a prioritization of risks by criticality, enabling efforts to be focused where they are most needed. Mapping then becomes a decision-making tool to guide cybersecurity investments and define a clear roadmap.

Purview Risk & Compliance's analytics facilitate this step by automatically detecting data that has been exposed or shared in a non-compliant manner. The results feed into reports that can be used to adjust strategy and guide investments.

Obligations vary by sector, but the most common are the RGPD for personal data protection, the NIS2 directive for the security of critical networks and systems, and ISO 27001 for information security management. In certain fields, such as healthcare, specific standards such as HDS apply.All these regulations require us to demonstrate that appropriate technical and organizational measures are in place. This requires documented governance, traceability of actions and the implementation of regular controls. Failure to comply can result in substantial financial penalties and a loss of credibility with customers.

Microsoft Purview helps prove compliance with detailed audit reports, access logs and documented retention policies. These features simplify preparation for CNIL, ISO or internal audits, and help demonstrate compliance on an ongoing basis.

Data governance involves defining clear rules to manage the entire lifecycle of corporate information: creation, classification, storage, sharing and deletion. It ensures that data is used in a compliant, secure and useful way.On a regulatory level, it is essential to meet the RGPD, which imposes, for example, limited retention periods and the protection of personal data. On an operational level, it avoids duplication, reduces the risk of leakage and optimizes the use of data as a strategic resource.Properly implemented data governance therefore simultaneously reduces risks, simplifies audits and enhances the value of data for the company.

Microsoft Purview integration strengthens this governance by automating classification, protection (via sensitivity labels) and access traceability. It ensures that every piece of data is used in accordance with internal policies and RGPD requirements, while reducing the risk of leakage.

A dashboard centralizes the main indicators linked to cybersecurity and data governance: number of incidents detected, average response time, compliance with internal policies, status of security patches, etc. These factual data enable managers to make informed decisions and prioritize budgets. Data-driven management transforms cybersecurity into a measurable process, aligned with strategic objectives. Rather than being perceived as a cost, security becomes an investment driven by concrete results.

The aim of the DRP (Disaster Recovery Plan) is to restart systems after a major incident, within a defined timeframe. The BCP (Business Continuity Plan), on the other hand, aims to avoid any interruption by keeping critical services available, thanks to redundant infrastructures and automatic failover mechanisms. The two are complementary. PRA limits business downtime after a crisis, while PCA guarantees resilience in real time. In mature cyber governance, DRP and BCP are integrated into an overall risk management strategy.

Cybersecurity and information governance cannot be the sole responsibility of IT. They require a strong commitment from top management, as they directly affect strategy, reputation and business continuity. Involving top management helps to allocate the necessary resources, validate priorities and establish security as a cross-functional issue. It also helps to raise awareness among all employees and ensure consistency between business objectives and the protective measures put in place.

Microsoft Purview dashboards give executives clear visibility of compliance levels and major risks, strengthening their ability to arbitrate and drive priorities.