Overview
ISO/IEC 38500:2024 - Information technology - Governance of IT for the organization provides high‑level, non‑sector‑specific guidance for members of governing bodies and those who support them on the effective, efficient and acceptable use of information technology. Applicable to the governance of an organization’s current and future use of IT and to IT as a domain of organizational governance, the standard is intended for all organizations - public, private, government and not‑for‑profit - of any size.
Key outcomes emphasized include effective performance, responsible stewardship, and ethical behaviour in the use of IT. This third edition updates and aligns the IT governance principles with broader governance guidance (notably ISO 37000).
Key topics
- Principles for IT governance: purpose, value generation, strategy, oversight, accountability, stakeholder engagement, leadership, data and decisions, risk governance, social responsibility, and long‑term viability/performance.
- Model for governance of IT: practical governance practices framed as Engage stakeholders → Evaluate → Direct → Monitor.
- Framework elements: direction, capability, policy, delegation, performance measurement, and accountability mechanisms to support consistent governance across the organization.
- Outcomes and implications: guidance on expected governance outcomes (effectiveness, stewardship, ethics) and governance implications for decision‑making about IT.
- Audience and scope: guidance explicitly tailored for governing bodies, boards, governance committees, senior executives and their advisors responsible for IT oversight.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 38500:2024, IT governance, governance of IT, information technology governance, board IT oversight, IT strategy, risk governance, data governance.
Applications
- Help boards and senior leadership establish or refine an IT governance framework that aligns IT strategy with organizational objectives and stakeholder expectations.
- Guide CIOs, IT directors and governance committees in setting direction, delegating authority, and defining performance metrics for technology investments and operations.
- Support the development of policies and accountabilities for data‑driven decision making, risk management (including cyber risk oversight), and ethical use of technology.
- Provide a common reference for auditors, advisors and consultants when assessing governance maturity or designing governance improvement programs.
Who would use this standard
- Board members, governing bodies and governance advisors
- C‑suite executives (CEO, CFO, CIO, CDO)
- IT governance professionals, internal auditors and risk managers
- Organizations of all sizes seeking a consistent approach to IT governance
Related standards
- ISO 37000 (Governance of organizations) - alignment noted in the 2024 edition
- Organizations may integrate ISO/IEC 38500:2024 with sector‑specific and technology‑specific standards to operationalize governance requirements.
