Guide to

Control Objectives for Information Technologies (COBIT)

What Is COBIT?

Control Objectives for Information Technologies, or COBIT, is a framework created by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) for IT governance and management. It is designed to help organizations manage the quality and reliability of their information systems.

Why Do Organizations Use COBIT?

COBIT is a well-recognized, established framework that can be applied to any organization in any industry. It is particularly beneficial for organizations that depend on technology for reliable and relevant information, such as organizations that sell software or provide cloud services to other businesses.

The COBIT framework links business goals with IT infrastructure and contains four domains:

Planning and Organization
Delivering and Support
Acquiring and Implementation
Monitoring and Evaluating

Under each domain, COBIT outlines descriptions for planning, building, running, and monitoring all IT processes. COBIT also provides a list of requirements that have been considered for effective IT business control, maturity models to help assess the maturity and capability of every process, and management guidelines.

Organizations can demonstrate their commitment to sound IT governance by enrolling their IT, risk management, and audit professionals in a certification program to become proficient in applying the COBIT methodology to the management of IT systems.

COBIT 5: Frequently Asked Questions

COBIT is built on five key principles that guide its framework for effective governance and management of enterprise IT:

Meeting stakeholder needs: COBIT ensures that enterprise IT aligns with the needs and expectations of stakeholders. It helps organizations balance value creation (benefits realization), risk optimization, and resource optimization.
Covering the enterprise end-to-end: COBIT takes a holistic approach, ensuring that IT governance and management consider the entire organization, not just the IT function. This principle integrates IT into enterprise governance and extends its scope to encompass all information and technology.
Applying a single integrated framework: COBIT serves as a single, comprehensive framework that integrates other IT standards and best practices, allowing organizations to unify their IT governance and management activities under one umbrella.
Enabling a holistic approach: COBIT provides a set of enablers — factors that, individually and collectively, influence the success of IT governance and management. These enablers include principles, policies, frameworks, processes, organizational structures, culture, ethics, behavior, information, services, infrastructure, and people.
Separating governance from management: COBIT clearly distinguishes between governance and management. Governance involves setting direction, evaluating performance, and monitoring outcomes, while management is focused on planning, building, running, and monitoring activities to achieve enterprise objectives.

COBIT doesn’t refer to controls in the traditional sense, but instead focuses on governance and management objectives. The COBIT framework includes 40 governance and management objectives that are divided across five domains:

Evaluate, Direct, and Monitor (EDM): 5 objectives
Align, Plan, and Organize (APO): 14 objectives
Build, Acquire, and Implement (BAI): 11 objectives
Deliver, Service, and Support (DSS): 6 objectives
Monitor, Evaluate, and Assess (MEA): 4 objectives

Each of these objectives encompasses multiple practices and activities that can be thought of as controls in the broader sense, as they are aimed at achieving specific governance and management goals.

Implementing COBIT requires a clear understanding of both the framework and the specific needs of the organization. Key requirements include:

Stakeholder engagement: Ensure that stakeholders are involved in defining the objectives and scope of IT governance.
Framework understanding: A solid grasp of COBIT’s principles, governance and management objectives, and enablers is essential.
Tailoring the framework: COBIT should be customized to align with the organization’s size, industry, and specific needs.
Management commitment: Strong support from senior management is critical for the successful implementation of COBIT.
Resource allocation: Adequate resources, including budget, personnel, and time, must be allocated to implement COBIT effectively.
Ongoing training: Continuous education and training for staff on COBIT principles and practices are vital.

COBIT 2019 is an update to COBIT 5 that introduced several enhancements and refinements:

Governance and management objectives: COBIT 2019 updates and expands the governance and management objectives, aligning them with the latest industry standards and practices.
Performance management: COBIT 2019 introduces a more flexible and comprehensive performance management system, including a new model for measuring capability and maturity.
Design factors: COBIT 2019 incorporates design factors that help tailor the framework to specific organizational contexts, such as enterprise strategy, risk profile, and compliance requirements.
Integration with other frameworks: COBIT 2019 offers improved integration with other frameworks, such as ITIL, ISO 27001, and NIST, making it easier to align COBIT with existing governance structures.
Guidance on implementation: COBIT 2019 provides more detailed guidance on how to implement the framework in various types of organizations, including those with different levels of IT maturity.

The COBIT core model is a key component of the framework, providing a structured reference model that organizations can use to govern and manage their IT activities. The core model consists of 40 governance and management objectives, divided into five domains:

Evaluate, Direct, and Monitor (EDM): Focuses on governance objectives that ensure IT aligns with enterprise goals and delivers value.
Align, Plan, and Organize (APO): Covers planning and organizational processes, including strategy and resource management.
Build, Acquire, and Implement (BAI): Involves processes related to acquiring and implementing new IT solutions and services.
Deliver, Service, and Support (DSS): Encompasses the delivery of IT services and support, including operations management and incident handling.
Monitor, Evaluate, and Assess (MEA): Focuses on monitoring and assessing IT performance and compliance.

This core model provides a comprehensive approach to IT governance and management, ensuring that all aspects of IT are covered in a systematic and integrated manner.

COBIT enhances risk management by providing a structured framework that aligns IT risk management with business objectives. It offers the following benefits:

Risk identification: COBIT helps organizations systematically identify IT risks across all areas of IT governance and management.
Risk assessment: It provides tools and practices for assessing the potential impact and likelihood of identified risks, allowing organizations to prioritize their risk management efforts.
Risk mitigation: COBIT guides organizations in developing and implementing controls and practices to mitigate identified risks effectively.
Integration with business goals: COBIT ensures that IT risk management is aligned with overall business goals, helping organizations manage risks in a way that supports business continuity and success.
Continuous monitoring: COBIT emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and assessment, ensuring that risk management practices remain effective and aligned with changing business and IT environments.

ISACA offers several certifications related to COBIT, providing professionals with the knowledge and skills to implement and manage the framework effectively:

COBIT 2019 Foundation: This certification covers the fundamentals of COBIT, including its principles, objectives, and components. It’s ideal for individuals who need a basic understanding of COBIT.
COBIT 2019 Design and Implementation: This certification focuses on how to design and implement a governance system using COBIT 2019. It’s suitable for professionals responsible for tailoring COBIT to an organization’s specific needs.

COBIT processes should be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure they remain effective and aligned with the organization’s evolving needs. Key factors influencing the frequency of reviews include:

Regulatory changes: Updates may be required when new regulations or standards are introduced that impact IT governance.
Business strategy shifts: If the organization’s business strategy changes, COBIT processes should be reviewed to ensure they continue to support the new direction.
Technological advancements: As new technologies emerge, COBIT processes should be updated to manage associated risks and opportunities.
Performance assessments: Regular assessments of process performance and maturity can identify areas that need improvement or realignment.
Continuous improvement: COBIT promotes a culture of continuous improvement, which means that processes should be regularly evaluated and refined to enhance their effectiveness.

COBIT maps to the following frameworks:

ITIL
ISO/IEC 27001
NIST CSF
+ 50 more

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