Final answer:
The IT governance framework that best suits the organization's objectives is a federal structure, balancing central control with local autonomy to effectively manage cybersecurity across distributed offices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is federal structure for the IT governance framework. A federal structure allows for a balance between centralized control and local autonomy, fitting well with the cybersecurity lead's objectives to standardize security practices across all offices while allowing individual offices to address their specific risks.
This approach aligns with the broader distribution of power characteristic of democratic regimes, as highlighted in governance studies.
It provides a framework where national and local entities (in the context of a company, the central IT governance body and individual offices) have their own legitimate sources of power and capabilities to ensure cybersecurity.
In recent trends within organizations, there has been a move away from hierarchical models towards flatter structures and teamwork, allowing for more flexible and collaborative approaches to governance.
Creating a federal-like IT governance framework could enhance collaboration and compliance with overarching cybersecurity strategies, while also respecting the unique needs of each office.
This decentralization of control, to an extent, can lead to more effective and responsive IT management strategies within the various geographical regions.
The correct answer is option c. An organization restructuring its IT governance framework to improve its cybersecurity strategy could adopt a federated governance structure.
In this structure, the organization maintains a central authority with overall control, while also allowing individual offices in different geographical regions to retain some autonomy in managing their specific risks.
With a federated governance structure, the cybersecurity lead can establish consistent security practices and policies that apply to all offices, ensuring control and consistency. At the same time, each office can have some level of independence to adapt security measures based on their unique risks and infrastructure.
For example, the organization can implement centralized security policies, such as mandatory use of strong passwords and encryption, across all offices. However, individual offices can have the flexibility to select and manage their own security tools and technologies that align with their specific needs and infrastructure.