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Latest Industry related posts

Jun 2023

Insight

Ready or not, virtual reality is here. And I have some questions.

We all should.

Kristina Podnar

Aug 2021

Insight

Is Your Small Business Ready For a Data Breach?

The severity and damage can vary, but some kind of breach is inevitable. When that happens, you won’t have time to figure out what to do. You need an action plan that can be implemented immediately, covering everything from how you stop an attack to how you notify customers whose information may have been compromised.

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2021

Insight

Delivering Content with Integrity

Like the varying clerks in the times of the Book of Kells, with the right knowledge, your content can be clear and sound regardless of time and circumstance. Something to be admired and emulated for years to come.

Kristina Podnar

Mar 2021

Insight

Launching your rebranded IT organization

For all sorts of reasons -- some of them justified, some not -- IT has earned a reputation as the place where good ideas go to die. It's time to change that thinking!

Kristina Podnar

Mar 2021

Insight

Redesigning the structure of the IT organization

Redesigning the structure of the IT organization and the role it plays in the company is a huge job, and not something you can do on your own (or even with your own leadership team)! You’ll need help from allies throughout the company.

Kristina Podnar

Feb 2021

Insight

The rebranding of the CIO

Today’s CIO has a once-in-a-career opportunity to build an organization that can fulfill a very real need: that of in-house consultant. For many IT organizations, that won’t be easy, but no part of digital transformation is. For IT, it’s a complete change of mission, from one of control and gatekeeping to one of support and advice.

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2021

Insight

Did your last audit cover digital risks?

As organizations dive head-first into new technologies to avoid being victims of digital disruption, they’re taking on new risks that aren’t even on the radar of many auditors.

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2020

Insight

Conversing without these AI policies spells trouble

Before you jump in the deep end of the pool that is known as conversational AI, take the opportunity to consider the role of digital policies in keeping your enterprise protected while also reaping the rewards that the new channel provides.

Kristina Podnar

Aug 2020

Insight

Privacy in a post-COVID world

The world has certainly changed for all of us in the past five months. While the largest casualty of the pandemic has been human lives and the negatively impacted health of many survivors, digital privacy is also at the top of that list.

Kristina Podnar

Aug 2020

Insight

Social advice for brands: How to take a stand without falling on your face - Part 2

Do you have a process for determining how (or even whether) you should respond to users on racial and social justice issues? Here's my advice for getting some digital policies and processes in place.

Kristina Podnar

Jul 2020

Insight

Social advice for brands: How to take a stand without falling on your face - Part 1

Consumers are paying attention to racial and other social justice issues now, and they’re demanding that brands do the same. Do you have your processes defined to address the issues correctly?

Kristina Podnar

Jul 2020

Insight

How to set your digital policies up for continuous improvement

How do you create policies that act as guard rails, giving employees a high degree of freedom within a framework established to minimize the possibility of making a mistake?

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2020

Insight

Is there risk hiding in your digital policies?

When COVID-19 erupted into our lives, we had to adapt quickly, working from home despite what our digital policies might say about security and personal devices.

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2020

Insight

Digital policies are no good if they’re static

I urge IT professionals and digital policy stewards alike, to broaden the scope of discussions to include other situations that may require a change in digital policies such as changes in technology. And here is how to get started!

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2020

Insight

Do your digital policies address natural disasters?

Natural disasters -- hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, etc. -- disrupt “business as usual” for both you and your customers. One way to avoid disruptions is to create sound digital policies. Let's delve into the how and what to get this done!

Kristina Podnar

May 2020

Insight

Data breach response in real life

Knowing that sooner or later, you will need to address a data breach within your organization, fear is not the answer. Proactively preparing yourself and bringing good people into the fold to create the right proactive and response team, is the right solution.

Kristina Podnar

Feb 2020

Insight

Diffuse Marketing and IT wars with the power of digital policy

How many times do you hear that IT is slowing down the digital marketing process, focused so much on security that Marketing can’t be responsive to user needs? Or how many times does it seem like Marketing is not giving any thought to serious operational considerations, such as backups and disaster recovery?

Kristina Podnar

Feb 2020

Insight

What is your coronavirus policy?

Coronavirus means revenue loss for many organizations . But what positive impact, or opportunity, can your business realize amidst such a crisis? The answer is "significant," so long as you have the right policies in place.

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2020

Insight

Boost your bottom line with accessibility

No matter where your digital communications and marketing efforts are focused, you have users who have a disability. It only makes sense to include them and offer a way for them to access digital content.

Kristina Podnar

Dec 2019

Insight

A successful engagement plan for a new year and decade

What will you start/stop/keep doing in 2020 to best utilize your time in sharing and learning digital practices? I’ve sorted through my reflections and plans.

Kristina Podnar

Dec 2019

Insight

Back to the future, but way too fast

One way to surprise your users (in a bad way) is to pre-date content and hang up your "out of office for the rest of the year" sign.

Kristina Podnar

Nov 2019

Insight

How to get leadership support for digital policies

The leadership must be committed to investing the necessary resources of time, money, human resources, and, in some cases, technology. So how do you get your management on board with digital policy aspirations?

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2019

Insight

Your social media disclaimer won't protect my company!

“The views are my own and don't reflect those of my employer." is not a bulletproof statement. The views of the employee might not be those of the organization, but the employee is part of the organization, and what is said in social media reflects directly back on the organization.

Kristina Podnar

Jul 2019

Insight

FaceApp: More than wrinkles lurk beyond the surface

FaceApp, the mobile app introduced in 2017 and suddenly experiencing a revival in social media, might offer a few minutes of fun. But the impact on your personal privacy will be forever.

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2019

Insight

Selling digital policies into your organization

You know that your organization needs a digital policy program in order to support tangible, business objectives. But getting your stakeholders to buy into digital policies can feel a lot like getting toddlers to eat spinach.

Kristina Podnar

May 2019

Insight

Do you have any rights when you go online?

While I certainly don’t think it’s necessary for you to learn about things like processors and RAM, I do think it’s important to understand how the internet affects our lives both personally and as a society. Here is a resource to steer you in the right direction.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2019

Insight

The EU’s Article 17: A manageable UGC disaster?

Comprehensive digital policies and practices ensure that a business complies with regulations. Counterintuitively, they also help the bottom line, unlock opportunity and streamline operations.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2019

Insight

How to survive the digital regulatory wave

This is the time for companies to institutionalize (create, codify, train, hold accountable) smart and sound digital policies and practices in order to reduce digital risk and capitalize on the opportunities.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2019

Insight

Getting GDPR and CCPA Compliant Without Fear

No need to fear yet another data privacy regulation! Learn the differences between GDPR and CCPA to plan and keep yourself above the fray appropriately.

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2019

Insight

What lawyers need to know about digital risks and opportunities

It would be nice if we could create laws before the situations they address present themselves, but the law rarely works that way. Here is how to provide digital policy guidance in an ever-changing landscape

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2018

Insight

Let freedom ring: How digital policies enable and inspire the people who represent your brand to the world

If you’re responsible for digital governance at your organization, pay close attention to case studies of companies like Nike and Intel to learn how digital policies can be used to support, encourage, and inspire digital workers

Kristina Podnar

Sep 2018

Insight

Getting your privacy acronyms and their requirements rights: GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, PoPI

It’s not business as usual! The rise in data protection laws is impacting your digital marketing and online operations.

Kristina Podnar

Aug 2018

Insight

The Carr Fire’s social media hero

Katie Quinn, the wife of Lewiston, CA's fire chief used social media to provide key information and a sense calm during the recent Carr Fire. Depending on your organizational culture, industry, and maturity, you should think twice before replicating such a governing model. Or if you do, you might want to reach out to Katie for some training!

Kristina Podnar

Jul 2018

Insight

Don't leave it to the machine

What you need to know about the GDPR stance on automated decision-making

Kristina Podnar

May 2018

Insight

Takeaways on Digital Policy from the 2018 World Technology Conference (Seattle)

The 2018 World Technology Conference took place in Seattle recently and I was lucky enough to attend this mind meld event. Read on for observations and highlights.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2018

Insight

GDPR’s Legal Reach, the long arm of EU regulations

Is your company US-based and assuming that GDPR doesn't have an impact since you don't have offices in the EU? Wrong!

Kristina Podnar

Mar 2018

Insight

Is May 25 Doomsday for U.S. Marketers?

Listen up marketers! If you have not heard of the GDPR or if you assumed that you’re in the clear because you’re in the U.S. rather than the EU, here is what you need to know.

Kristina Podnar

Feb 2018

Insight

Your Organization’s Personal Use Social Media Policy

What can your organization do to guide employees into correctly balancing their rights to free speech and personal use of social media, while also protecting the brand and reputation of your company?

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2018

Insight

While you weren’t looking: Digital policy matters beyond GDPR

All eyes have been on GDPR, but there is more to digital integrity and online risk coming our way. Pay attention to the proverbial forest as well as the trees.

Kristina Podnar

Dec 2017

Insight

Corporate motivation: Evolving into an age of personal value and privacy

I recently attended two conferences, the DX Summit and Gilbane, and share my key takeway on a shift in digital.

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2018

Insight

Tips for a Law Firm’s Digital Policy Offering

Policies are a two-pronged opportunity for layers: Protecting clients from dangers and generating revenue in the process.

Kristina Podnar

Feb 2018

Insight

The Ideal Number and Range of Digital Policies for Your Organization

Use this list to determine which digital policies you choose to create and adopt depend on variables particular to your organization.

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2018

Insight

Should We Rewrite Industry Standards or Point to Them from Our Repository?

Here is how you incorporate existing standards into your own set for organizational use.

Kristina Podnar

Jan 2018

Insight

Best Practices for (Nearly Perfect) Standards

There are no perfect sets of standards, but you can come close with these tips.

Kristina Podnar

Dec 2017

Insight

What’s Wrong with Guidelines?

Nothing! As long as you use them in the right way. Here is how.

Kristina Podnar

Dec 2017

Insight

Extending Organizational Policy for Digital Needs

Don't re-create policies and silo digital requirements. Instead, extend organizational policies to include digital.

Kristina Podnar

Nov 2017

Insight

Contents of a Good Digital Standard

What is the difference between a good and a bad standard? It's contents of course!

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2017

Insight

Data Transformation Tips for the Digital Organization

To remain competitive in today’s market and continue to exist in the face of increasing digital and business disruption your legacy digital processes and operational models must be updated. Here's what to consider.

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2017

Insight

An Automated Tool Can’t Ensure Standards

Quality tools are not inherently bad or a poor investment, but you need to understand their capabilities and the value they will add to the organization.

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2017

Insight

How Many Standards Authors Does It Take to Establish a Standard?

Deciding exactly how many standards authors you should have, and how many is too many, is exactly what we tease out during digital governance framework definition efforts.

Kristina Podnar

May 2017

Insight

Contents of a Good Digital Policy

Writing 10-15 pages of guidance in legalese and saving a PDF version to your Intranet is not the way to go about writing good digital policy. Here is what it really takes, and it's easy!

Kristina Podnar

May 2017

Insight

How Should We Start Developing Policies?

A primer on how to get started with digital policy development.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2017

Insight

I’ve Written My Standards, But Nobody Follows Them

There is more to standards than writing down guidance. Here's what it takes to get them adopted and used.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2017

Insight

Sound Data Collection Practices for Respecting Consumer Privacy

How can your organizations set itself apart in a world of diminishing online privacy?

Kristina Podnar

Mar 2017

Insight

The Best Time to Document Standards

The idea that you need to tie standards development to a redesign or any other milestone or event is a myth.

Kristina Podnar

Mar 2017

Insight

Standards vs. Guidelines and Does it Matter?

You are likelier to engage more colleagues and develop a culture of collaboration if you understand the difference between a standard and a guideline.

Kristina Podnar

Jul 2017

Insight

What does a digital policy steward do?

Once you have identified who in your organizations should be tasked with establishing digital policy, it is time to assign official duties. I have provided a good list to get you started.

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2017

Insight

Finding Your Organization's Digital Policy Steward

Security and data breach. Branding. Trademarks and copyrights. Social media usage. Search engine optimization. Digital marketing content ownership. Who in your organization is thinking about these issues hollistically?

Kristina Podnar

May 2017

Insight

Tackling Digital Policies One Step at a Time

If you have an online presence, you have an online risk. And it extends way beyond publishing a blog post with an embarrassing spelling error.

Kristina Podnar

May 2017

Insight

WanaCrypt ransomware raises big questions about government's role in data security

Use the WanaCrypt opportunity to re-examine your approach to digital policy as well as the roles of those invested in your digital.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2017

Insight

Facing the facts about data breach

Data security and data breaches are a big deal. Get the list of countries that have legal requirements for notification.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2017

Insight

Wake up lawyers! Your digital counsel is needed

Today business users and digital marketers challenge their organization’s online integrity in many ways. Lawyers can help avoid the legal and regulatory landmines that pose a threat.

Kristina Podnar

Mar 2017

Insight

When in Canada: Digital regulation differences to keep in mind for U.S. companies

Many U.S.-based companies extend their service and product reach into Canada with the assumption that our northern neighbors have the same regulatory and legal requirements. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Kristina Podnar

May 2017

Insight

Digital Policy: Stopping Your Organization from Failing

Stand up a functional policy program to align your organization to individual accountabilities for digital. In doing so, you can stop your organization from failing and begin to celebrate online integrity of your digital operations.

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2016

Insight

The case of a links policy (a.k.a. protecting yourself over infringement linking)

Why an organization should have a linking policy, one which states when it is acceptable to link from their website to another.

Kristina Podnar

Sep 2016

Insight

Internet of Things (IoT) Security Framework: Simply an extension of your current policies

Details on the new security framework is available for industrial Internet of Things (IoT).

Kristina Podnar

Aug 2016

Insight

The Data Shield certification program is ready. Are you?

The program requires self-certification, which underscores the need for your organization to have a digital policy steward who will track requirements and ensure your organization is compliant.

Kristina Podnar

Jul 2016

Insight

Copying another organization's digital policies is not the answer!

Why not look at the policies developed by other organizations and copy them?

Kristina Podnar

Jun 2016

Insight

Data breach policy even more necessary as EU and U.S. sign agreement

If you have not yet defined a data breach policy and a corresponding “first 48 hours” response plan — now is the time.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2016

Insight

What makes a good digital policy?

What does it mean to have a good policy? Do you simply write out a document that checks the box or do you really consider your audience and write simple and understandable policies? Here is a quick look at what makes a policy a good one.

Kristina Podnar

Feb 2016

Insight

Data localization: how to collect, store, and transfer data from country to country

Data collection, information storage and its transfer across country or regional borders (think Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, or EU) resides in an increasingly complex realm. Here is what you should consider for your practices.

Kristina Podnar

Oct 2012

Insight

Onward with the Content Management March!

Change management practices for good content management system adoption.

Kristina Podnar

Apr 2012

Insight

SharePoint Web Governance

So if you are thinking about cleaning up your existing site or migrating to an entirely new platform, this is the time to consider how you will govern your content and the principles around it, from written work to access.

Kristina Podnar

Dec 2013

Insight

Dear Executive: Marry Your Digital Team Lead!

Your digital channels (and you!) deserve a lifetime of happiness, whether you see that as making it to your silver wedding anniversary or having someone with you into your golden years.

Kristina Podnar

Sep 2013