ISO/IEC 38500:2015 Information technology Governance of IT for the organization

ISO/IEC 38500:2015 IT Governance Certification for Saudi Arabia

ISO/IEC 38500:2015 establishes the international framework for effective information technology governance, providing principles for executive leadership and governing bodies at Saudi organizations. This standard ensures IT resources align with Digital Economy Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030 digital transformation objectives while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Governance Scope for Gulf Organizations:

1. Strategic Alignment: Connect IT investments to diversification goals and Saudi giga-project requirements
2. Value Realization: Ensure technology expenditures support National Technology Fund and Saudi STC Group objectives
3. Risk Management: Address cybersecurity requirements from Saudi NDMO regulations
4. Performance Measurement: Establish metrics compliant with Saudi CMA governance standards

Key Implementation Areas:

• Executive Oversight: Board-level IT decision frameworks for Saudi publicly listed companies
• Compliance Assurance: Meet Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)
• Third-Party Governance: Manage vendor risks for cloud services used across GCC operations
• Digital Transformation: Align IT investments with Saudi Vision 2030 digital cities

Critical Applications in KSA:
Banking Sector: IT governance frameworks compliant with Central Bank of SAMA regulations
Government Entities: Alignment with Digital Transformation Strategy and Saudi NDMO standards
Energy Industry: Control systems governance for PDO and Aramco digital operations
Healthcare Providers: Patient data management under Saudi SFDA requirements

Operational Benefits:
Regulatory Compliance: Satisfy Cyber Security Framework and Saudi NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls
Strategic Control: Maintain oversight of NEOM smart city implementations digital infrastructure
Risk Reduction: Prevent data breaches under Gulf data protection regulations
Investment Protection: Ensure technology spending supports Saudi Qiyadiyah national priorities
Audit Readiness: Streamline compliance reporting for internal and external stakeholders

Implementation Framework:

1. Context Establishment: Align with Saudi Vision 2030 digital goals
2. Governance Design: Develop board-level policies for Saudi legal environments
3. Control Implementation: Deploy monitoring systems meeting GCC data sovereignty requirements

Sector-Specific Governance:

• KSA: Smart city infrastructure governance for Riyadh 4.0
• Cross-Border: Cloud service compliance across GCC markets

ANS Certification Process:

1. Maturity Assessment: Benchmark against Saudi NDMO frameworks
2. Certification Audit: Conducted by specialists with GCC public/private sector experience
3. Continuous Compliance: Maintain alignment with evolving Gulf digital regulations

Regional Governance Challenges Addressed:

• KSA: Rapid digital transformation oversight
• Shared: Cross-border data flow compliance