Governance vs. Management: Key Differences
Although governance and management are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct concepts within cybersecurity:
Cybersecurity Governance: This is a high-level, strategic function that sets the direction and ensures that security policies, processes, and procedures align with organizational goals. Governance focuses on establishing rules, frameworks, and accountability. It answers the “what” and “why” questions of cybersecurity: What should be protected? Why is it necessary to protect it?
Cybersecurity Management: This is the day-to-day execution of policies and frameworks set by governance. Management involves implementing security controls, responding to incidents, and monitoring security performance. It answers the “how” questions: How will the policies be implemented? How will risks be mitigated on a tactical level?
While governance is about overseeing and directing cybersecurity efforts, management is about the operational application of those efforts.