The future of #digitaltransformation is dependent on a focus on trust among all parties of online transactions. Digital trust reinforces enterprise innovation, economic expansion, and value creation for all parties in an interaction.

Trust is the foundation of all relationships. It is especially critical now in the expanding digital world where multiple parties may never meet in person to share sensitive and private information needed to complete a transaction. Every interaction must reinforce that the organization cares about—and has instituted effective practices in—all areas of #digitaltrust.

Digital trust is a significant driver when consumers and enterprises decide with whom they want to conduct business. They consider many vital factors when determining the trustworthiness of an #organization, and all are critical to establishing and upholding the digital trust

Key factors that contribute to digital trust include:

1. Quality—Quality must meet or exceed consumer expectations.
2. Availability—Consumers need to be able to access accurate information in a timely manner.
3. Security and privacy—Consumers expect the data they share will be protected and kept confidential.
4. Ethics and integrity—Enterprises should live up to their promised values.
5. Transparency and honesty—Consumers should be informed about how their information is used. If personal information has been compromised, consumers should know how the enterprise addresses the situation and what it is doing to prevent it from happening again.
6. Resiliency—Enterprises need to assure that they are stable and secure and can withstand adverse circumstances while also being able to evolve to leverage new technologies and advancements.

What Is Digital Trust?

According to ISACA, digital trust is the confidence in the integrity of the relationships, interactions, and transactions among providers and consumers within an associated digital ecosystem. This includes the ability of people, organizations, processes, information, and technology to create and maintain a trustworthy digital world. It addresses ethical behaviors and expectations among all parties engaged in a transaction. Establishing a baseline of trust is integral to all digital and online interactions.

Responsibility for Digital Trust

Who is responsible for digital trust? Boards of directors and senior management have ultimate responsibility for the strategic direction, effectiveness, sustainability, and long-term viability of an enterprise. While everybody in an organization has a role to play in ensuring the strength and benefits of digital trust, it does not mean that everyone is responsible. C-level executives are the drivers of digital trust and must ensure that it is a clear and supported priority in every aspect of operations.

ISACA’s Position in the Digital Trust Space 

Effective governance over an enterprise helps drive digital trust. Organizations with robust security, privacy, IT risk, IT assurance, and information and technology practices are often considered digitally trustworthy. As industries progress and mature, there has become a critical—and growing—demand for digital trust to be measured, managed, and prioritized in a strategic way throughout all aspects of every enterprise.

ISACA is addressing these needs through research and development of industry-leading tools, credentials, education, and training. ISACA’s global community of dedicated and experienced IT and business professionals work together to lead the growth, share knowledge and encourage the practices of digital trust in all industries.

Fifty-nine percent of respondents say that ISACA is a recognized leader in digital trust and 62 percent say that ISACA is an emerging key player in the space. This dual vision could be due to ISACA’s extensive research and development in the digital transformation space and the new focus that some enterprises are putting on the importance of digital trust.

When it comes to gaining individual career-enhancement benefits from ISACA as a professional development association, 49 percent say that ISACA offers a recognized credentialing program in digital trust, and 60 percent say that ISACA has the tools and resources available for IT professionals to successfully deliver digital trust, 78 percent say that ISACA enables them to be successful in their profession, 82 percent say that ISACA enables them to stay current with industry trends and 73 percent say that ISACA provides opportunities for them to be recognized as a thought leader.

The above content is from the ISACA‘s State of Digital Trust 2022 Report, download the complete report here.