Last week I blogged about how to realize the value of the gold mine of information in your compliance logs. I said you need a data analysis strategy and a strategy for how to engage the organization in using that data to uncover the misuse of privilege and potential for out of compliance scenarios. The human factor is important in designing any IT systems, but how does it apply here?
Our friends at Securosis present a great example “As an example, database activity monitoring installation and maintenance falls upon the shoulders of database administrators. From their perspective, all they see is more work (and possibly a disturbing lack of faith). Not only do they have to install the product, but they get blamed for any performance and reliability issues that result. Pouring more salt into the wound, the DAM system is designed to monitor database administrators! Not only is the DBA’s job now harder because they can’t use their typical shortcuts, but now someone’s looking over their shoulder and asking annoying questions.”
Well one answer to that conundrum is to design a better DAM solution – one that’s transparent to the user and doesn’t impact performance and reliability. But in addition making the data useful to them assures they have a stake in the process and the accuracy of the data. Give them access to the data and let them use it to make their life simpler which will make them part of the solution and improve their productivity.
