Connect Fall 2018 | Page 12

DISCUSSION The Dollars & Sense of Compliance Compliance affects nearly every industry, whether through the ethical guidelines for HR practices, safety standards for products, or the complex legal regulations surrounding the financial industry. Laws and guidelines from innumerable regulatory agencies protect consumers and companies—but compliance comes at a cost. IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY, IT and data safety are key components of compliance. Look no further than the health- care industry, tasked with safeguarding data on various levels, especially in the wake of massive security breaches. Compli- ance remains one of the most significant challenges for senior executives, and it may fall on a team or department that has limited resources to comply with demanding regulations. UNDERSTAND what meeting regulatory requirements and standards means for your business from a financial and opera- tional standpoint and decide how to measure and analyze the effectiveness of your compliance efforts. DETERMINE the chain of command and appropriate tasks and resources needed for optimal compliance, whether through a chief compliance officer, chief of information security, compliance team, general counsel, or advisory boards. COMMUNICATE the significance of standards and regulations beyond the team responsible for quality. Sharing the conse- quences for failing these measures throughout every level of the organization can boost commitment to quality. EXPLORE lean solutions or leverage existing resources to improve IT and data security. 12 SNB.COM // CONNECT INNOVATION FALL 2018 // RANKED ONE OF FORBES' BEST BANKS OF 2018 ON THE GROUND A report from Deloitte and Compli- ance Week surveying compliance officers shows organizations are gaining more authority and support for effective compliance programs. However, concerns remain about IT systems’ capabilities to meet compli- ance program requirements. Many surveyed say technology solutions, including big data and internal tools, fall short for compliance. Financial services firms in partic- ular, including banks, insurers, and asset managers, face increased costs and deal with continued regulatory change, according to a study from Thomson Reuters. In fact, survey results from financial firms show that accurately benchmarking the total spend on compliance is nearly impossible, given the broad scope of what compliance involves in those sectors, from new technology to heightened regulatory risk for cybersecurity, data privacy, and IT infrastructure.