Workflow Steps: Prepare, Assess, Certify, Improve, Renew
This page explains the five key workflow steps in detail, describing how each stage contributes to your organisation’s journey through the Digital and Cybersecurity Pillar. Alongside the descriptions, it highlights the resources available to support you, from this knowledge base to the online assessment tool and additional guidance.
Introduction
The Digital Pillar workflow is a roadmap for advancing digital maturity and cybersecurity resilience. Each step builds on the last, helping organisations identify strengths, address gaps, and achieve recognised levels of capability. This workflow is designed to be iterative, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptability to emerging challenges.
Below, we describe each stage in depth, with recommended actions and key resources for successful implementation.
1. Prepare
Objective: Lay the groundwork for a successful assessment by understanding the framework, defining goals, and gathering baseline information.
Description:
This stage sets the foundation for your digital transformation. It involves exploring the Digital Pillar Framework, identifying your organisation’s priorities, and preparing key stakeholders for participation.
Preparation ensures you maximise the value of the assessment and focus on areas most critical to your organisation’s success.
Actions:
Review this Knowledge Base, starting with the Digital Pillar Overview.
Gather data on current practices, including digital processes, cybersecurity measures, and compliance status.
Define clear goals, such as achieving Bronze, Silver, or Gold certification.
Key Resources:
This Knowledge Base: A comprehensive guide to understanding and preparing for the Digital Pillar process.
Digital Readiness Checklist: (Downloadable resource) Identify essential preparation steps. This step is currently under construction.
2. Assess
Objective: Use the Digital Pillar Assessment Tool to evaluate your organisation’s maturity, identify strengths and gaps, and receive tailored recommendations.
Description:
This is the evaluation stage, where you interact with the online AI-powered assessment tool. The tool is designed to measure your organisation’s maturity across the five architecture themes.
Assessment is data-driven, aligning your practices with industry standards and highlighting areas for growth.
Actions:
Complete the assessment tool, answering questions across the five architecture themes.
For higher certifications (Silver, Gold), submit evidence as required.
Review your maturity report to understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
Key Resources:
Digital Pillar Assessment Tool: (Online) Conduct the assessment and receive your report.
Evidence Submission Templates: (Downloadable resource) Prepare documentation for advanced certification levels. Contact ADS support to know more.
3. Certify
Objective: Achieve recognition for your digital and cybersecurity capabilities through certification at Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels.
Description:
Certification formalises your organisation’s progress and provides validation of your maturity. Each level represents a significant milestone, with Silver and Gold demonstrating advanced capabilities.
Certification is not the end of the journey but a marker of your progress, motivating continuous improvement.
Actions:
Review the maturity report to understand your current level.
Submit evidence for validation, if required for Silver or Gold certification.
Celebrate your certification as recognition of your efforts and achievements.
Key Resources:
Certification Guidelines: Clear criteria for Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. For additional information on this please contact ADS support below.
ADS Support: Direct access to experts for assistance with certification.
4. Improve
Objective: Address gaps identified in the assessment and implement recommendations for growth.
Description:
The improvement phase is where progress happens. Armed with insights from the maturity report, you implement actionable recommendations to strengthen your digital and cybersecurity practices.
This stage is essential for moving up the maturity ladder and maintaining resilience.
Actions:
Prioritise recommendations from the maturity report based on your organisation’s needs and goals.
Access best practices, case studies, and templates in the Knowledge Hub.
Monitor and measure progress as you implement changes.
Key Resources:
Improvement Action Plan:
Description: Automatically generated from the assessment platform, this plan outlines prioritised recommendations tailored to your organisation’s identified gaps. It includes specific actions, timelines, and responsibilities for improvement.
How to Access: Download this directly from your final assessment report in the Digital Pillar Assessment Tool.
How to Use: Use the plan as a roadmap for implementing improvements, assigning tasks to appropriate teams, and tracking progress.
Best Practices Library: Actionable guidance for each of the five architecture themes (Business, Data, Application, Technology, Security).
Case Studies: Real-world examples of organisations successfully enhancing their digital maturity.
5. Renew
Objective: Reassess and refine practices to maintain certification or achieve a higher maturity level.
Description:
The renew phase ensures your organisation stays aligned with evolving standards and continues to build on its progress. Regular reassessment allows you to stay ahead of industry trends and maintain a strong cybersecurity posture.
This stage is cyclical, feeding back into the Prepare step for continuous improvement.
Actions:
Conduct periodic reassessments using the Digital Pillar Assessment Tool.
Update policies, practices, and technologies based on new standards and recommendations.
Plan for achieving the next level of maturity, if applicable.
Key Resources:
Reassessment Guidelines: Steps to prepare for reassessment, provided within the assessment platform.
Continuous Improvement Tracker: Monitor ongoing enhancements and align with improvement goals, available in the assessment platform.
Framework Update Alerts: Stay informed about changes to the Digital Pillar Framework, tracked and shared via the assessment platform.
Why This Workflow Matters
This structured approach ensures organisations:
Understand Their Starting Point: Prepare effectively for meaningful assessment.
Gain Recognition: Achieve formal certification that validates their efforts.
Continue to Evolve: Embed a culture of ongoing development to remain competitive and resilient.
By following these steps and leveraging the available resources, your organisation can achieve measurable progress and long-term success in digital maturity and cybersecurity.
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