IT Policy and Compliance Fundamentals

This lesson introduces the foundations of IT governance, policy, and compliance. Learners will understand why organizations need formal policies, how governance connects IT decisions to business goals, and how compliance reduces legal, operational, and security risk.

The lesson also clarifies key terms, common policy types, and the basic roles involved in creating, approving, enforcing, and reviewing IT policy. By the end, learners should be able to recognize the difference between a policy, standard, procedure, and guideline, and explain how these elements work together in a practical compliance program.