In today’s interconnected and fast-paced digital landscape, organizations face numerous challenges that can disrupt their operations and compromise their ability to deliver services. To mitigate these risks, organizations must prioritize digital operational resilience—the ability to withstand and recover from disruptions swiftly.

In 2014, during a large-scale and extremely complex PCI DSS Project for a large Financial Services organization, we started to develop a project management-based model, which started as a 5-stage model (as part of the development team, for ISACA’s (PCI DSS) A Practical Guide to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (Isaca[1])).  This later developed into the 7-stage PIE FARM model (as shown in figure 1) and which has now been applied to the enhancement of an organization’s “Digital Operational Resilience” capabilities.

Figure 1: PIE FARM Model

In this executive summary, we explore the application of PIE FARM, as a comprehensive framework for building effective digital operational resilience. We provide an overview of the PIE FARM stages and highlight their significance in enhancing organizational resilience.  Link to read the full thought leadership paper.

Understanding PIE FARM

PIE FARM represents the stages of Plan & Prepare, Identify & Isolate, Engage; Explain & Evaluate, Fix, Assess, Report, and Maintain, as depicted in Figure 1 above.   Each stage plays a crucial role in strengthening an organization’s digital operational resilience capabilities. Let us delve into each stage and understand its objectives.

1. Plan & Prepare

The Plan & Prepare stage sets the foundation for digital operational resilience. It involves defining resilience objectives, aligning them with business goals, and establishing a strategy that integrates secure by design and secure by default principles. This stage ensures that resilience is embedded from the outset, enabling organizations to proactively address potential threats.

2. Identify & Isolate

The Identify & Isolate stage focuses on conducting comprehensive risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and implementing strong isolation measures to protect critical assets. By identifying potential risks and isolating critical components, organizations can limit the impact of security breaches and disruptions, safeguarding their operations.

3. Engage; Explain & Evaluate

The Engage; Explain & Evaluate stage emphasizes stakeholder engagement and the creation of a resilient culture within the organization. It involves educating stakeholders, evaluating the effectiveness of resilience measures, and aligning with industry standards. By fostering a culture of resilience and continuous evaluation, organizations can enhance their response to disruptions.

4. Fix

The Fix stage centers on taking corrective actions to address vulnerabilities and enhance incident response capabilities. It encompasses implementing secure design principles, conducting rigorous testing, and promptly remediating vulnerabilities. By focusing on fixing vulnerabilities, organizations can fortify their digital infrastructure against potential threats.

5. Assess

The Assess stage involves continuous monitoring to measure the effectiveness of resilience measures. It includes assessing key performance indicators (KPIs) related to resilience, evaluating incident response capabilities, and identifying areas for improvement. By assessing their resilience, organizations can identify gaps and make informed decisions to strengthen their operational readiness.

6. Report

The Report stage focuses on communicating the organization’s resilience posture to stakeholders. It involves analyzing data, generating comprehensive reports, and effectively conveying the current state of resilience. Through clear and transparent reporting, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to operational resilience and build trust with stakeholders.

7. Maintain

The Maintain stage revolves around ongoing maintenance and refinement of resilience measures. It includes employee training, regular assessments, and compliance with regulations. By continuously investing in employee education, refining incident response plans, and staying compliant with evolving regulations, organizations can sustain their operational resilience over time.

The PIE FARM Advantages

The PIE FARM model offers several advantages for organizations seeking to enhance their digital operational resilience. Here are the key advantages:

• Comprehensive Approach.

PIE FARM provides a comprehensive and structured framework that covers all crucial aspects of digital operational resilience. By incorporating the stages of Plan & Prepare, Identify & Isolate, Engage; Explain & Evaluate, Fix, Assess, Report, and Maintain, organizations can address resilience from multiple angles, ensuring an integrated approach.

• Proactive Risk Management.

PIE FARM enables organizations to proactively identify and manage risks. By conducting risk assessments, isolating critical assets, and implementing secure design principles, organizations can detect vulnerabilities early on and take appropriate actions to mitigate them. This proactive approach minimizes the likelihood and impact of potential disruptions.

• Stakeholder Engagement.

The Engage; Explain & Evaluate stage of PIE FARM emphasizes stakeholder engagement and communication. By involving stakeholders throughout the resilience-building process and transparently explaining the organization’s resilience posture, organizations foster a culture of resilience. This engagement builds trust and promotes a collective commitment to operational resilience.

• Effective Incident Response.

The Fix stage of PIE FARM focuses on addressing vulnerabilities and enhancing incident response capabilities. By promptly fixing identified weaknesses, implementing robust incident response plans, and conducting thorough testing, organizations can respond more effectively to incidents, minimizing their impact and facilitating a faster recovery.

• Continuous Improvement.

The Assess, Report, and Maintain stages of PIE FARM emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring, evaluation, and refinement. By regularly assessing resilience measures, analysing key performance indicators, and generating comprehensive reports, organizations can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to enhance their digital operational resilience over time.

• Compliance and Regulatory Alignment.

PIE FARM helps organizations align with regulatory requirements and industry standards. By following the framework’s stages, organizations can ensure compliance with relevant regulations and demonstrate adherence to best practices in digital operational resilience. This alignment enhances their reputation, instils confidence among stakeholders, and reduces the risk of regulatory penalties.

• Enhanced Business Continuity.

By adopting PIE FARM, organizations can improve their overall business continuity capabilities. The framework’s proactive and systematic approach enables organizations to better anticipate and mitigate disruptions, minimizing operational downtime and financial losses. This enhanced resilience ensures the uninterrupted delivery of services, safeguarding customer satisfaction and maintaining a competitive edge.

Conclusion

In summary, leveraging the PIE FARM model for digital operational resilience offers advantages such as a comprehensive approach, proactive risk management, stakeholder engagement, effective incident response, continuous improvement, compliance and regulatory alignment, and enhanced business continuity. By embracing PIE FARM, organizations can strengthen their resilience posture, mitigate risks, and thrive in the dynamic digital landscape.

Digital operational resilience is vital for organizations navigating the complex and ever-evolving digital landscape. The PIE FARM framework provides a structured roadmap for building effective resilience capabilities. By applying the stages of PIE FARM—Plan & Prepare, Identify & Isolate, Engage; Explain & Evaluate, Fix, Assess, Report, and Maintain—organizations can proactively identify vulnerabilities, strengthen their security posture, and ensure business continuity in the face of disruptions. Embracing PIE FARM empowers organizations to navigate challenges, build customer trust, and thrive in the digital age.

[1] Isaca. A Practical Guide to PCI DSS. 2014. ISACA, 2014.

For further insights, check out:  Security Risk Management – The Driving Force for Operational Resilience The Firefighting Paradox (Seaman and Gioia[5]).