Case Study
Advancing Data Security: A Program Plan for a Mining Industry Leader
- Summary
As part of a commitment to maturing both cyber and information security posture, Transform Logiq was engaged to analyse the current state, provide recommendations for improvement, and develop a comprehensive programme plan targeting specific NIST-aligned areas within the information security focus area.
The project aimed to deliver actionable recommendations and a programme of works to elevate data security and governance maturity.
The Client
The client is a gold mining business that has grown from modest beginnings into an organisation with a reputation for delivering value to stakeholders. Their success is underpinned by a commitment to operational excellence and a strong connection to their Australian heritage.
The Challenge
This organisation has been on a cyber security maturity journey for several years, making significant progress across the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and the ACSC Essential 8. These efforts have raised their NIST CSF maturity score to an average of 3.4 across all domains and categories.
However, while cyber security has been a priority, data governance has remained a secondary focus until recently.
With the appointment of a Head of Data, AI, and Analytics, the company initiated a targeted effort to enhance data governance maturity. Early initiatives adopted a ‘narrow but deep’ approach within the business intelligence domain, which underscored the need for a broader, more systematic strategy.
To align data governance with their cyber maturity achievements, the company sought a pragmatic and comprehensive programme plan to address areas such as software auditing, data flow mapping, data classification, data retention, and data loss prevention.
The Approach
Transform Logiq conducted discovery workshops with key stakeholders from IT and data management teams.
These sessions facilitated a detailed analysis of current data governance practices, focusing on:
- Software auditing (ID.AM-2)
- Data flow mapping (ID.AM-3)
- Formal management of data assets (PR.DS-3)
- Data loss prevention (PR.DS-5)
The findings informed a gap analysis that compared the current state to NIST CSF maturity level requirements. Based on these observations, Transform Logiq developed a phased and actionable programme of works to systematically enhance the organization’s data security posture.
For each NIST standard, the deliverables included:
- Business-related use cases and benefits
- Current state observations, highlighting gaps to achieve maturity levels 3-4
- Recommendations for advancing through maturity levels 1-5
- Technology mapping to guide further investigation
Additionally, red flags and quick wins were identified alongside a two-year roadmap divided into five change states:
- Plan, Commit, and Do Now activities
- Data discovery, mapping, classification, and quick wins
- DLP design and protection of information at rest
- Protection of information in motion
- DLP finalisation
The Results
The resulting programme plan provided the company with a clear and actionable series of activities to uplift data governance and security maturity. This comprehensive programme was designed to achieve both the desired maturity level and practical security practice implementation without relying on a staged approach.
Key outcomes included:
- A systematic roadmap for achieving higher NIST CSF maturity levels
- Sustainable improvements in data governance and security practices
- Identification of red flags and quick wins for immediate action with minimal cost
By addressing gaps and building a robust data governance framework, the company is positioned to align its data security maturity with its cyber security achievements. This alignment ensures a more secure, resilient, and efficient operating environment.
Lessons Learned /
Best Practices
Through this engagement, several key lessons and best practices emerged, shaping a more effective approach to data governance and security maturity in the mining sector.
- Cybersecurity Maturity Does Not Equal Data Governance Maturity
- While the client had made significant progress in cybersecurity, data governance required a separate, structured approach. A strong cybersecurity posture does not automatically translate to effective data management—each must be developed with dedicated focus.
- A Targeted Approach Yields Better Results Than a Broad One
- The initial ‘narrow but deep’ strategy within the business intelligence domain highlighted the importance of targeted interventions before broader implementation. Focusing on specific areas—such as data classification, retention, and loss prevention—allowed for immediate impact and clearer roadmaps for scalability.
- Stakeholder Engagement is Critical to Success
- Workshops with IT, data, and business leaders revealed misalignment in how data governance was perceived across teams. Bringing together multiple stakeholders ensured a shared understanding of risks, priorities, and strategic objectives.
- Technology Alone Does Not Solve Data Governance Challenges
- While technology mapping was essential, the key to success lay in governance, policies, and structured implementation. Defining clear ownership of data assets and establishing formal management processes were more impactful than simply investing in new tools.
- Quick Wins Build Momentum for Long-Term Change
- Identifying low-cost, high-impact actions—such as addressing software auditing gaps and implementing initial data flow mapping—provided immediate improvements while creating organisational buy-in for the broader program.
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