The Best Approach for Enterprises

D.

When new legal and regulatory requirements apply to IT, the enterprise needs to address them appropriately to ensure compliance. The BEST way to address such requirements is to treat them as a risk to be assessed before developing a response. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Option A suggests benchmarking how other IT organizations are treating the new requirements, which may provide some useful insights, but it may not consider the unique circumstances and context of the enterprise.

Option B suggests adopting a zero-tolerance approach to noncompliance with regulatory matters, which may create a culture of fear and may not be practical or effective, given the complexity and evolving nature of legal and regulatory requirements.

Option D suggests using a cost-benefit analysis to determine if compliance is warranted. While cost-benefit analysis is a useful tool, it may not be appropriate for regulatory matters that are mandatory and non-negotiable.

Treating new legal and regulatory requirements as a risk to be assessed before developing a response is the best approach because it allows the enterprise to identify the potential impact of noncompliance and the likelihood of occurrence, which enables the enterprise to prioritize and allocate resources accordingly. This approach also considers the enterprise's specific context, including the nature of its operations, the regulatory environment, and the industry standards. By treating new legal and regulatory requirements as a risk, the enterprise can develop a comprehensive response plan that includes preventive, detective, and corrective controls, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms, as well as training and awareness programs for relevant stakeholders.