Transparency is everythingJanuary 16, 2012Dear Sir,“Truth needs no crutches.”Truth will always stand on its own.We all know that there is the spirit of the law, and the letter of the law.We also know that all too often, the letter of the law is used to manipulate and obscure truth.The spirit of the law is the pursuit of transparency, that is to say:n The promotion of goodwill (if it doesn’t engender affirmation, it is not goodwill)n The duty to one’s office (removal of obstructions in order to execute one’s duties responsibly)n The duty to one’s peers (ownership of accountability making oneself accountable among one’s peers not being forced to be accountable) .n The duty to those we serve (becoming a servant to the will of the people, not a tyrant who dictates terms, or silences criticism with counter attacks),n The duty to progress life, liberty, and a better future (refusing to become an unnecessary burden on those we serve by increased cost, delayed processes, increased reworking, loss of confidence in growing global market).The “Trauma of Transparency” becomes self-evident when one is unable to stand unsupported by crutches before one’s peers and say: “Search and know me I have nothing to hide.”The letter of the law says, “I have done my due diligence” I checked the right box.The spirit of the law asks, “Have I done my due-care”, do I care enough to make sure it promotes goodwill, discharges completely all the duties of my office, it stands in full integrity of my peers, it serves the very best interest of those I serve, it never becomes a burden to the progress and future of those I serve.When good and decent people, who are normally responsible and diligent in their duties, find themselves in the spotlight of public opinion due to less than honourable actions, one does not have to look far to find the all too familiar sign of “crutches.”To an auditor, “crutches” are the breadcrumbs that lead to the cupboard of hidden indiscretion.The unfulfilled expectation of “transparency” is without doubt, the most grievous wrong against the rules of conduct by a public servant in the eyes of an auditor.To say the absence of truth is misleading, when it is dishonourable, irresponsible and unaccountable, is putting the matter mildly, very mild indeed.After all … transparency is everything.Period.DR MICHAEL KELLEY CISSP, PMP, CHS-II, NSA-IAM/IEMSenior Security AuditorHamilton Parish