NCC Members have free access to these Guidelines on the NCC Membership website.

Prediction is difficult, so the concept of future proofing - which theoretically describes the process of trying to anticipate future developments in order to minimise possible negative consequences and seize opportunities - is, in most instances an elusive dream. However, the solution to maximising the return on your investment in IT is unlikely to lie in the world of predictions, crystal balls or horoscopes and these Guidelines are structured around five principle areas:

• Understanding what the business is trying to achieve and aligning IT investments behind these goals
• Establishing sound principles by which IT investments are made
• Managing the returns from IT investments through the use of appropriate performance measures
• Developing the capability of the IT function so that investments deliver what was promised, when it was promised
• Developing the capability of the IT function so that it can take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the investments being made in IT
  

Accordingly, these Guidelines are more about organisational alignment and capability than technology, and more about organisational resilience and sustainability than quick fixes and cost saving.