Efficiency in the 1980's, quality in the 1990's, compliance in the 2010's - private sector management techniques and mechanisms find their way to public services. This paper facilitates the understanding of how compliance management controls can improve operations and prevent or detect failure or wrong doing. The last few years' empirical research and benchmark studies demonstrate how organizations are confused about the use of compliance controls. In brief, better organized and integrated IT controls generally lead to better compliance all over the business.