Introduction to Operational GRC

Why?

Traditionally, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) has been perceived as merely a bureaucratic exercise, often disconnected from the real security needs of an organization. Operational GRC challenges this perception by focusing on actionable security measures that truly enhance an organization’s cybersecurity posture. This approach moves away from mere compliance to embrace a strategy that drives meaningful security activities.

What is Operational GRC?

Operational GRC is a dynamic and tool-agnostic approach designed to streamline and enhance the way organizations manage their cybersecurity. It transcends traditional GRC frameworks by:

• Simplifying complex compliance and risk management processes.
• Using knowledge graphs to link and enrich data, which avoids redundancy and promotes clarity.
• Ensuring that every entity, regardless of their current tooling—be it advanced GRC platforms or basic Excel sheets—can implement these principles effectively.

What Operational GRC is Not

• Not a Revolutionary Concept: While it refines and redirects GRC efforts, it is not a radical departure from traditional models but rather an evolution through simplicity
• Not a Static Definition: It is a flexible, adaptive approach that evolves with your organization’s needs and the broader security landscape.

Benefits of Operational GRC

Operational GRC transforms theoretical GRC frameworks into practical tools that provide tangible benefits:

• Focus on Action: Redirects efforts from compliance for compliance’s sake to actions that tangibly protect your organization.
• Reusability and Mapping: Facilitates the reuse of controls and policies across various frameworks, enhancing efficiency.
• Data-driven Decisions: Employs data to prioritize security actions based on their potential impact and necessity.
• Scalable Practices: Grows with your organization, adapting to increased complexity without losing effectiveness.
• Collaborative Integration: Fosters better communication and integration between GRC and operational teams, breaking down traditional silos.

Implementing Operational GRC

Implementing operational GRC involves a structured approach that integrates GRC processes directly into daily operations, ensuring they are practical and actionable:

1. Centralize Control Documentation: Enumerate all existing controls—technical systems, processes, policies, and documentation. Catalog these in a centralized repository with detailed tracking of their attributes.
2. Continuous Tracking and Updates: Regularly update the status and attributes of each control as changes occur to keep the data current and actionable.
3. Evidence-Based Compliance: Link controls directly to specific compliance requirements, attaching evidence of implementation directly to the related control.
4. Risk and Control Alignment: Assess existing controls against current risk levels to identify gaps or over-controls. Link each risk to specific mitigating controls and document the process.
5. Action Plans and Compliance Mapping: When new compliance standards are required, map existing controls to these standards and develop action plans for areas of non-compliance.
6. Evidence Collection and Management: Systematically collect and manage evidence of control implementation as an ongoing activity.
7. Integration with Operational Activities: Ensure that GRC processes are integrated with daily operational activities to support both security and compliance.

Relation to GRC Engineering

Operational GRC and GRC Engineering share common goals of modernizing GRC practices but cater to different organizational needs. While GRC Engineering often employs automation to manage GRC tasks—primarily in larger organizations—Operational GRC emphasizes practical, actionable measures suitable for any size organization, promoting iterative improvement and integration.

About CISO Assistant

CISO Assistant is our open-source platform that embodies the principles of Operational GRC. Designed to offer a cohesive environment for managing cybersecurity effectively, it supports the principles of reusability and efficient management of security tasks. To explore how CISO Assistant can enhance your GRC capabilities, start your trial today.