Information security and compliance are an integral part of day-to-day operations for more and more organisations. Legislation changes, standards are tightened and organisations work with more and more digital systems and external suppliers. This makes it more difficult to keep track of controls, risk assessments, measures and responsibilities.
JCC software helps to bring these different parts together in one central environment. GRC stands for Governance, Risk & Compliance and focuses on managing processes, risk derivatives and obligations within an organisation. Instead of disseminating information on spreadsheets, documents and separate systems, one place is created where the current state of affairs can be monitored.
Why organizations use GRC software
Compliance often consists of dozens or even hundreds of controls and measures. Internal processes, supplier assessments, risk analysis and documentation are added.
When this information is kept manually, it takes a lot of time to determine what is current. It will also be more difficult to see which tasks are still open and who is responsible.
A JCC platform may, inter alia, help:
- recording and assessing risk derivatives;
- managing controls and measures;
- monitoring compliance progress;
- assigning responsibilities;
- assessing suppliers;
- collecting and managing the burden of proof;
- monitoring open actions;
- working with different standards and frameworks.
This creates a clearer picture of information security and compliance within the organisation.
Manage ISO 27001, NIS2 and GDPR from a single environment
Many organisations do not have one single standard or legal obligation. Different rules and frameworks may apply simultaneously.
ISO 27001 focuses, for example, on structural management of information security. Organisations shall identify risk derivatives, take appropriate measures and regularly check that these measures are working properly.
The NIS2 Directive places extra emphasis on cybersecurity, risk management and the responsibility of organisations for digital resilience. Suppliers and other parties within the chain also play an important role.
In addition, the GDPR requirements for the way personal data are processed and protected.
Many measures in these areas overlap. A well-equipped GRC system can make this connection visible. An existing security measure therefore does not need to be re-registered for each individual framework.
Keeping risk management transparent on a continuous basis
A risk analysis is not a document that is drawn up once and remains the same for years. The environment of an organization is constantly changing.
New employees, systems and suppliers will be added. Software is being replaced, processes are changing and new cyber threats are emerging. Legislation and regulations can also change.
Therefore, it is important that risk management becomes part of a continuous process.
With GRC software, risk derivatives can be linked to specific measures, controls and responsible persons. This makes it easier to understand why a measure is needed and what effects an open risk may have.
For example, when a check reveals a deviation, it is possible to determine directly which action is necessary. This prevents important findings from disappearing in emails or separate documents.
More control over suppliers
Almost every organisation uses external service providers. Think of hosting companies, cloud environments, software providers, IT partners and other parties that manage systems or process data.
This also creates dependence.
A security incident with a supplier can have an impact on its own organisation. Supplier management is therefore becoming increasingly important within information security and risk management.
For example, by registering suppliers centrally, organisations can record:
- which systems or data a supplier uses;
- the security arrangements made;
- which documents are available;
- when an assessment is to be renewed;
- which risk derivatives belong to a supplier;
- the measures to be implemented.
Thus supplier management becomes part of the broader compliance process rather than a separate administration.
Less dependent on spreadsheets
Spreadsheets are useful for easy registrations, but become difficult to manage when multiple employees have to maintain the same compliance processes.
Different versions of files arise and it is not always clear who did a change. Automatic reminders, division of tasks and links between risk derivatives and measures are also limited.
A specialised GRC platform offers more structure for this.
With a solution like My IORP organisations can manage different aspects of governance, risk management and compliance from a single environment. This creates a central place for controls, frameworks, risk derivatives and suppliers.
Automation makes compliance more practical
A large part of compliance consists of work that comes back regularly. A check must be carried out again, a document expires or a responsible person must assess a measure.
When such work is carried out completely manually, a lot of time goes into administration and follow-up.
For example, automation can be used for reminders, periodic checks, reports and the identification of open actions.
This does not mean that information security can be performed completely automatically. Human assessment remains important. Automation mainly reduces the time spent on repeated administrative work.
Understanding via a central compliance dashboard
A dashboard makes complex information easier to assess. Instead of opening different documents, an organisation can be directly visible.
Think of information like:
- progress by framework;
- open controls;
- current risk derivatives;
- derogations requiring attention;
- status of measures;
- suppliers with open reviews.
This provides management, security staff and compliance managers with a shared picture of the current situation.
Compliance as an ongoing process
Effective compliance is not just about getting a certification or completing an audit. It is mainly about structural risk management and the demonstrable implementation of appropriate measures.
By centralising and regularly updating information, it will be easier to prepare for audits, regulatory changes and new security risk assessments.
A GRC platform such as My IORP can help by bringing together compliance, information security, risk management and supplier management within one environment.