Self-attestations are an increasingly popular tool for cybersecurity compliance frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) directives. The idea is that organizations attest to meeting specific security controls and requirements without third-party validation.

In today’s complex cybersecurity environment, the need for robust governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) strategies has never been higher. With evolving regulations, heightened security threats, and complex compliance requirements, organizations are turning to GRC software so that they can meet their objectives efficiently and effectively. That said, your choices for GRC software are many.

Governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) are crucial activities for any modern organization. Implementing an effective GRC program, however, is easier said than done. The first and most critical step: defining clear roles and responsibilities so people know what they’re supposed to do to further your GRC A well-structured GRC team facilitates collaboration across departments, leverages cross-functional expertise, and drives consistency in managing governance, risk, and compliance.

Despite best efforts to accommodate third-party risk management (TPRM) processes that correspond with increased use of third-party vendors, incident outcomes seem to grow as well. The 2023 global average cost of a data breach was USD $4.45M, a 2.3% year over year increase. In the United States, the average cost of a breach is higher at USD $9.48M.

‍ Today, cybersecurity is evolving into cyber risk management. The last few decades of immense technological and digital transformations have meant that, to a large extent, a business’s ability to be resilient is dependent on a reliable, free flow of data and on technology functioning without interruption. This shift has profound implications for the global economy’s ability to remain stable. ‍

In today’s digital age, ransomware attacks have emerged as one of the most formidable threats to organizations worldwide. These malicious software attacks encrypt files on a device, rendering them inaccessible to users, and demand a ransom for decryption keys. The impact of ransomware can be devastating, leading to significant financial losses, operational downtime, and reputational damage.

To optimize compliance management within an organization, it’s crucial to select the right governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) software for your business. This guide will review the importance of GRC software, how it helps with compliance management, what essential features to look for, and which GRC solutions are top-rated for 2024, with a special focus on ZenGRC as a leading option. GRC software plays a pivotal role helping businesses navigate the modern risk management landscape.

What you should know about the SEC's new rules on risk management and incident reporting.

The rise of remote learning has motivated cybercriminals to advance their assault on the education sector. In 2022, cybercriminals deployed more than 2200 attacks against higher education institutions every week, a 44% increase compared to 2021 (Check Point, 2022). Risk professionals attribute this increase to various factors, including the structure of remote learning environments.

Like most high-performing organizations, higher education institutions often utilize third-party vendors to outsource key services, such as data management and research initiatives. This reliance on third-party vendors can lead to various risks, including data privacy vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and operational disruptions. Therefore, universities must implement advanced vendor management processes to mitigate these risks.