Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is an organizational framework that integrates oversight, risk management, and regulatory compliance practices to ensure responsible and efficient business operations.
What is Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)?
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) refers to coordinated strategies that align business objectives, identify and manage risks, and maintain compliance with laws and industry standards. It enables organizations to operate ethically, reduce exposure to regulatory penalties, and protect reputation and stakeholder trust.
Modern GRC programs incorporate cybersecurity, privacy, and operational resilience practices to meet global requirements such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
GRC frameworks support decision-making by ensuring policies, controls, and accountability mechanisms are embedded across the organization.
Why Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) matters
GRC programs help organizations safeguard sensitive data, avoid legal penalties, and build accountable processes for managing enterprise risk.
By integrating governance policies with risk prevention and compliance practices, businesses can respond to regulatory change, reduce operational disruption, and enhance resilience.
Effective GRC frameworks improve transparency, streamline audits, and enable cross-functional collaboration between legal, security, privacy, and executive teams.
How Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is used in practice
- Establishing internal controls and governance policies across business functions
- Performing enterprise risk assessments and scenario planning
- Implementing compliance programs aligned with global standards and regulations
- Integrating cyber and data privacy controls into organizational risk frameworks
- Coordinating reporting and audit evidence for regulators and stakeholders
- Connecting GRC with third-party risk management (TPRM) and operational resilience programs
Related laws & standards
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
- ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management)
- SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
How OneTrust helps with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
OneTrust supports GRC programs with integrated workflows for risk assessments, compliance reporting, policy management, and audit readiness. The platform centralizes evidence, automates monitoring, and streamlines cross-team collaboration to improve governance and resilience.
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FAQs about Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
ERM focuses specifically on identifying and managing enterprise-wide risks, while GRC encompasses risk, plus governance oversight and regulatory compliance functions.
GRC responsibilities typically span leadership, legal, compliance, security, and audit teams. Many organizations designate a Chief Risk Officer (CRO) or Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to oversee GRC programs.
By establishing structured policies, documentation, risk controls, and evidence management processes, GRC programs help organizations meet obligations under laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
