What is GRC in Cyber Security? A Straightforward Explanation

June 18, 2025
Scott Wu

As a cybersecurity executive who’s implemented GRC programs across multiple organizations, from Microsoft to my own company New Sky Security, I’m constantly surprised by how many security professionals struggle to explain what GRC actually means. Let me break it down in plain terms.

GRC Defined: The Three Pillars

GRC stands for Governance, Risk, and Compliance – three interconnected disciplines that form the foundation of any mature cybersecurity program.

Governance: The “What” and “Who”

Governance establishes the framework for how your organization makes security decisions. It answers:

  • Who has authority to make security decisions?
  • What policies and procedures guide our security program?
  • How do we measure security effectiveness?
  • What’s our risk appetite and tolerance?

Real Example: Our governance framework defines that only the CISO can approve exceptions to our data encryption policy, and any exceptions must be reviewed quarterly by the risk committee.

Risk: The “Why” and “How Much”

Risk management identifies, assesses, and prioritizes threats to your organization. It focuses on:

  • What could go wrong?
  • How likely is it to happen?
  • What would be the impact?
  • How do we reduce or accept these risks?

Real Example: We identified that our legacy CRM system poses a high risk due to outdated encryption. We quantified this as a potential $2M impact with 30% likelihood, leading to a priority remediation project.

Compliance: The “Must Do”

Compliance ensures your organization meets legal, regulatory, and contractual security requirements. This includes:

  • Industry regulations (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOX)
  • Government standards (NIST, ISO 27001)
  • Contractual obligations
  • Internal policy adherence

Real Example: Our compliance program tracks 847 individual controls across SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS requirements, with automated evidence collection for 60% of them.

Why GRC Matters in Cybersecurity

It Connects Security to Business

GRC translates technical security concepts into business language. Instead of saying “we need better endpoint protection,” GRC helps us say “inadequate endpoint security creates a 15% probability of business disruption costing $500K.”

It Provides Structure

Without GRC, cybersecurity becomes reactive and chaotic. GRC provides the framework for making consistent, defensible security decisions.

It Demonstrates Value

GRC programs generate the metrics and reporting that executives need to understand security program effectiveness and ROI.

Common GRC Activities

Daily GRC Work Includes:

  • Risk assessments and threat modeling
  • Policy development and maintenance
  • Compliance monitoring and reporting
  • Vendor risk management
  • Incident response coordination
  • Security metrics and KPI tracking
  • Audit preparation and remediation

GRC vs. Technical Security: The Key Difference

Technical security focuses on implementing controls – firewalls, encryption, monitoring tools. GRC focuses on ensuring those controls align with business objectives, address real risks, and meet compliance requirements.

Think of it this way: Technical security builds the locks; GRC decides which doors need locks, how strong those locks should be, and proves to auditors that the locks work.

Who Needs GRC Skills?

Essential for These Roles:

  • GRC Analysts and Managers
  • Risk Management professionals
  • Compliance Officers
  • Security Architects
  • CISOs and security leadership

Valuable for These Roles:

  • Security Engineers (understanding why controls exist)
  • IT Auditors
  • Project Managers in security
  • Business Analysts working with security teams

Getting Started in GRC

Key Skills to Develop:

  • Risk assessment methodologies
  • Regulatory framework knowledge
  • Business process understanding
  • Communication and documentation
  • Project management

Recommended Certifications:

  • CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control)
  • CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
  • CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
  • ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

Entry-Level Path:

  1. Start with compliance monitoring roles
  2. Learn risk assessment techniques
  3. Develop policy writing skills
  4. Gain experience with audit processes
  5. Move into strategic GRC positions

The Bottom Line

GRC isn’t just bureaucracy – it’s the strategic foundation that makes cybersecurity programs effective and sustainable. While technical security protects against immediate threats, GRC ensures your security program aligns with business needs, addresses real risks, and meets regulatory requirements.

If you’re considering a GRC career, know that it offers excellent growth potential, strong job security, and the opportunity to influence security strategy at the highest levels. The work is less hands-on-keyboard than technical security, but it’s equally critical to organizational success.

The reality: Every mature cybersecurity program needs strong GRC capabilities. As organizations face increasing regulatory pressure and sophisticated threats, GRC professionals who can bridge the gap between technical security and business requirements are more valuable than ever.

GRC might seem abstract compared to technical security, but it’s the framework that makes everything else work. Master GRC concepts, and you’ll understand not just how to implement security controls, but why they matter and how to prove their value.

  • Security