Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) is a strategy that organizations use to meet business goals. It also ensures they do so ethically, competently, and profitably. GRC is particularly important for organizations operating in regulated industries or with complex regulatory requirements. It involves creating policies and procedures to manage risks, ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and improve organizational performance.
At its core, GRC formalizes the risk management and compliance process by breaking it down into three separate areas. It provides organizations with the tools to manage their risks effectively, identify and control compliance issues, and measure progress toward meeting goals.
Companies can choose from a wealth of GRC technology solutions. Some attempt to tackle all three angles, while others focus on one or two specific aspects of governance, risk, and compliance. Integration makes it easy for companies to make a centralized, comprehensive strategy out of several moving parts. Here are some additional things to consider.
Organizations should start by evaluating their own processes and identifying the specific problems they are trying to solve. For example, a company may need more visibility into its compliance status while another might need better ways to respond quickly to changes in regulations.
User experience (UX) is essential when implementing GRC software. The solution must be intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing users to find the necessary information and take action quickly.
Automation is a must-have in GRC technology. It allows organizations to streamline risk management processes, reducing time-consuming manual tasks and freeing up resources for more strategic initiatives.
Organizations should also consider the Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer compliance level their GRC solution provides. AML and KYC are two critical components of any risk management strategy, and the right software can help organizations easily meet these requirements.
Finally, companies should look for GRC solutions with robust data security and privacy features, such as encryption and access control. This will ensure the safety of sensitive data and protect it from unauthorized access or use.
The vendor you choose plays a critical role in the success of your GRC software. Ideally, you select a vendor who meets the business’s needs today and has the resources to meet those of the future. Provided that you’ve made a good choice, here are some best practices to ensure a smooth implementation.
Before you start the implementation process, detail your goals and desired outcomes. This makes it easier to configure the GRC solution to meet those needs and provide maximum value.
Training is essential for successful GRC software adoption. Make sure everyone using it clearly understands how the system works and how to use it effectively.
IT admins should only implement GRC technology with clear processes and procedures in place. Establishing processes and procedures ensures the compliant and effective use of your GRC software.
Identify and resolve any process issues before automating them with GRC software. That way, you can be confident that the system is working as expected and is providing maximum value.
Regularly monitor progress and adjust your strategy as needed to ensure optimal results. Your vendor should also provide regular updates on the GRC solution’s success and advise on how to optimize it further.
Finally, communication between your organization and the vendor is essential for success. Your vendor should be available to answer questions, provide guidance and support when needed, and keep you informed of any new developments where appropriate.
Implementing a communications’ capturing and archiving solution is a critical part of any GRC program. Record-keeping solutions like those offered by LeapXpert make it easy to store, organize, and access information related to governance, risk, and compliance of instant messages and voice. They help ensure that organizations always have the proper documentation on hand when needed and that they remain in compliance with regulations.
When evaluating capturing and archiving solutions, organizations should look for features such as data encryption, data leakage protection, comprehensive search capabilities, federation, and native integrations with existing collaboration platforms. These will enable them to easily access the documents they need without compromising security or privacy.
Our LeapXpert solution offers these and other features that can transform how your organization approaches governance, risk, and compliance. Don’t take our word for it. Book a demo to see how our software resolves these and other organizational concerns.