GRC
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is an integrated framework for aligning business objectives, managing organizational risks, and ensuring adherence to legal, ethical, and regulatory obligations.
What is Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)?
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) refers to a coordinated approach that enables organizations to establish effective oversight, identify and mitigate risks, and maintain compliance across business functions.
GRC frameworks help organizations connect strategic objectives with operational accountability while improving decision-making and resilience. They often encompass policies, internal controls, and technologies that ensure consistency and transparency in how risks are managed.
Modern GRC programs increasingly integrate areas like Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), third-party risk management, and operational resilience to provide a holistic view of risk and compliance posture.
Why Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) matters
A strong GRC framework helps organizations reduce operational silos, enhance transparency, and meet regulatory expectations. It ensures leadership can identify emerging risks and maintain accountability across governance, compliance, and security functions.
By centralizing risk data and controls, GRC programs support business continuity, regulatory readiness, and ethical operations. They also help organizations align internal practices with global standards and laws such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and GDPR.
Effective GRC practices foster stakeholder trust, improve operational performance, and create a foundation for sustainable growth in complex regulatory environments.
How Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is used in practice
- Defining governance structures and assigning accountability across business units
- Implementing risk identification, assessment, and mitigation processes
- Monitoring compliance with internal policies and external regulations
- Automating workflows for audits, reporting, and remediation activities
- Aligning enterprise goals with security and compliance objectives
- Integrating risk and compliance data into board-level decision-making
Related laws & standards
- Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
- EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
- ISO 31000 (Risk Management Framework)
- How OneTrust helps with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
- ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management)
How OneTrust helps with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
OneTrust enables organizations to implement scalable GRC programs by automating risk assessments, policy management, and compliance tracking. The platform provides a unified view of governance, risk, and operational data to enhance resilience and support regulatory readiness.
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FAQs about Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) focuses specifically on identifying and mitigating enterprise-level risks, while GRC encompasses ERM along with broader governance and compliance functions.
GRC is typically led by risk, compliance, and audit teams, with oversight from executive leadership and board committees to ensure accountability across departments.
GRC frameworks help organizations continuously monitor regulatory obligations, identify compliance gaps, and maintain evidence of adherence for audits and supervisory reviews.
