What is a GRC?
GRC or Governance, Risk, and Compliance is a framework that helps organizations manage and mitigate cyber risks while maintaining compliance with industry regulations and standards. It involves implementing policies and procedures to govern cybersecurity, identifying and assessing risks, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Why you need a GRC?
- Comprehensive Risk Management: A GRC practice enables organizations to identify, assess, and prioritize cybersecurity risks, allowing them to allocate resources more efficiently and focus on critical areas of vulnerability.
- Regulatory Compliance: With the ever-changing landscape of data protection laws and regulations, a GRC framework ensures that organizations remain compliant with relevant legal requirements, avoiding potential fines and reputational damage.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: By providing a structured approach to align cybersecurity initiatives with business objectives, GRC enhances the decision-making process, promoting transparency and accountability across the organization.
- Resilient Governance Practices: In the face of evolving cyber threats, a GRC framework fosters the development of resilient governance practices that can adapt and strengthen security measures, ensuring long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the organization's cybersecurity strategy.
When Should You Opt for GRC Service?
- Business Growth and Expansion: As your organization grows and expands into new markets or industries, implementing a GRC framework helps ensure that your cybersecurity and compliance practices evolve accordingly to meet new challenges and regulatory requirements.
- Increased Regulatory Scrutiny: If your organization operates in highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or government, where compliance with strict data protection and privacy regulations is mandatory, adopting a GRC framework becomes essential to demonstrate compliance and mitigate associated risks.
- Cybersecurity Incidents and Breaches: Following a cybersecurity incident or data breach, organizations often realize the importance of a structured approach to managing risks and ensuring compliance. Implementing a GRC framework post-incident helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture and prevent future incidents.
- Complex IT Environments: As organizations adopt new technologies, cloud services, and digital transformation initiatives, managing and securing complex IT environments become challenging. A GRC framework provides a holistic view of the organization's IT landscape, enabling better governance, risk management, and compliance across all systems and processes.
- Strategic Business Initiatives: When embarking on strategic initiatives such as entering new markets, or launching new products and services, a GRC framework helps organizations assess and manage associated risks, ensuring that cybersecurity and compliance considerations are integrated into the decision-making process from the outset.
What We Offer?
At XDefense, we assist organizations in building a robust cybersecurity foundation aligned with globally accepted standards. Our GRC offerings encompass thorough gap analyses, maturity assessments, internal audit preparation, control deployment, and policy framework creation. Additionally, we provide third-party risk evaluations, executive-level reporting, and data governance enhancements. Whether you're aiming for certification or seeking to strengthen operational resilience, our team delivers a customized, defensible, and audit-ready program.
Below are specific services we offers GRC space:
-ISO/IEC 27001:2022: Information Security Management System (ISMS)
Overview
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is the premier global standard for designing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously enhancing an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It offers a risk-driven framework to protect sensitive data, mitigate cyber threats, and prevent data breaches and losses.
Who It Applies To
This standard is relevant for organizations of any size aiming for a systematic, auditable approach to information security management, particularly those in regulated sectors or pursuing international growth.
XDefense Services
- Comprehensive gap assessments and detailed clause-by-clause evaluations
- Risk analysis and development of the Statement of Applicability (SoA)
- ISMS documentation, including policies, controls, and risk registers
- Support for internal audits and certification preparation
- Alignment with ISO 27002, ISO 22301, and related standards
Why It Matters
- Proves compliance and commitment to due diligence
- Minimizes cyber risks and operational vulnerabilities
- Boosts trust with clients, partners, and stakeholders
- Establishes a flexible foundation for broader compliance initiatives
-NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
Overview
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), created by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, is a globally recognized tool for managing cybersecurity risks. Its five core functions—Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover—provide a structured approach to evaluating and enhancing security practices.
Who It Applies To
This framework suits both public and private organizations, especially in critical infrastructure, finance, healthcare, and technology sectors, seeking a practical and adaptable cybersecurity solution.
XDefense Services
- Cybersecurity maturity evaluations and CSF bench-marking
- Mapping controls and developing tailored improvement plans
- Creation of policies and procedures aligned with CSF
- Executive-level reporting and compliance integration
Why It Matters
- Flexible and scalable for diverse maturity levels
- Enables alignment with ISO, SOC 2, and other international frameworks
- Enhances organizational resilience and transparency
-CIS Controls v8.1
Overview
The CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS Controls) are a set of prioritized, actionable cybersecurity best practices developed by the Center for Internet Security to protect organizations from common cyber threats. This framework provides a structured approach to strengthen security posture by focusing on high-impact measures that mitigate risks like ransomware, phishing, and unauthorized access. The controls are regularly updated to address evolving threats and are widely adopted as a practical baseline for cybersecurity.
Who It Applies To
The CIS Controls are suitable for organizations of all sizes and industries, particularly those managing sensitive data, operating in regulated sectors, or supporting government clients. They are ideal for businesses seeking a flexible, measurable framework to enhance cybersecurity and meet compliance requirements.
XDefense Services
- Maturity assessments across all CIS Controls to identify gaps and priorities
- Tailored implementation guidance for deploying controls effectively
- Policy and documentation development to support compliance and audits
- Ongoing monitoring and progress tracking through customized dashboards
Why It Matters
- Reduces the risk of common cyberattacks through prioritized, actionable steps
- Aligns with international frameworks and other standards
- Provides a scalable, measurable approach to improving cybersecurity resilience
-PCI DSS: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
Overview
The PCI DSS is a worldwide standard aimed at securing cardholder data and ensuring safe credit card transactions. It encompasses a set of technical and operational requirements for organizations that handle payment information, designed to prevent fraud and data breaches.
Who It Applies To
This standard applies to merchants, e-commerce platforms, SaaS providers, payment processors, and any entity that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data.
XDefense Services
- Comprehensive PCI DSS gap analysis and evidence compilation
- Network segmentation reviews and technical architecture assessments
- Development of policies and operational documentation
- Support for QSA coordination and quarterly vulnerability scans
Why It Matters
- Protects against financial fraud and data breaches
- Essential for maintaining merchant compliance and status
- Builds customer trust and ensures contractual adherence
-SOC 1 & SOC 2: AICPA Trust Services Criteria
Overview
SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports offer third-party validation of an organization’s internal controls. SOC 1 addresses controls relevant to financial reporting, primarily for audit purposes, while SOC 2 assesses operational controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy—essential for cloud and B2B SaaS providers.
Who It Applies To
These standards are relevant for technology vendors, SaaS companies, managed service providers, and fintech organizations serving enterprise clients or operating in regulated industries.
XDefense Services
- Readiness evaluations and scoping for SOC compliance
- Documentation of control activities and evidence collection
- Coordination with CPA firms and audit entities
- Post-audit remediation and ongoing control optimization
Why It Matters
- Accelerates vendor on boarding with enterprise clients
- Builds confidence in service delivery and security practices
- Showcases robust governance and risk management capabilities
-ISO 22301: Business Continuity Management System (BCMS)
Overview
ISO 22301 is a global standard for establishing a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS). It ensures organizations can maintain critical operations during disruptions, including cyberattacks, natural disasters, or supply chain failures.
Who It Applies To
This standard is relevant for organizations in highly regulated sectors, critical service providers, and businesses dependent on digital infrastructure.
XDefense Services
- Conducting Business Impact Assessments (BIA)
- Designing and testing tailored business continuity plans
- Integrating with cybersecurity incident response strategies
- Aligning with ISO 27001 for comprehensive resilience
Why It Matters
- Enhances operational and digital resilience
- Minimizes downtime and optimizes recovery time objectives (RTOs)
- Meets stakeholder and regulatory requirements
-ISO/IEC 27032: Cybersecurity Governance
Overview
ISO 27032 provides a framework for enhancing cybersecurity through effective governance and collaboration. It targets online threats such as cybercrime, hacktivism, and vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems, serving as a complement to standards like ISO 27001.
Who It Applies To
This standard is ideal for organizations managing extensive digital ecosystems, partner networks, or critical online services.
XDefense Services
- Development of cybersecurity governance frameworks
- Creation of threat intelligence and incident coordination strategies
- Establishment of strategic policies and leadership engagement
- Implementation of awareness and collaborative initiatives
Why It Matters
- Strengthens cybersecurity readiness across internal and external stakeholders
- Aligns security practices with business objectives and risk management
- Fosters a unified security culture and coordinated response approach
-ISO/IEC 42001: Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS)
Overview
ISO/IEC 42001 is the first global standard for managing the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence. It outlines a framework for organizations to govern, assess risks, and deploy AI systems responsibly, particularly when AI impacts individuals, services, or business operations.
Who It Applies To
This standard is relevant for organizations developing or utilizing AI in sectors such as finance, healthcare, human resources, critical infrastructure, and public services.
XDefense Services
- Development of AIMS policies and governance structures
- AI-specific risk assessments aligned with ISO 42001 requirements
- Implementation of controls for transparency, bias mitigation, and data governance
- Support for AI audit preparation and lifecycle management of AI models
Why It Matters
- Promotes ethical AI innovation and builds digital trust
- Mitigates legal, reputational, and compliance risks
- Aligns with emerging regulations, such as the EU AI Act