Jul 12 2025

Why Integrating ISO Standards is Critical for GRC in the Age of AI

Category: AI,GRC,Information Security,ISO 27k,ISO 42001 — disc7 @ 9:56 am

Integrating ISO standards across business functions—particularly Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)—has become not just a best practice but a necessity in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As AI systems increasingly permeate operations, decision-making, and customer interactions, the need for standardized controls, accountability, and risk mitigation is more urgent than ever. ISO standards provide a globally recognized framework that ensures consistency, security, quality, and transparency in how organizations adopt and manage AI technologies.

In the GRC domain, ISO standards like ISO/IEC 27001 (information security), ISO/IEC 38500 (IT governance), ISO 31000 (risk management), and ISO/IEC 42001 (AI management systems) offer a structured approach to managing risks associated with AI. These frameworks guide organizations in aligning AI use with regulatory compliance, internal controls, and ethical use of data. For example, ISO 27001 helps in safeguarding data fed into machine learning models, while ISO 31000 aids in assessing emerging AI risks such as bias, algorithmic opacity, or unintended consequences.

The integration of ISO standards helps unify siloed departments—such as IT, legal, HR, and operations—by establishing a common language and baseline for risk and control. This cohesion is particularly crucial when AI is used across multiple departments. AI doesn’t respect organizational boundaries, and its risks ripple across all functions. Without standardized governance structures, businesses risk deploying fragmented, inconsistent, and potentially harmful AI systems.

ISO standards also support transparency and accountability in AI deployment. As regulators worldwide introduce new AI regulations—such as the EU AI Act—standards like ISO/IEC 42001 help organizations demonstrate compliance, build trust with stakeholders, and prepare for audits. This is especially important in industries like healthcare, finance, and defense, where the margin for error is small and ethical accountability is critical.

Moreover, standards-driven integration supports scalability. As AI initiatives grow from isolated pilot projects to enterprise-wide deployments, ISO frameworks help maintain quality and control at scale. ISO 9001, for instance, ensures continuous improvement in AI-supported processes, while ISO/IEC 27017 and 27018 address cloud security and data privacy—key concerns for AI systems operating in the cloud.

AI systems also introduce new third-party and supply chain risks. ISO standards such as ISO/IEC 27036 help in managing vendor security, and when integrated into GRC workflows, they ensure AI solutions procured externally adhere to the same governance rigor as internal developments. This is vital in preventing issues like AI-driven data breaches or compliance gaps due to poorly vetted partners.

Importantly, ISO integration fosters a culture of risk-aware innovation. Instead of slowing down AI adoption, standards provide guardrails that enable responsible experimentation and faster time to trust. They help organizations embed privacy, ethics, and accountability into AI from the design phase, rather than retrofitting compliance after deployment.

In conclusion, ISO standards are no longer optional checkboxes; they are strategic enablers in the age of AI. For GRC leaders, integrating these standards across business functions ensures that AI is not only powerful and efficient but also safe, transparent, and aligned with organizational values. As AI’s influence grows, ISO-based governance will distinguish mature, trusted enterprises from reckless adopters.

The Strategic Synergy: ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 – A New Era in Governance

ISO 42001 Readiness: A 10-Step Guide to Responsible AI Governance

AI is Powerful—But Risky. ISO/IEC 42001 Can Help You Govern It

Historical data on the number of ISO/IEC 27001 certifications by country across the Globe

Understanding ISO 27001: Your Guide to Information Security

Download ISO27000 family of information security standards today!

ISO 27001 Do It Yourself Package (Download)

ISO 27001 Training Courses –  Browse the ISO 27001 training courses

What does BS ISO/IEC 42001 – Artificial intelligence management system cover?
BS ISO/IEC 42001:2023 specifies requirements and provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an AI management system within the context of an organization.

AI Act & ISO 42001 Gap Analysis Tool

AI Policy Template

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 – from establishing to maintain an AI management system.

ISO/IEC 27701 2019 Standard – Published in August of 2019, ISO 27701 is a new standard for information and data privacy. Your organization can benefit from integrating ISO 27701 with your existing security management system as doing so can help you comply with GDPR standards and improve your data security.

Check out our earlier posts on the ISO 27000 series.

DISC InfoSec’s earlier posts on the AI topic

Secure Your Business. Simplify Compliance. Gain Peace of Mind

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Tags: AIMS, isms, iso 27000

May 28 2025

What is Amazon Bedrock and how can Amazon bedrock assist in GRC field

Category: AWS Security,GRC — disc7 @ 3:40 pm

Amazon Bedrock is a fully managed service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that provides foundation models (FMs) from leading AI companies through a single API. It allows developers to build and scale generative AI applications without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure or train their own large language models.

In the context of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), Amazon Bedrock can assist in several ways:

  1. Policy Analysis and Creation:
    • Analyze existing policies and regulations with different standards and regulations
      • Generate drafts of new policies or updates to existing ones
      • Summarize complex regulatory documents
    • Risk Assessment:
      • Analyze data to identify potential risks
      • Generate risk reports and summaries
      • Assist in creating risk mitigation strategies
    • Compliance Monitoring:
      • Analyze large volumes of data to identify compliance issues
      • Generate compliance reports
      • Assist in creating action plans for addressing compliance gaps
    • Automated Auditing:
      • Analyze audit logs and generate reports
      • Identify patterns or anomalies that may indicate compliance issues
      • Assist in creating audit trails and documentation
    • Training and Education:
      • Generate training materials on GRC topics
      • Create quizzes or assessments to test employee knowledge
      • Provide personalized learning experiences based on individual needs
    • Document Management:
      • Classify and organize GRC-related documents
      • Extract key information from documents
      • Generate summaries of lengthy reports or regulations
    • Incident Response:
      • Analyze incident reports to identify trends or patterns
      • Generate incident response plans
      • Assist in root cause analysis
    • Regulatory Intelligence:
      • Monitor and analyze regulatory changes
      • Summarize new regulations and their potential impact
      • Assist in creating action plans to address new regulatory requirements
    • Stakeholder Communication:
      • Generate drafts of reports for different stakeholders
      • Assist in creating presentations on GRC topics
      • Summarize complex GRC issues for non-technical audiences
    • Predictive Analytics:
      • Analyze historical data to predict future risks or compliance issues
      • Assist in scenario planning and what-if analysis

    To leverage Amazon Bedrock for these GRC applications, organizations would need to:

    1. Choose appropriate foundation models available through Bedrock
    2. Fine-tune these models with domain-specific data if necessary
    3. Develop applications that integrate with Bedrock’s API
    4. Implement proper security and access controls
    5. Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations when using the service

    By utilizing Amazon Bedrock, GRC professionals can potentially increase efficiency, improve accuracy, and gain deeper insights into their governance, risk, and compliance processes. However, it’s important to note that while AI can assist in these areas, human oversight and expertise remain crucial in the GRC field.

    DISC can help you create an agent in Bedrock and integrate it with your S3 bucket.

    Analyzing data to identify potential risks is a crucial part of risk management. Here’s a step-by-step approach to this process:

    1. Data Collection:
      • Gather relevant data from various sources (financial reports, operational metrics, incident reports, external market data, etc.)
      • Ensure data quality and completeness
    2. Data Preparation:
      • Clean the data to remove errors or inconsistencies
      • Normalize data to ensure consistency across different sources
      • Structure the data for analysis (e.g., creating a unified database or data warehouse)
    3. Define Risk Categories:
      • Identify the types of risks you’re looking for (e.g., financial, operational, strategic, compliance)
      • Establish key risk indicators (KRIs) for each category
    4. Statistical Analysis:
      • Perform descriptive statistics to understand data distributions
      • Look for outliers or anomalies that might indicate potential risks
      • Use correlation analysis to identify relationships between variables
    5. Trend Analysis:
      • Analyze historical data to identify trends over time
      • Look for patterns that might indicate emerging risks
    6. Predictive Modeling:
      • Use techniques like regression analysis or machine learning to predict future risks
      • Develop models that can forecast potential risk scenarios
    7. Scenario Analysis:
      • Conduct “what-if” analyses to understand potential impacts of different risk scenarios
      • Use stress testing to assess how well the organization can withstand extreme events
    8. Data Visualization:
      • Create visual representations of the data (charts, graphs, heat maps)
      • Use dashboards to provide an overview of key risk indicators
    9. Text Analysis:
      • If dealing with unstructured data (like customer complaints or social media), use natural language processing techniques to extract insights
    10. Risk Mapping:
      • Map identified risks to business processes or objectives
      • Assess the potential impact and likelihood of each risk
    11. Comparative Analysis:
      • Compare your risk profile with industry benchmarks or historical data
      • Identify areas where your risk exposure differs significantly from peers or past performance
    12. Interdependency Analysis:
      • Identify connections between different risks
      • Assess how risks might compound or trigger each other
    13. Continuous Monitoring:
      • Set up systems for real-time or near-real-time risk monitoring
      • Establish alerts for when key risk indicators exceed predefined thresholds
    14. Expert Review:
      • Have subject matter experts review the analysis results
      • Incorporate qualitative insights to complement the data-driven analysis
    15. Feedback Loop:
      • Regularly review and refine your analysis methods
      • Update your risk identification process based on new data and learnings

    To implement this process effectively, you might use a combination of tools:

    • Statistical software (like R or Python with libraries such as pandas, scikit-learn)
    • Business intelligence tools (like Tableau or Power BI for visualization)
    • Specialized risk management software
    • Machine learning platforms for more advanced predictive analytics

    Remember, while data analysis is powerful for identifying potential risks, it should be combined with human expertise and judgment. Some risks may not be easily quantifiable or may require contextual understanding that goes beyond what the data alone can provide.

    What is an Amazon Bedrock

    Generative AI with Amazon Bedrock: Build, scale, and secure generative AI applications using Amazon Bedrock

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    InfoSec services | InfoSec books | Follow our blog | DISC llc is listed on The vCISO Directory | ISO 27k Chat bot | Comprehensive vCISO Services | ISMS Services | Security Risk Assessment Services

    Tags: Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Bedrock Agents, AWS

    Mar 01 2023

    Best GRC tools in 2023

    Category: GRC,Security Risk Assessment — DISC @ 1:28 pm

    Best GRC tools

    GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) online tools are designed to help organizations manage their internal processes, risk assessments, compliance, and audits. Here are some of the best GRC online tools available:

    1. ZenGRC: ZenGRC is a cloud-based GRC tool that offers risk management, compliance management, and vendor management solutions. It allows users to streamline compliance tasks, track risks, and manage third-party vendors.
    2. LogicManager: LogicManager is a GRC platform that helps businesses identify, assess, and manage risks. It offers a variety of modules, including regulatory compliance, vendor risk management, and incident management.
    3. RSA Archer: RSA Archer is an enterprise GRC platform that helps businesses manage risk, compliance, and audit processes. It offers a variety of modules, including risk management, compliance management, and policy management.
    4. SAP GRC: SAP GRC is a suite of GRC tools that helps businesses manage risk, compliance, and audit processes. It offers a variety of modules, including access control, process control, and risk management.
    5. MetricStream: MetricStream is a cloud-based GRC platform that helps businesses manage compliance, risk, and audit processes. It offers a variety of modules, including regulatory compliance, risk management, and quality management.
    6. NAVEX Global: NAVEX Global is a GRC platform that helps businesses manage compliance, risk, and ethics. It offers a variety of modules, including policy management, incident management, and third-party risk management.
    7. Compliance 360: Compliance 360 is a GRC platform that helps businesses manage compliance, risk, and audit processes. It offers a variety of modules, including risk management, compliance management, and incident management.

    Each of these tools offers unique features and benefits, so it’s important to evaluate your organization’s specific needs before choosing the best GRC tool for your business.

    Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy

    Gain the frameworks and vocabulary to make better strategic decisions that boost your organization’s cyber resilience from top to bottom.

    ISO 27001/ISO 22301 RISK ASSESSMENT TOOLKIT

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    Tags: GRC, GRC tools

    Aug 10 2017

    Security Management and Governance

    Category: GRC,Information Security,ISO 27k — DISC @ 9:38 am
    • The textbook for the Open University’s postgraduate information security course.
    • The recommended textbook for all IBITGQ ISO 27001 courses.
    • Available in softcover or eBook format.



    Description

    Fully updated expert information security management and governance guidance based on the international standard for information security management, ISO 27001.

    As global threats to information security increase in frequency and severity, and organisations of all sizes, types and sectors face increased exposure to fast-evolving cyber threats, there has never been a greater need for robust information security management systems.

    Now in its sixth edition, the bestselling IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ISO27002 provides best-practice guidance for technical and non-technical managers looking to enhance their information security management systems and protect themselves against information security threats.

    This new edition of IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ISO27002 has been fully updated to take account of current cyber security trends and advanced persistent threats, and reflects the latest regulatory and technological developments, including the 2013 updates to ISO 27001 and ISO 27002.

    Product overview

    Including coverage of key international markets, such as the UK, North America, the EU and the Asia-Pacific region, IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ISO27002 is the definitive guide to implementing an effective information security management system (ISMS), as set out in the international standard ISO 27001.

    It covers all aspects of data protection/information security, including viruses, hackers, online fraud, privacy regulations, computer misuse and investigatory powers.

    Changes introduced in this edition include:

    • Full updates in line with the 2013 revisions to the ISO 27001 standard and ISO 27002 code of practice.
    • Full coverage of changes to data protection regulations in different jurisdictions and advice on compliance.
    • Guidance on the new continual improvement model that replaces the plan-do-check-act cycle that was mandated in the 2005 iteration of ISO 27001.
    • New developments in cyber risk and mitigation practices.
    • The latest technological developments that affect IT governance and security.
    • Guidance on the new information security risk assessment process.

    IT Governance: An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ISO27002 is the recommended textbook for the Open University’s postgraduate information security course and the recommended text for all IBITGQ ISO 27001 courses.