Strategic Roadmap to GRC Success: Navigating Each Phase with Confidence
This goes over the full GRC journey in a lot of detail. If you want something that's higher level, check out the Trustero Quick Start Guides.
The Why Behind the Phases: Big-Picture Strategy
Get aligned before diving in, key context to help management and practitioners understand the strategic foundation behind the phases.
Trustero Curated Content Design
Data Privacy Program
- Getting Started Guide - Data Privacy Program
- Intro & Overview - Data Privacy Program Components
- Understanding Your Role: Data Controller, Data Processor, or Both?
Phase 1: Define Audit Scope & Risk Profile
Learn how to confidently assess business risks, assign control responsibilities, manage vendors, and document scope effectively.
Defining Scope: Boundaries, Tools & Setup
- Importance of Defining Boundaries for Audit Scope
- Completing Your “Scope” Page
- Guide to Selecting Security and Compliance Tools
Risk Profile: Establish & Manage Business Risks
- Risk Register Overview and Guidance
- Data Processing Lifecycle Overview and Guidance
- Privacy Risk Management Overview and Guidance
- Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) / Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Overview and Guidance
Control Responsibility: Assign & Define Ownership
Third-Party Risk: Manage Vendors & Compliance
- Vendor Risk Management Overview and Guidance
- Vendor Management FAQs
- Find Attestations of Compliance (AOC) for Common Vendors
Audit Scope Documentation: Structure & Templates
Phase 2: Formalize Policies & Supporting Documents
Develop & formalize policies, contingency plans, and procedures. Use guidance and templates to create a strong foundation for security & compliance.
Document Integrations: Connect & Auto-Sync Policies
Policies: Defining the "Why" Behind the "What"
- Guide to InfoSec Policy Management
- Managing Policy Deviations (“Exceptions”)
- Policy Template Change Log
- Policy Acknowledgment Form Template
- Understanding Acceptable Use Policy
Contingency Plans: Ensuring Business Resiliency
- The Importance of Business Resilience: Understanding BIA, BCP, DRP, and SIRP
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA) Template
- Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Template
- Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) - Template
- Security Incident Response Plan (SIRP) Template
Standard Operating Procedures: The "How" Behind the "What"
- Intro & Overview - Documented InfoSec Operational Activities
- Documented InfoSec Operational Activities (template)
Phase 3: Operationalize Controls
Implement controls, assign ownership, and gather evidence to demonstrate compliance. Use structured guidance and templates for efficiency.
Control Owners: Responsibilities & Evidence Gathering
- Requirements for Providing Manual Evidence
- Understanding and Optimizing Control Guidance for Accurate AI Results
- Avoid Audit Issues: How to Change the Relevant Date for Evidence
Executive Leadership: Oversight & Key Metrics
People Team: HR Controls & Employee Management
Asset Management: Protect & Track Company Devices
- Laptop Protection & Management Procedure Template
- Bring Your Own Device & Technology (BYODT) Template
Identity & Access Management: User Security & Reviews
- Managing User & Service Accounts
- How to Complete the RBAC Matrix for SMBs
- Conducting User Access Reviews
Secure Configurations: Hardening & Technology Setup
- GitHub Branch Protection Rule
- How should I set up AWS CloudTrail for my audit?
- Microsoft Azure Database Encryption
Threat & Vulnerability Management: Monitoring & Response
- Vulnerability Management Guide
- Vulnerability Management: SecOps On-call Duties (template)
- Vulnerability Management - Manage and Track Events (template)
- Penetration Testing - Intro & FAQs
Phase 4: Leverage Trustero AI
You did the work, now see Trustero AI in action. Get real-time snapshots of compliance and security, assess audit readiness, and mitigate risk.
Examine & Test with AI Control Checks
AI GRC Questions
Phase 5: During the Audit
Learn what to expect leading up to, and throughout, the course of an audit
Audit Specific Need-to-Know
- SOC 2 Type 1 - Standardizing Audit Requirements
- SOC 2 Type 2 - Audit Period Importance - FAQs
- Understanding Audit Instances: Dates and Closed States
Responding to Findings and Gaps
Phase 6: Stay Audit-Ready & Risk Aware
Maintain compliance with Trustero's continuous monitoring AI features