GRC Frameworks & Compliance Standards

Objectives:

• Teach how to develop and manage Governance, Risk, & Compliance programs.
• Familiarize learners with major standards like ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR.
• Prepare candidates for GRC certifications.

Curriculum:

• Introduction to GRC concepts & principles
• Risk assessment methodologies
• Policy development & management
• Control implementation & monitoring
• Auditing & compliance reporting
• Data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA)
• Incident management in GRC context
• Business continuity planning

12-Week GRC Frameworks & Compliance Standards Curriculum

Week 1: Introduction to GRC Concepts & Principles

Start with defining GRC, its importance in organizational security, and how governance, risk management, and compliance interrelate. Cover the

benefits of integrated GRC programs and frameworks.

Week 2: Risk Assessment Methodologies

Explore different risk assessment techniques like qualitative, quantitative, and hybrid methods. Include practical exercises applying frameworks such as NIST 800-30 and FAIR to evaluate organizational risks.

Week 3: Policy Development & Management

Teach the essentials of creating, approving, and maintaining security policies and procedures. Practice drafting policies aligned with

organizational goals and compliance requirements, including version control and approval processes.

Week 4: Control Implementation & Monitoring

Discuss how to select, implement, and monitor controls to mitigate identified risks. Cover control frameworks like ISO 27001 Annex A controls, and demonstrate control tracking via GRC tools.

Week 5: Auditing & Compliance Reporting

Learn how to plan, execute, and document audits to verify control effectiveness. Use simulated audit scenarios and reporting templates to prepare compliance reports and remediation plans.

Week 6: Major Compliance Standards & Laws

Cover key standards and regulations including ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, GDPR, CCPA, and PCI-DSS. Highlight their scope, requirements, and how to align organizational policies accordingly.

Week 7: Data Protection Laws & Privacy

Focus on compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws. Discuss data subject rights, breach notification procedures, and privacy-by-design principles.

Week 8: Incident Management & GRC Integration

Address integrating incident response into GRC programs, including detection, reporting, and recovery aligned with compliance mandates.

Conduct tabletop exercises reflecting GRC processes during incidents.

Week 9: Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning Teach the development of BCPs and DRPs, emphasizing resilience planning, backup strategies, and testing. Review how these plans support compliance and risk management.

Week 10: Practical GRC Tool Usage & Control Mapping

Utilize GRC tools like RSA Archer and ServiceNow GRC modules. Conduct hands-on exercises in control creation, mapping controls to policies, and managing risk registers within these platforms.

Week 11: Gap Analysis & Audit Scenario Exercises

Perform compliance gap analysis exercises, identifying deficiencies against standards. Run simulated audit scenarios, including reporting and

remediation planning.

Week 12: Final Project & Certification Preparation

Develop a comprehensive GRC program proposal for a hypothetical organization, including risk assessments, policy frameworks, and controls. Review key concepts and prepare for GRC certification exams. Conclude with a Q&A and scenario-based assessment.

Labs/Tools/Simulations:

• GRC tools (RSA Archer, ServiceNow GRC modules)
• Policy and control creation exercises
• Risk assessment case studies
• Compliance gap analysis
• Audit simulation scenarios

Internships & Projects:

• Develop a GRC implementation plan
• Conduct a mock compliance audit

• Policy review and improvement exercises

Certifications:

• ISO 27001 Lead Implementer/Auditor
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework Certification

Job Readiness Program:

• Policy writing workshops
• Risk assessment simulation
• Interview coaching for GRC roles