Answer honestly: Does your GRC program operate more like your product team or your annual tax filing?

If you're…

• Collecting evidence like receipts

• Rushing to meet deadlines

• Breathing a sigh of relief when it's over

• Then forgetting about it until next year

…then you're running a costly security theatre, not a security program.

The hidden costs of this project-based approach are staggering*:

• 71% of companies are only gathering evidence ad-hoc or for audits

• Half of GRC teams spend between 30-50% of their time on admin tasks

• Most GRC teams spend valuable time on data entry, working through disparate systems and combining heterogenous data sources

Risk doesn't take 9 months off.

Threats don't wait for your Q4 assessment.

Infrastructure doesn't freeze between audits.

The solution?

Transforming GRC from a recurring project to an evolving product that delivers continuous value instead of periodic paperwork.

*Source: Hyperproof’s 2025 IT Risk and Compliance Benchmark Report

Why It Matters 🔍

The why: the core problem this solves and why you should care

Traditional GRC operates in cycles - audit prep, evidence collection, certification. But risks don't wait for your audit cycles.

While projects focus on hitting compliance dates, products focus on continuous value delivery.

Your security program needs to evolve with your infrastructure, not just once a year when auditors arrive.

Project-based GRC means accepting manual processes because "they work for now." Product thinking requires solving root causes.

The result?

Your GRC program becomes a strategic asset driving business decisions, not just a cost centre that checks compliance boxes.

Without this shift, you'll always be playing catch-up - running faster on the same compliance treadmill while your security posture remains static.

Strategic Framework 🧩

The what: The conceptual approach broken down into 3 main principles

Products Scale, Projects End

Projects are bounded by time, but products evolve continually. When you treat GRC as a product, evidence collection becomes automated, controls evolve with your infrastructure, and improvements compound over time.

Unlike project-based approaches that reset after each audit, product-based GRC builds on previous work. Your evidence collection system gets better each quarter. Your control testing becomes more efficient with each iteration.

Product Thinking Forces Technical Excellence

Running GRC as a project means accepting manual processes because "they work for now."

Product thinking requires solving root causes.

• Screenshots become API calls.

• Spreadsheets become databases.

• Manual reviews become automated tests.

• One-off fixes become systemic improvements.

This drives engineering rigour into your GRC program, making it more reliable, scalable, and effective.

Products Have Stakeholders, Projects Have Deadlines

Projects focus on passing audits. Products focus on delivering value. When GRC becomes a product:

Control owners become users, not targets. Requirements come from risk, not just frameworks. Success means reduced risk, not just certifications. Feedback drives improvements, not just findings.

This alignment transforms GRC from a necessary evil into a strategic enabler for the entire organisation.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH (MAYBE YOU?)

Interested in partnering with the GRC Engineer?

Your product, your brand, your collaterals, shared with a highly qualified audience of hundreds of GRC/security leaders and experienced practitioners.

Welcome offers will end soon, grab a spot while you can.

Execution Blueprint 🛠️

The how: 3 practical steps to put this strategy into action at your organisation

Define Your GRC Product Vision

Start by articulating what your GRC "product" actually is. What value does it deliver? Who are its users? What problems does it solve?

Create a simple one-page vision document that defines:

• The core value proposition of your GRC program

• Key user personas (Engineering, Leadership, Sales, etc.)

• Success metrics beyond compliance checkboxes

This becomes your North Star for all GRC decisions. Each improvement should align with this vision, just like product features align with a product roadmap.

Build Your Product Roadmap

Transform your compliance calendar into a product roadmap with clear releases and iterative improvements.

Instead of "ISO audit in Q3," think "Automated evidence collection V2 in Q1, Control dashboard for engineering in Q2."

Prioritize enhancements based on user value and security impact, not just audit deadlines. Include regular releases, retrospectives, and user feedback sessions.

This shifts focus from surviving audits to continuously improving security posture.

Implement User Feedback Loops

Products improve based on user feedback. Create formal mechanisms to collect, analyse, and act on feedback from your GRC "users."

Run monthly check-ins with key stakeholders to understand pain points. Track satisfaction metrics for each GRC "feature." Celebrate wins and openly address failures.

These feedback loops ensure your GRC product evolves to meet actual needs rather than theoretical compliance requirements.

Remember: When you shift from project to product, compliance becomes an output of good security, not the input.

Reading Queue 📖

The learn: This week's resource to dive deeper on the topic

We discussed GRC as a Product during the pilot episode of the GRC Engineering Podcast with Charles Nwatu from Netflix which led to a good conversation around getting above and beyond checking the box.

Next Tuesday, special newsletter entry with a full detailed transcript of the GRC Automation Roundtable, see you then!

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy:

• My spicier takes on LinkedIn [/in/ayoubfandi]

• Listening to the GRC Engineering Podcast 

  • Spotify

  • Youtube

  • Apple Podcasts