Why AI Is Increasingly Necessary in GRC

By George Totev, Chief Information Security Officer

The world of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) is at a crossroads. As organizations grow and regulatory landscapes evolve, traditional methods of managing GRC are struggling to keep pace. In my 25 years in the field, I’ve witnessed the increasing complexity firsthand, and I’m convinced that AI isn’t just a luxury for GRC professionals—it’s becoming a necessity.

The Scale and Complexity of Modern GRC

In today’s global environment, even mid-sized organizations may face dozens of control frameworks, from SOC 2 and ISO 27001 to industry-specific standards like HITRUST or regulations like FedRAMP, GDPR and HIPAA. For large enterprises, the challenge grows exponentially, with overlapping requirements, region-specific regulations, different product lines, and the need for continuous monitoring.

Existing GRC tools, especially more advanced ones, do a very good job at cataloging different GRC “objects” like policies, control objectives, evidence, etc. They offer high flexibility and sophisticated process management. First order of analytics is also very advanced -We can see how many controls we have, whether the evidence was collected, cost per control, audit overlaps, etc.

Where we start seeing their limitations is in the second order of analytics. More and more we need answers to questions like “What is my gap with control framework X, or regulation Y?” (the latter infinitely more complex than the former), “Is my control framework optimized for scope, risk, cost, etc.?”, or “Does my risk management system work as expected/do I carry additional risk?”. We still need extended SME involvement (internal or external) to get the answers and often when we receive them, they are already outdated. Scaling linearly with the increased business complexity is not scaling.

Where AI Fits In

AI’s ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data makes it uniquely suited to addressing the challenges of modern GRC. Here are few examples of why AI assistance is becoming a necessity in the GRC space::

1. Speed and Efficiency AI can evaluate frameworks, identify gaps, and suggest solutions in a fraction of the time it takes a human team. For example, introducing a new regulation like DORA might traditionally require months of effort. With AI, much of the groundwork—mapping requirements to existing controls, identifying gaps, and even drafting project plans—can be completed in days.
2. Scalability Unlike human teams, AI scales effortlessly. Whether you’re dealing with one framework or twenty, AI tools adapt to the volume and complexity without requiring additional resources.
3. Continuous Monitoring While there are methodologies for continuous compliance monitoring, they still involve quite a bit of manual effort and are expensive/limited in scope. Many of the traditional assurance methods rely on periodic audits, which provide only snapshots of compliance and they are very reactive in nature - we find out that something broke weeks or months after it broke. AI enables continuous monitoring, much lower cost, and greater coverage, ensuring organizations stay compliant even as their environments change. This real-time approach helps prevent issues before they arise. The ability to quickly perform “What if?” analyses also allows us to be more proactive.
4. Customization and Context Risk is inherently contextual, and no two organizations are alike. AI can factor in the unique aspects of an organization’s environment—custom policies, controls, and processes—to provide tailored recommendations. This customization goes far beyond the generic insights offered by traditional tools and it is especially important for organizations with higher levels of complexity.

The Evolving Role of GRC Professionals

AI doesn’t replace GRC professionals; it is an assistant that enhances their work. By automating repetitive, mundane tasks and providing actionable insights, AI frees up time for experts to focus on strategic initiatives, such as optimizing risk management processes or preparing for emerging challenges.

For example, AI tools can conduct pre-audit scans to identify potential issues, leaving GRC teams to address only the most complex or nuanced problems. This collaborative approach between AI and humans ensures the best outcomes.

AI-assisted GRC will not only cause a quantitative change - we will be able to do more, faster - but also qualitative - it will influence the way we approach problems in the space and maybe even change how GRC, and security, as a whole, are structured.

The Future of AI-assisted GRC

Security organizations are facing a dual challenge - an increased number of regulations all over the world and increased sophistication of the adversaries. Their GRC capabilities will have to evolve - both quantitatively and qualitatively. AI assistance is part of that evolution.

At Trustero, we’re pioneering this shift, leveraging AI to simplify GRC processes and empower organizations to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with confidence. By combining AI’s capabilities with human expertise, we’re shaping a future where security and compliance are not just achievable but also efficient, scalable, and resilient.

AI is no longer optional in GRC—it’s essential. The question isn’t whether to adopt AI, but how soon you can start leveraging its potential to transform your compliance efforts.