GRC Memes: A Funny take on the real state of GRC

Ask someone who lives and breathes GRC to close their eyes and picture it, and you’ll likely see raised eyebrows, a few sighs, and nervous laughs. Why? Because all they can see is a labyrinth of policies, a mountain of paperwork, and a constant stream of regulations. Yes, it’s chaotic, but it’s all for the greater good of the organization. Today, though, we’re hitting pause and taking a step back to find the funnier side of GRC.

This blog is here to lighten the mood—a virtual pat on the back that says, “We get it; you’re not alone in this!” Sometimes, the best way to cope with chaos is to laugh at the madness and remind ourselves that we’re all in this together.

Governance

The G in the GRC, stands for governance and refers to a framework to direct and manage the organization to achieve its goals. It ensures that the organization operates transparently and ethically while protecting stakeholder interests and maximizing business value. 

The governance function encompasses policy development, leadership and oversight, governance structures, accountability, reviews, and continuous improvements.

I have been buried in enough paperwork to call it transparency

Transparency in governance goes beyond paperwork; it’s about creating a collaborative environment with open communication that involves key stakeholders and provides everyone with visibility into decision-making.

The big picture is clear fellas, I’m just trying to bring the pieces together!

GRC is not an independent function and aligning it with business context and strategic goals is the key to sustainable success.

Mumma always said some promises are immortal

Legacy systems not only have a high cost of ownership but also a long time-to-value. Forward-thinking organizations are switching to next-gen GRC tools that are automation-first, cost-efficient, and capability-rich.

A structure so complex, it needs its own governance!

Simple governance structures minimize complexity and enhance clarity to enable quicker responses. Adding layers of bureaucracy hinders the decision-making process, making the organization less agile.

Just waiting for the scientists to release an official study, but we are all ON THE SAME PAGE, right?

Using readymade and customizable policy templates, collaboration, and tracking tools and defining review and feedback timelines can speed up the approval process.

Will we ever know who’s the real showrunner?

COBIT, ITIL, and ISO each have unique strengths and can be tailored and adapted based on organizational needs. COBIT is a suitable choice for aligning IT with objectives, ITIL for IT service management, and ISO for process standardization and information security.

I think that’s enough clarity on roles and responsibilities

Well-defined roles and responsibilities are key to strong governance. They ensure accountability, help mitigate gaps within stipulated timelines, and achieve GRC objectives efficiently and consistently.

Risk

The risk component in GRC comprises risk identification, assessment, mitigation and ongoing monitoring. It is strengthened by regular risk assessments, a risk-aware culture and proactive response capabilities.

Everyone’s treating the risk register like it’s the VIP guest list!

The risk register must include a broad spectrum of risks directly impacting an organization’s objectives, operations, security, compliance or reputation.

Sorry that I called you a ‘minor glitch’ earlier!

Threats can evolve into full-blown vulnerabilities that compromise systems if not addressed proactively.

I tried to warn you, buddy—create unique passwords. But you just played around with the length!

Maintaining password hygiene involves setting unique passwords using strong combinations and not reusing them across multiple accounts. A password manager helps protect them and minimizes the risk of forgotten passwords.

“This too shall pass” said no firewall ever!

A firewall acts as a barrier between your network and unauthorized external traffic, blocking threats that could impact sensitive information.

When your system cries wolf on safe traffic while the real threats are sliding in unnoticed!

You can minimize false positives by regularly refining your detection rules and using tools that offer context-rich alerts and minimize false alert cases.

Hacker: ‘What happened to these settings?’ Me: ‘Exactly’

Changing default settings is a basic cyber hygiene practice to minimize the exploitation of common vulnerabilities.

When you skip the basics so the malicious actor can go straight for the sensitive stuff

Building a strong foundation with basic security practices such as employee training, updated software and password hygiene can minimize risks to sensitive data and strengthen overall defense.

I just don’t want to deal with the big stuff right now

Using a risk matrix can help visualize the true impact of risks and ensure quick identification of high-priority items by combining likelihood and impact.

Compliance

Compliance refers to adherence to laws and regulations set by regulatory bodies, government agencies or industries. It requires well-designed and implemented controls, regular internal audits and assessments, training and response to regulatory updates.

I really do not have the bandwidth Sir!

Automating evidence collection and centralizing it in a digital repository can minimize manual effort and reduce audit fatigue. It’s also a scalable solution to meet an organization’s growing and changing needs.

    It’s all fun and games until the auditor starts looking under the rug

Concealing compliance gaps during audits can lead to further scrutiny; stay transparent with the auditor. Conduct regular internal audits to uncover and fix gaps in advance and proceed with external audits when you reach >90% readiness.

Me: “It’s all connected.” Also me after 4 hours: But why is it so complicated?”

To simplify common control mapping, you can use the Unified Compliance Framework (UCF) that provides the database to map controls across multiple frameworks or use automated tools with common control mapping functionality.

I guess they don’t speak compliance here so ‘audit success’ is not their vibe

An unqualified or clean opinion indicates that the auditor has found the organization’s processes, controls, and practices, in alignment with the applicable standards, and there are no significant gaps or exceptions.

Santa: Let’s stick to wishes I can actually grant

You can still reduce the back-and-forth involved in the audit process by ensuring that all documentation is complete and accurate and by proactively resolving any issues.

  It feels like a life sentence but I guess we’ll get through it!

The biggest discussion always is that compliance is only a checklist. Yeah, if you make checklists out of it, sure. But it can be fun if you focus on integrating it into the culture, use the right tools and focus on proactive risk management.

  Me: I’m finally caught up! Regulators: Hold my coffee.

To stay abreast of regulatory updates, regularly review any information from regulatory bodies, subscribe to GRC newsletters and use tools that automatically track and update changes.

GRC as an Integrated Function

GRC is an integrated function and has several interconnected requirements. For example, vendor risk management, training, business continuity management and policies are common to all functions.

I told them I’m fun but they are just not ready to integrate

GRC as a siloed function can cause gaps and inefficiencies due to limited visibility. As risks are interconnected, the functions need to take an integrated approach to make well-informed decisions.

When GRC jargon feels like a brain workout you didn’t sign up for

Excessively using GRC jargon can hinder communication, collaboration, and a broader understanding across teams. Avoid alienating non-technical employees and use simple language to inculcate a sense of GRC.

You can’t just outsmart them. Go prepared and good luck!

To overcome leadership resistance for budget approvals, present an ROI case with data driven insights to demonstrate the value and address any concerns effectively.

Cybersecurity risks? Never heard of them – said every vendor in flames

To minimize vendor risks during onboarding, implement thorough due diligence processes, security assessments and compliance checks. You can use standardized vendor security questionnaires and risk scoring to prioritize high-risk vendors and implement risk mitigation procedures.

Guess who’ll draw 25 cards today!

Using real-time dashboards for GRC reporting minimize manual effort and human errors while presenting clear, actionable and accurate information. These dashboards highlight key metrics tailored to organization needs to empower the top management with the right data.

  I talk to myself when I need team collaboration

A one-person GRC team can not only limit expertise and scalability but also create oversight gaps, decision delays, and burnouts. It will also hinder the organization’s capability to maximize the GRC function.

     I know you are smiling because you are guilty too

Relying on a ‘next-click’ approach leads to employees completing the training modules without retaining the required knowledge. Organizations must focus on active employee engagements and building a culture of security and awareness.

Who needs Maslow’s hierarchy when you have the GRC ladder to worry about?

The ultimate goal of implementing GRC is to reach GRC maturity where the organization integrates the three functions seamlessly in its operations while maximizing business value.

Wrapping up

In a world where GRC is often seen as a mix of policy work, dry compliance tips, ambiguous risk assessments, and endless data, we hope this blog gave you a much-needed chuckle. For those on the frontlines, the humor might hit a little too close to home, as effective GRC can be complex and challenging. But with next-gen GRC tools like Sprinto, we can handle the heavy lifting—so you can focus on what matters, while still enjoying a good laugh along the way.

Unlike legacy GRC tools that are broad and tedious, Sprinto is purpose-built for cloud companies and is quick to set up. The automation-first platform provides instant time to value with streamlined workflows, policy templates, training modules, continuous monitoring, integrated risk management and automated evidence collection.  It is built on a smart and scalable architecture to grow with your needs with minimal input and maximum output.

Watch the platform in action and kickstart your GRC journey.