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Introduction:
Headlines often report incidents of violations and fines, while the rising cybersecurity threats require more resources and attention than in previous years. This is why 96% of practitioners view this as a factor for increased focus on GRC.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) is a crucial framework for organisations operating in complex regulatory environments, facing cybersecurity threats, and managing operational risks. While policies, controls, and technology are essential components of GRC, one significant challenge involves managing culture and behavioural risk.
Human behaviour can be unpredictable, and even the most comprehensive compliance frameworks may not succeed if employees do not follow them. This issue can be particularly prominent in fast-paced, agile development settings, where speed often takes priority over security and compliance. Over 46% of GRC practitioners are worried about balancing compliance and innovation.
This article examines why culture and behavioral risk pose substantial challenges to GRC, how organisations can maintain compliance in agile environments, and the importance of Shift-Left Security and Compliance in integrating governance early in the development process.
2025 Online survey result using Linkedin poll
The Impact of Culture and Behaviour on GRC Challenges
1. Effective Compliance Depends on Individuals, Not Solely on Policies
Organisations invest in policies, training, and controls. However, compliance fails if employees bypass procedures for convenience, lack of awareness, or resistance to change. Examples include:
Shadow IT: Employees using unauthorised tools to speed up work.
Weak password practices: Reusing passwords or ignoring multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Bypassing security checks: Developers skipping vulnerability scans to meet tight deadlines.
A culture of compliance requires continuous reinforcement, leadership buy-in, and accountability.
2. Behavioural Risk in Agile Environments
Agile and DevOps focus on speed and innovation, often overlooking security and compliance. Common risks include:
- Rushed deployments: Skipping security reviews to meet sprint deadlines.
- Lack of documentation: Poor record-keeping for audit trails.
- Tool sprawl: Using unapproved cloud services or open-source libraries without vetting.
Without cultural alignment, compliance becomes reactive rather than proactive.
3. The Issue of Leadership Tone
Leadership is pivotal in shaping organisational culture. If executives treat compliance merely as a procedural formality, employees are likely to adopt the same attitude. Conversely, when leaders emphasise the importance of risk awareness and ethical conduct, compliance becomes an integral part of organisational operations.
Maintaining Compliance in Fast-Paced Agile Environments
To balance agility with compliance, organisations must integrate governance into the development process rather than treating it as a final hurdle. Key strategies include:
1. Embedding Compliance into DevOps (DevSecOps)
- Automate compliance checks in CI/CD pipelines (e.g., using IaC scanning, policy-as-code). Compliance solution like DRATA offers this capability.
- Integrate security tools (SAST, DAST, SCA) into development workflows.
- Use real-time monitoring to detect policy violations before deployment. Kootek offers solutions for real time Detection and Monitoring services.
2. Promote an Environment for Reporting Risks:
Employees often avoid reporting mistakes due to fear of blame. Organisations should:
- Encourage transparency (e.g., anonymous reporting channels).
- Reward risk awareness rather than punish human error.
- Conduct blameless post-mortems to learn from incidents.
The Role of Shift-Left Security and Compliance
Shift-Left Security and Compliance involves integrating governance early in the SDLC, embedding compliance into the design phase instead of relying on later audits or penetration tests.
1. How Shift-Left Reduces Behavioural Risk
- Developers become compliance-aware: Security and compliance requirements are defined upfront, reducing last-minute fixes.
- Automated guardrails prevent violations: Policy-as-code (e.g., Open Policy Agent) enforces rules before deployment.
- Faster remediation: Issues are caught in development, not production, reducing friction with security teams.
2. Implementing Shift-Left Compliance
- Policy-as-Code (PaC): Define compliance rules in machine-readable formats (e.g., Rego for OPA).
- Pre-commit hooks: Block non-compliant code before it enters the repository.
- Compliance in User Stories: Include regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS) in sprint planning.
3. Benefits of Shift-Left for Culture
- Reduces friction between security and development teams.
- Makes compliance a shared responsibility, not just a security team’s burden.
- Encourages proactive risk management rather than reactive fixes.
Conclusion: Culture as the Foundation of Effective GRC
Technology alone cannot ensure compliance; effectively managing culture and behavioural risk within Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) requires a proactive approach focused on people. Organisations should integrate compliance into daily operations by creating a culture of accountability, where employees are aware of their responsibilities in risk management. Leadership should establish clear expectations, prioritising ethical behaviour and transparency over routine procedures.
To maintain compliance in rapidly changing environments, Shift-Left Security and Compliance should be implemented, incorporating governance early in development cycles. Automation and policy-as-code reduce dependence on manual processes, while ongoing training ensures awareness aligns with evolving threats.
By prioritising culture and proactive compliance, businesses can navigate regulatory demands without sacrificing agility. The future of GRC lies not just in better tools, but in better behaviours.
Thanks for reading, See You All Soon!
The Kootek Team.