The future of GRC: Why a unified approach is no longer optional
Organizations don’t fail because they take risks — they fail because they mismanage them. In a world where regulatory pressures are rising, cyber threats are evolving and corporate accountability is under a microscope, governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) can no longer be an afterthought.
Yet, many companies still rely on disjointed processes, outdated tools and fragmented reporting — leaving them vulnerable to oversight failures, inefficiencies and strategic missteps.
A recent report by GRC analyst Michael Rasmussen of GRC 20/20 explores the shifting GRC landscape and the advantages of a unified, technology-driven approach. It highlights how organizations can move beyond fragmented systems and manual processes to build a more proactive, data-driven GRC strategy.
Here, we summarize the key insights from the report and explore how organizations are leveraging the Diligent One Platform to enhance risk and compliance management.
For the full analysis, download the GRC 20/20 report.
From siloed to strategic: A new era of GRC
Governance, risk and compliance have traditionally been treated as separate disciplines, each managed with its own systems, teams and reporting structures. This fragmented approach leads to blind spots, inefficiencies and increased risk exposure.
The report, Connecting GRC vertically and horizontally, highlights key pain points organizations face when GRC functions remain disconnected:
- Limited visibility into enterprise-wide risks
- Compliance gaps due to inconsistent data and reporting
- Inefficiencies from manual workflows and redundant processes
- Lack of alignment between governance, risk, and strategic priorities
To overcome these challenges, organizations must adopt a unified GRC strategy — one that connects governance, risk and compliance in a holistic framework.
Key findings on the shift to integrated GRC
The report emphasizes that companies embracing an integrated GRC platform see measurable improvements in risk management, compliance efficiency and governance effectiveness.
Instead of reacting to risks as they arise, these organizations use real-time insights, automation, and cross-functional collaboration to anticipate challenges, drive smarter decisions and align GRC with business strategy.
1) Breaking down barriers: Seamless integration & collaboration
One of the most significant barriers to effective GRC is organizational silos — where risk, compliance and audit teams operate in isolation, each relying on separate tools and datasets.
Technology plays a critical role in dismantling these silos. Platforms like Diligent One integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, eliminating manual data entry, reducing error and ensuring real-time visibility across departments.
By connecting teams, automating processes and delivering real-time risk intelligence, organizations can proactively manage threats rather than react to them.
2) Scalability & adaptability: Future-proofing GRC
As regulatory landscapes shift and risks evolve, organizations need GRC solutions that scale and adapt over time. A rigid, one-size-fits-all approach no longer works.
The Diligent One Platform is designed for flexibility — allowing companies to customize their GRC framework to fit their unique needs. With modular capabilities spanning enterprise risk, audit, third-party risk, policy management and more, organizations can evolve their GRC strategy in lockstep with their growth.
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The report highlights how companies that transition to a centralized, technology-driven GRC platform experience tangible benefits, including:
- Proactive risk identification and prioritization — reducing surprises and crisis management
- Increased compliance efficiency — minimizing regulatory penalties and audit failures
- Significant time and resource savings — freeing teams for more strategic initiatives
- Enhanced resilience and agility — adapting quickly to emerging threats
- Greater accountability and transparency — ensuring governance aligns with business strategy
- Streamlined reporting — delivering leadership with real-time, data-driven insights
Client perspectives: How organizations are seeing value
Organizations using the Diligent One Platform echo these findings. Clients consistently praise its ability to unify GRC functions, enhance board-level engagement and seamlessly integrate with other systems.
A Chief Risk Officer at a global financial institution shared: "Diligent was an incredible partner in our implementation. They were open to our ideas and customer needs, ensuring we could be working in the tool immediately."
Beyond the technology, Diligent’s customer support and responsiveness are a major differentiator. Clients highlight the company’s commitment to continuous innovation, with enhancements like advanced risk quantification, operational resilience, and improved internal reporting already in the pipeline.
GRC is no longer just a compliance issue — It’s a competitive advantage
The insights from Michael Rasmussen’s report make one thing clear: A fragmented approach to GRC is no longer sustainable.
Organizations that continue to rely on disconnected processes and manual workflows are exposing themselves to greater risks — not just compliance failures, but strategic misalignment and missed opportunities.
A unified, technology-driven GRC approach is now a business imperative — not just for regulatory compliance, but for resilience, agility, and long-term success. The question isn’t whether your organization needs an integrated GRC strategy — the question is how quickly can you implement one?
Get the full GRC 20/20 report
To explore the full findings and insights, download the complete GRC 20/20 Analyst’s Report.
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