There’s a dangerous myth floating around boardrooms, audit committees, and even compliance teams. It goes something like this:
“We just need a GRC tool that comes pre-configured. Plug it in, turn it on, and boom – instant governance!”
It’s a comforting idea. Who wouldn’t want a silver bullet to handle risk, compliance, audit, third-party oversight, and internal controls in one swoop?
But like most myths, this one falls apart the moment it hits reality.
The Illusion of Simplicity
Every organization has its own risk fingerprint. A bank in Frankfurt doesn’t think about risk the same way a regional healthcare provider in the Midwest does. Even within the same industry, structure, strategy, and culture shape how governance, risk, and compliance need to function.
But many “one-size-fits-all” GRC platforms treat every customer like a carbon copy. You’re handed a cookie-cutter setup and expected to adjust your workflows, language, and expectations to fit what the software was built to do.
It’s like being issued a pre-tailored suit in the wrong size, then told to just grow into it.
Configurable ≠ Complicated
Here’s the big misunderstanding: configurability is often painted as a burden. Something that requires a team of consultants and endless workshops. That’s not how it has to be.
Empowered flips that narrative. Configurability, when done right, is a strength — not a barrier. It means your platform can reflect your org chart, your processes, your approval chains, your control testing cadence. It means the system works with you instead of against you.
It’s about starting with a solid foundation and tailoring the rest to fit — not the other way around.
The Hidden Cost of “Pre-Configured”
Let’s talk about what really happens when you commit to an inflexible, pre-set GRC solution:
- You end up managing your work outside the system, using spreadsheets and side documents because the tool can’t flex.
- You retrain users to work “the system’s way”, reducing adoption and increasing frustration.
- You rely on vendor timelines for even small changes, introducing lag and risk into your program.
- You struggle to report what actually matters, because the out-of-the-box dashboards don’t speak your language.
At best, it’s annoying. At worst, it’s operational risk disguised as convenience.
Empowered Means Agile GRC
We built Connected Risk with a different philosophy. We don’t believe in forcing you into someone else’s idea of a “standard” process. Instead, we give you the ability to:
- Launch modules quickly with strong default frameworks
- Easily modify fields, workflows, and logic to fit your environment
- Adapt over time as your program matures or regulations change
- Empower non-technical users to make changes directly, no ticketing queue required
You can start with internal audit and add risk assessments later. Or begin with third-party risk and expand into compliance. It’s modular, flexible, and scalable.
TL;DR
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all GRC program, so why settle for a platform that forces you into a box?
The right GRC solution should work for your business, not the other way around. If your current system feels like a constraint, it’s probably time to talk to Empowered.
