Most GRC professionals didn’t get into this line of work to chase version histories or debug workflows.
But somewhere along the way, GRC turned into a maze. Dozens of forms. Competing frameworks. Tools that require training just to request access. Entire days lost navigating between systems that were supposed to make things easier.
It didn’t start this way. But over time, complexity crept in … a field added here, a manual review step there, a new intake form for good measure. Now, many GRC programs are so bogged down by process and tech debt that the value gets buried under the admin.
So let’s ask the question:
When did GRC become more about managing the system than managing the risk?
Complexity Feels Safe, But It’s Not
Adding steps, layers, and documentation often feels like good risk management. It gives the illusion of thoroughness. But more complexity doesn’t mean more control – it often means less visibility, less adoption, and less trust in the system overall.
If users don’t understand the process, they’ll find workarounds. If the platform takes too long to load or asks too many irrelevant questions, they’ll stop engaging. And if risk, compliance, or audit teams spend more time maintaining the system than using it to drive decisions, the program isn’t working.
Simple Isn’t the Same as Shallow
Let’s be clear: simplicity doesn’t mean cutting corners.
It means cutting friction.
A simple GRC process is one that’s easy to follow, easy to maintain, and easy to improve. It’s structured around actual business needs, not theoretical best practices. And it focuses on enabling people to do the right thing.
Simplicity doesn’t weaken governance. It strengthens it by making it usable.
What It Looks Like to Simplify GRC
Simplification doesn’t mean tossing everything out and starting over. It means rethinking where complexity is getting in the way of clarity and action.
That might mean reducing the number of risk categories to focus on the ones that actually inform decisions. It could mean reworking your audit planning workflow so you’re not chasing updates across five tools. Or simplifying your policy acknowledgment process so employees don’t treat it like another checkbox.
Sometimes, it means saying no to another automation rule or template. Not because technology is bad, but because more rules won’t fix a broken process.
The Real Mark of Maturity Is Ease of Use
Complexity isn’t a sign of sophistication. Simplicity is.
If your GRC program is too hard to follow, too slow to respond, or too bloated to change, it’s not mature.
Because the best GRC teams aren’t building more process. They’re building less process with more purpose.
Ready to simplify your GRC environment and get back to what actually matters? Let’s talk.
