We already have ISO 27001 — why a GRC programme?
ISO covers information security. A GRC programme integrates IT, operational, third-party, regulatory and emerging-tech risk into one view for the board.
Extended FAQs
Extended FAQs — GRC Strategy & Operating Model
Extended answers to the questions buyers, boards and procurement teams ask before commissioning GRC Strategy & Operating Model.
- ISO/IEC 27001 Certified
- ISO/IEC 27701 Certified
- ISO 9001 Certified
Delivered by an ISO/IEC 27001, 27701 & 9001 certified organisation
How long does a GRC operating model take to stand up?
Foundation (taxonomy, framework, tooling decision) takes 8 to 12 weeks. Full rollout including unified evidence collection and dashboards takes 6 to 9 months.
Which GRC platform should we use?
Tool-agnostic. Archer and ServiceNow GRC suit large regulated enterprises; Vanta, Drata and Sprinto suit SaaS and mid-market; AuditBoard works well for audit-heavy environments. We help you choose and implement.
We have multiple risk registers — how do you reconcile them?
We map every existing register into the new enterprise taxonomy, deduplicate and re-attribute ownership. Legacy registers retire as the unified register is approved.
What is the ROI of an integrated GRC programme?
Typical outcomes: 30–40% audit-fatigue reduction, 25% tooling rationalisation, and meaningful avoidance of duplicated control work. We agree the success metrics up front.
Will this replace our internal audit function?
No. GRC is the second line — it owns the framework, register and reporting. Internal audit (third line) provides independent assurance over both the first and second lines.
Can you support a single regulated entity inside a group?
Yes. We routinely run group-level GRC programmes with entity-level scopes (banks, insurers, fintechs) feeding a common backbone.
How experienced is the team that will actually deliver GRC Strategy & Operating Model?
Every engagement is led by a partner or principal with at least 12 years in ai governance & risk and supported by certified consultants (CISA, CISM, CISSP, CIPP/E, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, ISO 42001 Lead Implementer, OSCP, CREST). You meet the actual delivery team before contracts are signed.
How do you handle confidentiality and data residency?
All client data stays within the regions you authorise. NDAs are signed before scoping calls, and we offer fully on-premise delivery for sensitive engagements. For UAE and KSA clients, evidence remains in-country by default.
Can MAST work alongside our existing Big 4 auditor?
Yes. We routinely collaborate with EY, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, BDO and Grant Thornton as your implementation partner while they retain audit independence. Roles are agreed upfront in writing to preserve auditor independence rules.
Do you offer multi-year continuous compliance?
Yes — our Managed Compliance Service operates the programme on a monthly subscription, covering control monitoring, evidence collection, internal audit and recertification across every framework in scope.
How is success measured?
Success criteria are agreed in the engagement charter — typically a passed certification or regulator submission, an audit-ready evidence repository, trained control owners and a 12-month continuous-improvement plan.