ServiceNow’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module is a comprehensive platform designed to help organizations manage their governance, risk, and compliance processes in a streamlined and efficient manner. It includes tools for risk management, compliance, policy management, and training, allowing organizations to reduce the risk of errors and oversights and improve overall efficiency. The GRC module is available as a standalone application, or it can be purchased as part of the ServiceNow platform. It is designed to be flexible and customizable, so organizations can tailor it to meet their specific needs and requirements.
Do you want to gain a better understanding of how ServiceNow’s GRC works? Follow the guide:
ServiceNow GRC : key features and benefits
ServiceNow GRC will allow you to :
- Create and manage policies within the GRC module: One of the key features of the GRC module is its ability to automate and streamline risk management processes. With the GRC module, organizations can identify, assess, and mitigate risks in a systematic and proactive manner
- Assign policies to specific individuals or groups: Policies can be created and managed within the GRC module, and they can be assigned to specific individuals or groups within the organization. Policies can be used to address a wide range of governance, risk, and compliance issues, including data security, information management, and incident management.
- Track and report on policy compliance: In addition to risk management, the GRC module also includes tools for managing compliance processes. This includes tools for tracking and reporting on compliance activities, as well as for setting and monitoring compliance thresholds. The GRC module also includes a number of pre-built compliance reports, as well as the ability to create custom reports.
- Set and monitor policy thresholds: The module also includes tools for tracking and reporting on risk management activities, as well as for setting and monitoring risk thresholds.
- Train and educate employees on the policies that apply to them: the GRC module also includes tools for training and educating employees on the policies that apply to them. This can help to ensure that all employees are aware of their responsibilities and obligations, and that they understand how to comply with the policies that apply to their work.
Overall, the use of policies is an important aspect of managing governance, risk, and compliance processes within an organization. By defining and enforcing policies, organizations can ensure that they are following best practices and meeting the requirements of laws, regulations, and other standards.
ServiceNow GRC : 5 examples of the types of policies that an organization might use
NB: These are just a few examples of the types of policies that an organization might use in the GRC module. The specific policies that are relevant to an organization will depend on its size, industry, and the specific risks and compliance requirements that it faces. To set up your own types of policies, you may need one of our N2 ServiceNow expert.
- Data security policy: This policy might outline the procedures and controls that should be in place to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or disclosure. It might include requirements for password management, data encryption, and access controls, as well as procedures for responding to security incidents.
- Information management policy: This policy might outline the procedures for creating, storing, and accessing information within the organization. It might include guidelines for classifying and labeling information, as well as for destroying or disposing of information that is no longer needed.
- Incident management policy: This policy might outline the procedures for reporting, responding to, and resolving incidents that affect the organization. It might include guidelines for identifying and classifying incidents, as well as for coordinating the response and recovery efforts.
- Code of conduct policy: This policy might outline the ethical standards and behaviors that are expected of employees within the organization. It might include guidelines for professional conduct, workplace behavior, and the use of company resources.
- Environmental health and safety policy: This policy might outline the procedures and controls that should be in place to protect the health and safety of employees and the environment. It might include guidelines for handling hazardous materials, as well as for responding to emergencies.
To define and enforce their policies and procedures, organizations need to create Authority documents on ServiceNow’s GRC module. They can help organizations to ensure that they are following best practices and meeting their obligations. The GRC module includes tools for managing and tracking authority documents, as well as for training and educating employees on the documents that apply to them.
ServiceNow GRC : what are Authority Documents?
In ServiceNow’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module, authority documents are the documents or sources of information that an organization uses to define and enforce its policies and procedures. Authority documents can be used to provide guidance on how to comply with laws, regulations, and other requirements, and they can be used to set standards and expectations for how an organization should manage its governance, risk, and compliance processes.
4 examples of authority documents that an organization might use in the GRC module:
- Laws and regulations: These might include federal, state, and local laws and regulations that apply to the organization.
- Industry standards: These might include standards or best practices that are specific to the organization’s industry.
- Company policies and procedures: These might include policies and procedures that have been developed by the organization to govern its operations and activities.
- Guidelines and standards: These might include guidelines or standards that have been developed by external organizations, such as professional associations or industry groups.
How to create authority documents?
To create an authority document in ServiceNow’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Authority Documents tab in the GRC module.
- Click the “New” button to create a new authority document.
- Enter the name and description of the authority document.
- Select the type of authority document from the drop-down menu. The options might include laws and regulations, industry standards, company policies and procedures, or guidelines and standards.
- Enter the details of the authority document, including the text or content of the document.
- If the authority document is a legal citation or an industry standard, enter the relevant information about the document, such as the title, number, and date.
- Attach any relevant documents or files to the authority document.
- Save the authority document.
Once the authority document has been created, it can be assigned to specific individuals or groups within the organization, and it can be used to support the policies and procedures that are relevant to the organization. The GRC module includes tools for tracking and reporting on authority documents, as well as for training and educating employees on the documents that apply to them.
ServiceNow GRC : what are Citations?
In ServiceNow’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module, citations are references or links to specific sections of authority documents that are relevant to a particular policy or procedure. Citations can be used to provide more detailed information about the requirements or standards that apply to a particular policy or procedure.
3 examples of citations that an organization might use in the GRC module:
- Legal citation: This might include a reference to a specific law or regulation that applies to the organization. For example, a citation to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) might be used to support a policy on data security.
- Industry standard citation: This might include a reference to a specific industry standard or best practice that applies to the organization. For example, a citation to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) might be used to support a policy on data security.
- Company policy citation: This might include a reference to a specific policy or procedure that has been developed by the organization. For example, a citation to the company’s data retention policy might be used to support a policy on information management.
Citations can be used to provide more detailed information about the requirements or standards that apply to a particular policy or procedure, and they can help organizations to ensure that they are following best practices and meeting their obligations. The GRC module includes tools for managing and tracking citations, as well as for training and educating employees on the documents that apply to them.
How to create Citations?
To create a citation in ServiceNow’s Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Authority Documents tab in the GRC module.
- Locate the authority document that you want to use as a citation.
- Click on the authority document to open it.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the authority document and click the “Create Citation” button.
- Enter the name and description of the citation.
- Select the policy or procedure that the citation will be associated with from the drop-down menu.
- Enter the details of the citation, including the text or content of the citation.
- If the citation is a reference to a specific section or paragraph of the authority document, enter the relevant information about the section or paragraph, such as the page number or heading.
- Save the citation.
Once the citation has been created, it can be used to provide more detailed information about the requirements or standards that apply to a particular policy or procedure. The GRC module includes tools for managing and tracking citations, as well as for training and educating employees on the documents that apply to them.