One of the hardest parts of explaining Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) to people outside of security is that it can sound abstract. Controls, frameworks, risk registers… it’s a lot of jargon if you don’t live in this space.
So here’s a simple analogy I’ve been using: GRC is the speed limit sign before a sharp turn.
The Road Ahead = Business Risk
Imagine you’re driving down a winding mountain road. Up ahead is a sharp curve. Engineers have studied that curve — the angle, accident history, road conditions — and they’ve posted a yellow advisory speed limit sign: 30 mph.
That sign is GRC at work. It’s not there to slow you down for no reason. It’s there because someone has already done the homework to test and validate what’s safe.
Choices at the Turn = Risk Decisions
Now, as the driver (the business), you’ve got decisions to make:
- Drive at 30 mph → You’re compliant. You’ll almost certainly make it around safely.
- Drive at 20 mph → You’re more cautious than you need to be. Very safe, but you may slow yourself (and everyone behind you) down.
- Drive at 35 mph → You’re slightly over, but maybe still within your organization’s tolerance.
- Drive at 50 mph → You’re well beyond tolerance. You might make it, but you’re betting against physics — and when you lose, it’s a crash with real costs.
- Ignore the sign entirely → No governance, no shared standard. Every driver makes it up as they go, and the unpredictability itself creates danger.
Appetite vs. Tolerance = Driving Style vs. Hard Limit
This is where the analogy gets even better, because we can use it to break down two key GRC concepts that often confuse people:
- Risk Appetite is your general driving style. Some businesses always stick right to the speed limit. Others are comfortable running a little over when conditions are good.
- Risk Tolerance is the hard limit you’re not willing to cross on a specific curve. Maybe you’re fine with 35 mph on that 30 mph turn, but not 45. Tolerance is where leadership says, “Beyond this point, we’re not okay with the risk.”
Put another way: appetite is cultural, tolerance is situational. Both matter.
GRC as a Business Enabler
Here’s the piece people often miss: GRC doesn’t just keep you safe — it helps you go faster with confidence.
Think about it: without that speed limit sign, you’d probably slow way down on every curve because you just don’t know what’s ahead. Or you’d gamble and push through blind, hoping you don’t crash. Neither option is efficient.
With GRC in place, you know the safe operating speed. You can push right up to that limit, confident you’re staying within the boundaries of what’s been validated. That’s how businesses can scale quickly, enter new markets, or adopt new tech without constantly second-guessing if they’re about to run off the road.
In other words: GRC is what lets you drive faster, safely.
Why This Analogy Works
I like this framing because it connects directly to how we actually live with risk every day. Nobody thinks twice about the fact that a speed limit sign is there to help, not to annoy. You can choose to go faster — but you’re knowingly taking on more risk. That’s exactly how GRC functions: it equips you with information and boundaries so you can make conscious, accountable choices.
And when the weather changes (new threats, regulations, or business pressures), those signs get updated. What was safe at 30 mph yesterday might be dangerous today.
Bringing It Back to Cybersecurity
In security programs, GRC often gets dismissed as the “paperwork” side of the house. But if you think of it as the sign before the curve, it’s clear: without it, you’re driving blind. With it, you at least know what safe looks like — and then you get to choose how fast you want to go.
That’s the real value of GRC: helping organizations navigate the curves without crashing, while giving them the confidence to hit the accelerator when the road opens up.
