Is Lean Compliance the Same as GRC?

While Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) in IT typically focuses on certified management systems like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS—with technology platforms designed for audit automation through integration—it often misses its true purpose.

GRC should deliver targeted outcomes, not just certified systems. It needs to be operational, with all components working together to achieve compliance goals and objectives. Unfortunately, many organizations lack the know how to establish systems that are more than their parts.

Lean Compliance addresses this gap by helping organizations achieve minimal viable compliance (MVC)—ensuring essential functions, behaviours, and interactions operate sufficiently together to generate targeted outcomes. Rather than focusing on integration alone, Lean Compliance emphasizes operability through a comprehensive model covering governance, programs, systems, and processes.

Think of it as Operational GRC.

GRC was always meant to deliver better safety, security, sustainability, privacy, quality, ethical, and regulatory outcomes—not just support audits and certifications.

Our outcome-focused approach is what makes Lean Compliance different: we aim higher to ensure compliance delivers what you need for mission success.