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4. Assign Risk Management Roles

One of your first tasks is to identify and assign individuals to specific roles related to security and privacy risk management.

Risk management roles may involve both internal and external personnel, with assignments varying based on the organisation’s structure. While the functions remain consistent, conflicts of interest must be avoided by ensuring that roles like the authorizing official and system owner are kept separate. Security and privacy roles require distinct expertise, and some roles, such as control assessor, may be assigned to groups rather than individuals.

The expected output for this task is a documented role assignment within the Risk Management Framework. In CSFaaS, this step involves creating roles and assigning users to those roles.

In a cybersecurity framework, the following roles are generally considered fundamental:

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)​

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) oversees cybersecurity strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

GRC Manager (Governance, Risk, and Compliance)​

The GRC Manager (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) manages governance, risk, and compliance efforts within the organisation.

Policy Manager​

The Policy Manager develops, updates, and oversees cybersecurity policies.

Risk Manager​

The Risk Manager oversees the risk management processes and ensures risks are properly identified, assessed, and mitigated.

Risk Owner​

The Risk Owner holds accountability for managing specific risks and ensures mitigation actions are implemented.

Remediation Plan Owner​

The Remediation Plan Owner is responsible for creating and executing remediation plans for identified risks.

Security Architect​

The Security Architect designs secure system architectures and ensures security is embedded from the start.

Risk Analyst​

the Risk Analyst conducts risk assessments and provides in-depth risk analysis to support decision-making.

Assurance Manager​

The Assurance Manager provides independent evaluation to ensure controls are effective and compliant with standards.

System Owner​

The System Owner is Responsible for the overall operation, maintenance, and security of a specific system.

Third Party Manager​

The Third Party Manager Manages relationships with third-party vendors and ensures that security and privacy risks related to third parties are properly managed.

Auditor​

The Auditor rovides an independent review of security practices, compliance status, and effectiveness of controls to ensure accountability and transparency.


These roles encompass key functions that ensure a robust cybersecurity posture. By assigning roles thoughtfully and avoiding conflicts of interest, your organisation can effectively manage cybersecurity and privacy risks.