Beyond the API: GRC Engineering in the Real World w/ Ange Ferrari, CISO/SVP @ METRO AG
Want more? Subscribe to the GRC Engineer newsletter for exclusive content including a detailed transcript of this episode in next week's edition: https://grcengineer.com/subscribeIn this insightful episode of the GRC Engineering Podcast, host Ayoub Fandi sits down with Ange Ferrari, SVP & CISO at Metro Group, for a deep dive into how GRC has evolved over two decades and what it takes to scale security programs globally.Our expert guest:Ange is a security leader with 20+ years experience across public sector, retail giants (Carrefour, IKEA), AWS EMEA, and now leading security for a global wholesaler operating in 36 countries.We explore the evolution and engineering of GRC at enterprise scale, covering:How GRC became the key to career growth from technical roles to CISOWhy cloud transformation shattered traditional risk frameworksThe reality of implementing controls across diverse, global technology stacksHot Take: The critical balance between prevention and detection that most missAWS insider perspective: What enterprise-scale compliance really looks likeEngineering pragmatic GRC programs that work in messy, real-world environmentsWhether you're a CISO scaling global programs, a GRC professional in traditional industries, or anyone trying to make compliance work in complex enterprise environments, Ange shares battle-tested strategies from the front lines.📋 Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Ange's Background02:57 - How GRC Enabled Career Growth06:34 - Evolution of GRC Practices Over Time14:52 - Common GRC Implementation Failures25:56 - Defining GRC Engineering33:01 - Where Should GRC Teams Report?39:20 - GRC Challenges in Complex Enterprise Environments49:05 - Lessons from the AWS Vendor Side59:46 - Building Technical Skills in GRC Teams01:03:39 - Hot Take: Prevention vs Detection Balance
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Third-Party Risk Management from the Trenches w/ Blake, McKenna and Kristi | Experts Panel
Want more? Subscribe to the GRC Engineer newsletter for exclusive content including a detailed transcript of this episode in next week's edition: https://grcengineer.com/subscribeIn this premiere episode of the GRC Engineering Podcast Experts Panel, host Ayoub Fandi brings together three seasoned Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) practitioners to discuss the real-world challenges and innovations in vendor security assessment.Our expert panelists:McKenna Yeakey (Netflix) - TPRM professional with previous experience at Splunk and SamsaraKristi Hoffmaster - TPRM practitioner with experience at OktaBlake Hoge (Airbnb) - TPRM professional with previous experiences at Instacart and SalesforceThey dive deep into the practical realities of TPRM, exploring:How to optimise questionnaires for different vendor risk tiersStrategies for balancing speed and thoroughness in assessmentsThe evolving value of SOC 2 and other third-party attestationsTrust Centres: genuine security resources or marketing tools?Security scoring platforms: their benefits and limitationsHow SaaS security tools can enhance TPRM programsReal-world stories from thousands of vendor assessmentsWhether you're a security professional, TPRM practitioner, or interested in understanding how companies evaluate their vendors, this episode provides valuable insights into how leading companies like Netflix and Airbnb approach third-party risk.Subscribe to the GRC Engineering Podcast for more expert discussions on governance, risk, and compliance engineering.00:00 - Introduction to the Experts Panel03:20 - Questionnaire optimisation approaches11:00 - Risk-based vendor tiering strategies18:00 - Balancing speed and thoroughness in assessments26:45 - Netflix's way of integrating TPRM30:05 - Declining value of certification and attestations37:30 - Trust Centres: helpful or just marketing?44:30 - Security scoring platforms: useful signals or noise?49:40 - Kristi pulls a reverse UNO card and asks Ayoub about TPRM disruptions52:45 - SaaS Security tools for TPRM programs58:25 - Interesting vendor assessment stories01:05:00 - Closing thoughts on TPRM's value#TPRM #VendorSecurity #RiskManagement #GRCEngineering #SupplyChainSecurity
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The Unfiltered GRC Automation Roundtable: 7 Platform Executives on Enterprise GRC & Commoditisation
In this groundbreaking episode of the GRC Engineering Podcast, we bring together executives from the 7 leading GRC automation platforms for an unprecedented discussion on the future of compliance automation. For the first time ever, leaders from Vanta, Drata, Anecdotes, Secureframe, Sprinto, Scrut Automation, and Thoropass share the same virtual stage to debate critical industry topics, challenge common assumptions, and share their visions for the future of GRC.Featured Guests:Jake Bernardes - CISO, AnecdotesMatt Hillary - CISO, DrataJeremy Epling - Chief Product Officer, VantaShrav Mehta - Founder & CEO, SecureframeGirish Redekar - Co-founder & CEO, SprintoNicholas Muy - CISO, Scrut AutomationAndrew Persons - VP of Product, ThoropassFrom the commoditisation debate to enterprise adoption challenges, get unique insights into how these platforms are shaping the future of GRC.Key Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and guest introductions09:00 Is compliance being commoditised? The vendor perspective32:30 Is Assurance impacted from selling compliance to non-GRC stakeholders49:30 If quality was very low, most GRC automation firms would be out of business54:30 Selling GRC automation to enterprise customers01:19:00 Working around existing legacy GRC platforms01:34:30 Risk of being replaceable as being embedded at the data layer01:38:40 Working with product feedback from non-customers01:46:45 GRC Engineering discussion01:50:00 Conclusion and key takeawaysSpecial thanks to our guests for making this historic conversation possible.This discussion represents a turning point in how we think about GRC automation and its role in modern organisations.#GRCEngineering
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Scaling GRC Engineering: The Definitive Guide w/ Akhila Chitiprolu from Sierra | S2E3
If you enjoy the podcast, feel free to subscribe to the GRC Engineer newsletter: grcengineer.com/subscribeIn this episode of The GRC Engineering Podcast, host Ayoub Fandi speaks with Akhila Chitiprolu, head of GRC at Sierra and former GRC leader at Stripe, Expedia, and T-Mobile.Akhila shares her journey from engineering to GRC leadership and offers deep insights on transforming traditional compliance into engineering-driven programs that scale with modern technology companies. Drawing from over a decade of experience across tech, fintech, telecom, and AI, she provides practical strategies for building GRC Engineering capabilities from the ground up.Whether you're just starting your GRC Engineering journey or looking to scale existing efforts, this episode provides tactical advice on:- Transforming control design for automation and scalability- Convincing traditional auditors to accept API-driven evidence- Building the business case for GRC Engineering investments- Developing effective collaborations between technical and non-technical GRC staff- Measuring and demonstrating the value of engineering-driven compliance- Creating a roadmap for continuous control monitoringKey topics covered:00:00 Introduction and guest background02:58 Evolution of GRC: From spreadsheets to engineering-driven approaches04:05 The biggest pain point: Evidence collection at scale across multiple frameworks05:38 Why control design matters more than evidence automation alone11:20 The tipping point for GRC Engineering adoption in organizations13:30 Breaking down GRC process phases and where engineering adds value26:52 How to work with auditors on engineering evidence and build trust31:53 Build vs. Buy: Finding the right approach for your organization size37:10 Building relationships with engineering teams through shared pain points39:33 How compliance can become an engineering roadmap for platform teams42:04 Key principles for scaling GRC Engineering programs beyond initial wins48:19 GRC Engineers & Analysts: Working together effectively across skill sets53:41 The magic wand question: Asset to control view and community education
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AI Agents as the next GRC Frontier w/ Shruti Gupta from Zania | S2E2
To view the notes from the podcast and much more, check out the episode summary on the GRC Engineer.
The podcast helping Security GRC practitioners getting their career to the next level. We speak with trailblazers, innovators and experts in the GRC realm that champion an engineering-minded GRC practice.
Episodes are jam-packed with practical tips, concepts and use cases to help you scale your GRC program and create better relationships with your engineering and product colleagues.
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