# Risk Integration Maturity Assessment

- **PURPOSE:**Helps organizations evaluate how effectively they've integrated cybersecurity risk with broader business risk management, identifying specific improvement opportunities.
- **WHEN TO USE:**During strategic planning, prior to major security initiatives, or as part of annual security program assessments.

Rate each dimension from 1 (Siloed) to 5 (Fully Integrated)

| Integration Dimension | Siloed (1) | Developing (3) | Integrated (5) | Your Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Governance Structure | Security and risk functions report through separate channels with minimal coordination | Some cross-functional coordination exists but with separate decision processes | Unified governance structure with security fully integrated into enterprise risk management |  |
| Risk Assessment Method | Separate methodologies for cyber and business risks | Common methodology but separate execution | Single, unified risk assessment process incorporating both technical and business factors |  |
| Risk Language | Heavy technical jargon in security; financial terms in business risk | Some translation between domains but inconsistent | Consistent enterprise-wide risk terminology with both technical precision and business clarity |  |
| Budget Allocation | Security budget separate from business unit budgets | Some input from business units on security spending | Security investments allocated based on business risk and owned jointly |  |
| Incident Response | Technical team handles incidents with minimal business involvement | Business stakeholders involved after technical assessment | Joint business and technical teams with pre-defined business impact thresholds |  |
| Risk Appetite Definition | Separate risk appetites for security vs. business | Coordinated but separate risk appetite statements | Unified risk appetite framework applied consistently across domains |  |
| Metrics and Reporting | Technical metrics for security; financial metrics for business risk | Some cross-domain reporting but separate primary metrics | Integrated metrics linking security activities directly to business outcomes |  |
| Ownership and Accountability | Security owns "cyber" risk; business units own "business" risk | Shared responsibility but unclear boundaries | Clear joint accountability with defined roles for both technical and business stakeholders |  |

Table 1: Risk Integration Maturity Assessment

## Scoring Guide:

- 8-16: Highly Siloed - Significant barriers between security and business risk
- 17-24: Beginning Integration - Early efforts to connect domains but substantial gaps remain
- 25-32: Advancing Integration - Good foundation but opportunities for deeper coordination
- 33-40: Mature Integration - Highly effective risk integration with minor refinement opportunities

## IMPLEMENTATION TIPS:

- Have both security and business leaders complete the assessment independently, then compare results
- Focus improvement efforts on dimensions with the largest gaps between current and desired states
- Use assessment results to build a roadmap for risk integration initiatives


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(c)[Kayne McGladrey](https://kaynemcgladrey.com/) - [Get the full book](https://www.routledge.com/Cyber-Risk-is-a-Myth-A-Business-Approach-to-Integrated-Risk-Management/McGladrey/p/book/9781041249054)