<!-- Copyright (c) 2026 defconxt. All rights reserved. -->
<!-- Licensed under AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE file for details. -->
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---
name: building-risk-register-management
description: >-
  Build and maintain enterprise risk registers with risk identification, categorization, treatment tracking, ownership assignment, and integration with GRC platforms.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: governance-risk-compliance
tags:
  - risk-register
  - risk-tracking
  - risk-treatment
  - grc
  - risk-ownership
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: []
---

# Building Risk Register Management

## Overview

The risk register is the central artifact of risk management. This technique covers building structured risk registers with consistent taxonomy, automated scoring, treatment plan tracking, and reporting dashboards integrated with GRC platforms.

Mode: `[MODE: ARCHITECT]` — Risk register design, population, and lifecycle management.

## Prerequisites

| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| GRC platform or database | ServiceNow, Archer, or spreadsheet |
| Risk taxonomy | Aligned to organizational categories |
| Python 3.10+ | For agent tooling |

## Workflow

### 1. Risk Register Structure

```
Risk Register Entry Schema:
├── Risk ID: RR-2026-001
├── Title: Ransomware Attack on Production Systems
├── Category: Cybersecurity > Malware
├── Description: Threat actor deploys ransomware...
├── Owner: CISO / Director of Security Operations
├── Inherent Risk:
│   ├── Likelihood: 4 (Likely)
│   ├── Impact: 5 (Severe)
│   └── Score: 20 (Critical)
├── Treatment Plan:
│   ├── Strategy: Mitigate
│   ├── Controls: EDR, backups, network segmentation
│   ├── Status: In Progress (75%)
│   └── Target Date: 2026-06-30
├── Residual Risk:
│   ├── Likelihood: 2 (Unlikely)
│   ├── Impact: 4 (Major)
│   └── Score: 8 (Medium)
├── KRI: Number of phishing attempts per month
├── Review Date: 2026-03-31
└── Regulatory Mapping: NIST CSF ID.RA, ISO 27001 A.8.7
```

### 2. Risk Treatment Strategies

```
Treatment options (ISO 31000):
├── Avoid: Eliminate the activity causing risk
├── Mitigate: Implement controls to reduce likelihood/impact
├── Transfer: Insurance, outsourcing, contracts
├── Accept: Formally accept within risk appetite
└── Share: Distribute risk across parties

Treatment tracking:
├── Each risk links to treatment actions
├── Actions have owners, deadlines, status
├── Progress tracked as percentage complete
├── Overdue actions escalate automatically
└── Treatment effectiveness reviewed quarterly
```

### 3. Risk Register Reporting

```
Dashboard metrics:
├── Total open risks by severity
├── Risk trend over time (new vs. closed)
├── Treatment plan completion rates
├── Overdue risk reviews
├── Top 10 risks by residual score
└── Risks by category and owner
```

## Verification

- [ ] Process documented and approved
- [ ] Stakeholders identified and engaged
- [ ] Tooling configured and automated where possible
- [ ] Outputs reviewed and validated
- [ ] Reporting integrated into GRC program
- [ ] Periodic review schedule established
