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CPL-22: Grievances

CPL 5 — Medium Respond

Mechanisms exist to govern the intake and analysis of grievances related to the organization's cybersecurity and/or data protection practices.

Renumbered: Formerly CPL-07 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization govern the intake and analysis of grievances related to its cybersecurity and/or data protection practices?

EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA EU Cyber Resiliency Act 2024 Article 13(17)
APAC (8)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australian Privacy Principles 2026 1.1.2.b
APAC India DPDPA 2023 13(1)
APAC India ITR 2011 5(9)
APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 4.f 43.0 44.0
APAC India RBI PA 2025 III.8.a III.8.d
APAC India RBI PPI 2025 11.4.7.b 16.2.a 16.2.b 16.2.c 16.2.d 16.6 16.8 16.10.b 17.4.e 17.4.f 17.9 19.e
APAC Japan APPI 2020 IV.5.52(1) IV.5.52(2) IV.5.52(3)
APAC Japan ISMAP 18.1.2.13.PB

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

Compliance (CPL) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with CPL domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Compliance management-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Compliance efforts are narrowly-limited to certain compliance requirements. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel use an informal process to govern statutory, regulatory and contractual compliance obligations.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Compliance (CPL) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with CPL domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CPL domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with CPL domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Compliance management controls-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Compliance management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ External compliance requirements for cybersecurity and data privacy are identified and documented, based on applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Compliance (CPL) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with CPL domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CPL domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain CPL domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of governance, risk management and compliance operations (e.g., GRC platform). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with CPL domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to govern the intake and analysis of grievances related to the organization's cybersecurity and/or data protection practices.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. CPL-22_A01 an intake mechanism exists to receive grievances related to the organization's cybersecurity and/or data protection practices.
  2. CPL-22_A02 received grievances are assigned to specific roles to investigate the legitimacy of the complaint.
  3. CPL-22_A03 the analysis of received grievances is documented.
  4. CPL-22_A04 upon validation of a grievance from a data subject, a process assigns the remediation task to an individual or team.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Document applicable regulatory requirements in a checklist

Small

  • Compliance checklist
  • Annual compliance review

Medium

  • Compliance management program
  • Regulatory mapping
  • Compliance calendar

Large

  • GRC solution (e.g., SCFConnect, Cyturus, SureCloud, SimpleRisk, Ignyte, ZenGRC, Galvanize, MetricStream, Archer, etc.)
  • Compliance team

Enterprise

  • GRC solution (e.g., SCFConnect, Cyturus, SureCloud, SimpleRisk, Ignyte, ZenGRC, Galvanize, MetricStream, Archer, etc.)
  • Dedicated compliance team
  • Automated compliance monitoring

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is maintained by SCF Council. Use of SCF content is subject to the SCF Terms & Conditions.

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