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RSK-17.2: Documented Alternatives

RSK 9 — Critical Govern

Mechanisms exist to document alternative courses of action to ensure executive leadership is reasonably informed of options to manage material risks, including potential: (1) Benefits; (2) Drawbacks (including technical limitations); (3) Costs; and (4) Timelines.

Renumbered: Formerly RSK-13.1 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization document alternative courses of action to ensure executive leadership is reasonably informed of options to manage material risks, including potential: (1) Benefits; (2) Drawbacks (including technical limitations); (3) Costs; and (4) Timelines?

APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 12.2(a)

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

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Risk Management (RSK) 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 RSK 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 RSK domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A risk management team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain RSK domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of risk management operations (e.g., risk management solution, GRC platform and TPRM tool). ▪ 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 RSK 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 document alternative courses of action to ensure executive leadership is reasonably informed of options to manage material risks, including potential: (1) Benefits; (2) Drawbacks (including technical limitations); (3) Costs; and (4) Timelines.

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. RSK-17.2_A01 potential courses of action are developed to manage material risks with necessary information to make an informed decision.
  2. RSK-17.2_A02 potential courses of action to manage material risks are presented to executive leadership.

Evidence Requirements

E-RSK-11 Risk Alternatives

Documented evidence of alternative courses of action to manage material risks.

Risk Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Review security measures after major incidents

Small

  • Post-incident security review process

Medium

  • Formal post-incident security review and lessons learned program

Large

  • Enterprise post-incident review program
  • Formal corrective action tracking

Enterprise

  • Enterprise incident management and continuous improvement platform
  • Automated post-incident review triggers

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