GRC Consulting Services

BD Emerson provides GRC consulting and advisory services built around one risk register, one control set mapped to every framework you owe, and evidence collected once. We also implement the platforms that run the program: ServiceNow, AuditBoard, Drata, and Vanta.
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Definition

What is GRC consulting?

GRC consulting is governance, risk, and compliance run as one connected program: governance that assigns decisions to named owners, risk management that works from a single risk register, and compliance that maps one control set to every framework you owe. Done well, a control is implemented once, tested once, and its evidence reused across SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR, with results reported to leadership in business terms. BD Emerson provides GRC consulting services across that whole arc: program design, risk assessment, common-controls rationalization, and implementation of the platforms that run the program, including ServiceNow GRC, AuditBoard, Drata, and Vanta. The failure mode we replace is familiar: each framework run as its own project, controls duplicated for every audit, and evidence chased through spreadsheets each quarter.

Services

What GRC consulting services are included?

GRC program design
Risk assessment and register
Common controls mapping
GRC platform implementation
Third-party risk management
Metrics and board reporting

GRC program design and operating model

We define how governance, risk, and compliance actually run in your company: who owns each risk, which committee decides what, how exceptions get approved, and which reports leadership reads. The deliverable is an operating model with named owners and a working cadence, sized for your headcount instead of copied from an enterprise template.

Risk assessment and risk register build

We run risk assessments on a methodology aligned to ISO 27005 and NIST 800-30, translated into plain scoring your team will keep using: likelihood, impact, and an owner for every risk. The output is a single risk register that drives control decisions, replaces the scattered spreadsheets, and gives auditors one consistent answer on how you evaluate risk.

Common-controls rationalization

Most frameworks ask for the same controls in different words. We build one control set and map it across SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, and anything else you owe, so each control is implemented once, tested once, and its evidence reused in every audit. Duplicates get retired, and every surviving control gets a named owner and a test frequency.

GRC platform selection and implementation

BD Emerson implements ServiceNow GRC, AuditBoard, Drata, and Vanta, and the right one depends on company size and use case: ServiceNow and AuditBoard at enterprise scale, Drata and Vanta for automation-first compliance programs. Selection starts from your requirements, and we hold no reseller stake in the answer. If ServiceNow is on your shortlist, start with our breakdown of ServiceNow IRM vs GRC.

Third-party risk management program build

We build TPRM programs that tier vendors by the data they touch and the damage they could cause, with assessment depth matched to tier. The build covers the intake workflow, the assessment templates, and the reassessment cadence, wired into your GRC platform so vendor risk stops living in an inbox.

GRC metrics and board reporting

We build dashboards and board packs that report risk in business terms: which risks moved, which controls failed testing, what remediation will cost, and where the program stands against each framework you owe. Boards make better risk decisions from evidence than from the loudest voice in the room.

Our approach

How we build a GRC program

Choosing a platform before designing the program is the most common failure we see. If tooling is the open question, start with our practical evaluation of the best GRC software.
01

Inventory what you owe

We list every framework, contract clause, and regulator expectation you answer to, along with the controls and evidence each one requires. Overlap analysis on that inventory determines the common control set and sets the baseline the whole program builds on.

02

Build the risk and control foundation

The risk assessment runs on a methodology aligned to ISO 27005 and NIST 800-30 and produces one register with named owners. In parallel, we rationalize controls into a single set mapped to every framework, so each control is tested once and reused everywhere.

03

Implement the platform

Tooling enters only now. We configure ServiceNow, AuditBoard, Drata, or Vanta around the register and control set from step two, connect integrations for automated evidence collection, and migrate whatever deserves to survive from the spreadsheets.

04

Operate and report

The program settles into a cadence: controls tested on schedule, risks reviewed quarterly, findings tracked to closure, and a board pack that reports in business terms. We stay through your first audit cycle so evidence reuse holds under real audit pressure.

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Running every framework as its own project?

Speak with BD Emerson about the frameworks you owe, the audits ahead of you, and what one control set would change about both.

Our Advantage

Why BD Emerson for GRC consulting

Program first, platform second

We design the risk register and control set before any tool gets configured, so the platform automates a program that already works. A GRC tool configured around a broken program only produces broken dashboards faster.

Depth on all four major platforms

ServiceNow GRC, AuditBoard, Drata, and Vanta are all in active delivery here. Platform advice starts from your size and use case, and we resell none of them, so the recommendation carries no margin.

Mappings built from delivery

Our control mappings come from programs delivered across SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR, in software, healthcare, and financial services companies. We know which controls auditors test hardest and which evidence they actually sample.

How We Work

How we deliver GRC programs

One delivery model runs every GRC engagement, from a first risk register to a full platform implementation. Each step leaves artifacts you keep: the obligation inventory, the register, the control matrix, and the platform configuration.
Reviews

What our customers say

Great consulting firms for scaling security, compliance, and appsec.

Outstanding partner in Technical and Cyber Due Diligence

Appsec maturity and application hardening.

BD Emerson helped us simplfiy our compliance management.

BD Emerson did such a phenomenal job. What started as privacy support quickly became a full partnership across compliance, engineering, and even business operations. They’re embedded with our team. They understand our product. They move fast. They’re simply invaluable.

Adam Ben Jacobs

CTO @ OneStep GPS

Great consulting firms for scaling security, compliance, and appsec.

Outstanding partner in Technical and Cyber Due Diligence

Appsec maturity and application hardening.

BD Emerson helped us simplfiy our compliance management.

BD Emerson did such a phenomenal job. What started as privacy support quickly became a full partnership across compliance, engineering, and even business operations. They’re embedded with our team. They understand our product. They move fast. They’re simply invaluable.

Adam Ben Jacobs

CTO @ OneStep GPS

We had a hard time finding the right company to partner with in support of our compliance journey. Some vendors sell the idea that they do the work, but then you end up doing everything. The ambiguity is what killed our last project. BD Emerson’s team has such great technical knowledge and understands the standard so well that they made us comfortable with moving fast. This has led to us closing major enterprise customers that were previously out of reach because of security and compliance.

Tom Watkins

CEO @ AMI AssetTrack

Lead an enterprise initiative to overhaul the organization's technology stack from ecommerce, corporate tech, and corporate security.

Supported ISO 42001 exercise and served as internal auditor.

Rubrik's privacy and compliance team began with the backbone of BD Emerson. BD Emerson supported building out the privacy program, GRC (ISO 27001, SOC 2, CMMC, FedRAMP), and the appsec function.

We needed a partner who could move quickly, without sacrificing precision. BD Emerson brought the expertise, structure, and speed we were looking for. Their team became an extension of ours, embedding themselves across the organization, guiding us step by step, and giving us confidence in areas we hadn’t tackled before. The internal audit they conducted was so detailed that even the external auditors called it out. Achieving ISO 27001 with zero nonconformities says everything you need to know about the quality of the partnership.

Walid Souilem

CTO @ FGI Worldwide

We had a hard time finding the right company to partner with in support of our compliance journey. Some vendors sell the idea that they do the work, but then you end up doing everything. The ambiguity is what killed our last project. BD Emerson’s team has such great technical knowledge and understands the standard so well that they made us comfortable with moving fast. This has led to us closing major enterprise customers that were previously out of reach because of security and compliance.

Tom Watkins

CEO @ AMI AssetTrack

Lead an enterprise initiative to overhaul the organization's technology stack from ecommerce, corporate tech, and corporate security.

Supported ISO 42001 exercise and served as internal auditor.

Rubrik's privacy and compliance team began with the backbone of BD Emerson. BD Emerson supported building out the privacy program, GRC (ISO 27001, SOC 2, CMMC, FedRAMP), and the appsec function.

We needed a partner who could move quickly, without sacrificing precision. BD Emerson brought the expertise, structure, and speed we were looking for. Their team became an extension of ours, embedding themselves across the organization, guiding us step by step, and giving us confidence in areas we hadn’t tackled before. The internal audit they conducted was so detailed that even the external auditors called it out. Achieving ISO 27001 with zero nonconformities says everything you need to know about the quality of the partnership.

Walid Souilem

CTO @ FGI Worldwide

BD Emerson didn’t just help us meet our compliance goals; they integrated security and privacy into the core of our operations. I highly recommend BD Emerson to anyone seeking SOC 2 or GDPR compliance, or simply looking to enhance their security team and boost customer trust in their product and services. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable to our success.

Padraig Reilly

CEO, Boxcore

BD Emerson understood our business requirements and worked side-by-side with us. The policies and controls we developed together not only meet compliance standards but improve how we operate day to day.

Matt Meierdierks

IT Manager, Lincoln Industries

From day one, BD Emerson brought urgency, clarity, and a sharp understanding of what truly matters to our business — earning and keeping customer trust. They went beyond helping us meet compliance requirements; they helped build a foundation for secure, scalable growth. That kind of partnership is rare.

Jason Marker

CEO @ LifeLenz

BD Emerson didn’t just help us pass an audit—they helped us build a sustainable culture of security.

Alexey Indeev

CTO Spare

BD Emerson was essential in helping our company navigate the daunting process of leveling up our security infrastructure. BD Emerson’s impressive expertise and confidence throughout the process helped our team exceed HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 1 standards quickly, distilling what can be an overwhelming process into a streamlined, organized effort. From day one they began adding value and getting us on course. With their help we delivered on a massive security overhaul with both extreme efficiency and thorough attention to details. Because of BD Emerson’s support, we’ve increased our clients’ trust in Titan Intake and the life-changing work it accomplishes for those seeking specialist referrals.

Patrick Bruce

CEO, Titan Intake

BD Emerson didn’t just help us meet our compliance goals; they integrated security and privacy into the core of our operations. I highly recommend BD Emerson to anyone seeking SOC 2 or GDPR compliance, or simply looking to enhance their security team and boost customer trust in their product and services. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable to our success.

Padraig Reilly

CEO, Boxcore

BD Emerson understood our business requirements and worked side-by-side with us. The policies and controls we developed together not only meet compliance standards but improve how we operate day to day.

Matt Meierdierks

IT Manager, Lincoln Industries

From day one, BD Emerson brought urgency, clarity, and a sharp understanding of what truly matters to our business — earning and keeping customer trust. They went beyond helping us meet compliance requirements; they helped build a foundation for secure, scalable growth. That kind of partnership is rare.

Jason Marker

CEO @ LifeLenz

BD Emerson didn’t just help us pass an audit—they helped us build a sustainable culture of security.

Alexey Indeev

CTO Spare

BD Emerson was essential in helping our company navigate the daunting process of leveling up our security infrastructure. BD Emerson’s impressive expertise and confidence throughout the process helped our team exceed HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 1 standards quickly, distilling what can be an overwhelming process into a streamlined, organized effort. From day one they began adding value and getting us on course. With their help we delivered on a massive security overhaul with both extreme efficiency and thorough attention to details. Because of BD Emerson’s support, we’ve increased our clients’ trust in Titan Intake and the life-changing work it accomplishes for those seeking specialist referrals.

Patrick Bruce

CEO, Titan Intake

Certificates

Our accreditations

At BD Emerson, we believe that our team's extensive certifications not only set us apart but also ensure that we provide the highest level of service to our clients.
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does a GRC consultant actually deliver?

Do we need a GRC platform, or can we run on spreadsheets?

ServiceNow vs AuditBoard vs Drata vs Vanta: how do we choose?

How does a GRC program reduce audit costs?

How long does a GRC program build take?

Does BD Emerson audit the programs it builds?

Can you fix a GRC platform we already bought?

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