ISO 18788:2015 for Risk Managers
What does ISO 18788:2015 require of a Risk Manager?
ISO 18788 requirements for a security operations management system: context and risk criteria, leadership and the Statement of Conformance, human rights risk assessment, competence and communications, use of force and weapons control, vetting and welfare, incident, grievance and whistle-blower handling, audits, management review and improvement. Under ISO 18788:2015, which defines 48 controls, a Risk Manager's work is deciding which controls you own outright, which you share and which belong to another team, then holding the evidence for the first group.
Which ISO 18788:2015 controls land on the Risk Manager
Risk Managers identify, assess, and prioritise organisational risks. They build risk registers, conduct risk assessments, define risk appetite, and ensure that compliance frameworks address the most material threats to the organisation.
ISO 18788:2015 defines 48 controls across 7 domains that directly affect the Risk Manager role. Understanding which controls fall within your ownership, which are shared, and which are owned by other teams is the foundation of effective compliance management.
What a Risk Manager is accountable for under ISO 18788:2015
Conducting enterprise risk assessments and maintaining the risk register
Defining risk appetite and tolerance levels with executive leadership
Mapping compliance controls to identified risks for coverage analysis
Monitoring key risk indicators (KRIs) and escalating emerging threats
Integrating compliance, operational, and strategic risk management
Where Risk Managers lose time on ISO 18788:2015
These are the most common obstacles Risk Managers face when managing ISO 18788:2015 compliance, and how to address them:
Challenge 1
Quantifying cyber risk in financial terms that resonate with executives
Challenge 2
Identifying gaps between compliance control coverage and actual risk exposure
Challenge 3
Integrating risk data from siloed tools and departments
Challenge 4
Keeping risk assessments current as the threat landscape evolves
Challenge 5
Prioritising remediation when resources are limited
A working order for a Risk Manager starting on ISO 18788:2015
1. Readiness Assessment
Take a 5-minute readiness assessment to identify your organisation's current gap profile against ISO 18788:2015. Get a prioritised action plan tailored to your specific situation.
2. Cross-Framework Mapping
Use our platform to map ISO 18788:2015 controls against other frameworks you already comply with. Identify overlapping controls to reduce duplicate effort.
3. Build Your Toolkit
Equip yourself with ISO 18788:2015 toolkits, self-assessments, and implementation guides from our store. Resources designed specifically for Risk Managers managing compliance programmes.
4. Continuous Monitoring
Establish ongoing compliance monitoring using our platform's gap analysis tools. Track your maturity over time and demonstrate progress to stakeholders.
ISO 18788:2015 in your sector
Who else owns part of ISO 18788:2015
Questions Risk Managers ask about ISO 18788:2015
What does a Risk Manager need to know about ISO 18788:2015?
How does ISO 18788:2015 affect the Risk Manager role?
What are the biggest ISO 18788:2015 challenges for Risk Managers?
How should a Risk Manager prepare for a ISO 18788:2015 audit?
What tools help Risk Managers manage ISO 18788:2015 compliance?
Risk Manager: How ready is your organisation for ISO 18788:2015?
Answer 25 questions and get a professional readiness report with gap analysis, maturity scores, and prioritised action items. Results in 5 minutes.