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Accountability

What is Accountability?

The obligation of an individual or organization to account for their activities, accept responsibility for outcomes, and disclose results transparently.

Governance

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as accountability. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on accountability

Requirements naming accountability across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

ISO 37000:202111 controls

As a demonstration of accountability, the governing body should make sure the organization's reports and disclosures: set out the purpose, values, value generation model, strategy and governance policies;

iso-37000-2021::6.5.3.2 · 6.5.3.2 Demonstrate accountability →
COBIT 20199 controls

Business information can be traced back to the business event that gave rise to it and linked to those accountable, which assures that it is reliable and was processed in line with defined objectives: source information, the evidence behind it and the transact...

cobit-2019::DSS06.05 · DSS06.05 Ensure traceability and accountability for information events →

The board or its committee oversees the development, implementation and maintenance of the information security program, understands the business case and the business implications of security risk, gives direction, approves the written program, plans and poli...

ffiec-it-examination-handbook::IS-I.B · I.B Responsibility and Accountability (Information Security) →

Implement the security design principle of accountability and traceability in [Assignment: organization-defined systems or system components].

NIST800-SA-8(22) · SA-8(22) Security and Privacy Engineering Principles | Accountability and Traceability →

The cargo management system defines safety accountability, authorities and responsibilities of cargo personnel including external providers' staff and keeps managerial continuity through delegation (CGO 1.2.1, 1.2.2).

iata-operational-safety-audit-iosa-standards-manual::CGO 1.2 · CGO 1.2 Accountability, Authorities and Responsibilities →

Persons processing personal data should maintain records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the Act, including purposes, categories, retention, and protective measures applied to the data.

CH-FADP-16 · Record keeping and accountability →

Questions people ask about accountability

What is Accountability?
The obligation of an individual or organization to account for their activities, accept responsibility for outcomes, and disclose results transparently.
Why is Accountability important for compliance?
Accountability is a key concept in Governance. Understanding accountability helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Accountability?
Accountability appears in the requirement text of ISO 37000:2021, COBIT 2019, FFIEC IT Examination Handbook, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Standards Manual. Across these standards we have identified 52 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Accountability?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how accountability applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 1,016 frameworks.

See how Accountability applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 1,016 frameworks with 316K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.