Root Cause Analysis
What is Root Cause Analysis?
A systematic process for identifying the fundamental causes of problems, nonconformities, or incidents. Root cause analysis ensures that corrective actions address underlying issues rather than symptoms.
Terms that appear alongside root cause analysis
Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as root cause analysis. The number is how many controls name both.
- corrective action 11 shared controls
- lessons learned 11 shared controls
- nist 7 shared controls
- security incident 6 shared controls
- incident response 6 shared controls
- post incident review 4 shared controls
- remediation 4 shared controls
- risk assessment 4 shared controls
Frameworks that govern root cause analysis
What the standards actually require on root cause analysis
Requirements naming root cause analysis across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.
Performing root cause analysis to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future products
30111-8.3 · Root cause analysis →In resolving vulnerabilities, root cause analysis is performed and, to the greatest extent possible, entire vulnerability classes are remediated.
ISM-1909 · In resolving vulnerabilities, root cause analysis is performed and, to the greatest extent →Perform root cause analysis on security vulnerabilities. When reviewing vulnerabilities, root cause analysis is the task of evaluating underlying issues that create vulnerabilities in code, and allows development teams to move beyond just fixing individual vul...
CIS-16.3 · Perform Root Cause Analysis on Security Vulnerabilities →Identify and document root causes including initial access vector, persistence mechanisms, lateral movement paths, and control failures, before applying eradication actions.
PICERL-E-01 · Eradication: Root Cause Analysis →The organization must perform root cause analysis on identified deficiencies, near misses, or breaches and implement corrective actions that address systemic weaknesses rather than isolated symptoms.
OFAC-SCP-4.2 · Issue Identification and Root Cause Analysis →AI Incident Reporting + Response is critical to learning + accountability + stakeholder protection per Japan AI Guidelines for Business + Hiroshima AI Process Code of Conduct + emerging AI Bill.
JP-AIG-Incident-Reporting-Response-AISI-METI-Notification-G7-Hiroshima-Reporting-Mechanism-Voluntary · Japan AI Guidelines AI Incident Reporting + Response + AISI/METI Notification + G7 Hiroshima Reporting Mechanism + Voluntary + AI Incident Database + OECD AI Incidents Monitor + Sector Regulator Notification + Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure →Questions people ask about root cause analysis
What is Root Cause Analysis?
Why is Root Cause Analysis important for compliance?
Which compliance frameworks address Root Cause Analysis?
Where can I learn more about Root Cause Analysis?
See how Root Cause Analysis applies across compliance frameworks
Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.