5 Ways Automated Compliance Checks Help CISOs Manage Their Workload

Compliance management is a huge challenge for CISOs. This is due to changing regulations like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR. CISOs juggle policies, risk management, vendor compliance assessments, and security settings. And they do all this while managing complex audits!
CATs (Control Automated Tests) tools run compliance checks every 24 hours. They ensure your organization adheres to regulations. They cover everything from policies to cloud security. CATs reduce manual work, help teams stay audit ready, and ease the load on GRC teams.
Let's explore five ways CATs make compliance easier and help CISOs avoid costly risks.
Why automated compliance testing is key for CISOs

Manual compliance checks are slow and prone to errors. This makes it harder to meet the growing demands of auditors, boards, and regulators.
As a result, CISOs need scalable solutions. A test automation framework automates tasks. It reduces risk and provides real-time compliance visibility.
CATs use these frameworks to perform key compliance checks. They identify gaps and enable proactive fixes before audits.
1. AUTOMATING POLICY COMPLIANCE
Always know if your policies are up-to-date
Policy management is a constant challenge for CISOs. It requires policies to be drafted, published, and followed while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Using automation for evidence management tasks can simplify the process. This includes tasks like gathering policy documents,
Test automation helps verify policy publication and acceptance every 24 hours. It flags gaps as "failing". This spares GRC teams the hassle of manual checks.
Example:
Imagine your organization is preparing for a SOC 2 audit.
A critical security policy has been overlooked and is still in draft mode.
Discovering this oversight at the last minute would be a nightmare.
Test automation helps catch it early.
This ensures the policy is published and accepted well before the audit.
Implications for CISOs:
- Continuously monitors policy status, preventing non-compliance surprises.
- Saves hours of manual follow-ups on whether policies are published and accepted.
2. MONITORING EMPLOYEE TRAINING COMPLIANCE
Automate ISMS and security campaign checks
Getting employees to finish mandatory security training is a constant challenge. This may include an annual ISMS training or a new security awareness campaign. Often, chasing employees creates a bottleneck in compliance.
Automated tests help track training status. They use compliance and MDM (Master Data Management) tools. Every 24 hours, these tests flag incomplete training and generate follow-up tasks.
Example:
Consider the case of a CISO preparing for an ISO 27001 audit.
They run automated tests. They find that 5% of the workforce hasn't completed their required security training.
The tests flag non-compliance early. This makes timely internal follow-up possible and ensures audit readiness.
Implications for CISOs:
- Reduces the risk of audit failure due to incomplete security training records.
- Automates remediation to ensure that employees meet training deadlines much before audits.
3. STREAMLINING VENDOR RISK MANAGEMENT
No more guessing vendor risk scores
Vendor management is crucial as third-party risks rise. But updating vendor risk scores can drain resources. Many CISOs still rely on quarterly reviews, leaving gaps in compliance assessments.
Automated tests run continuous risk assessments on vendors and flag outdated scores. If a score isn't updated, the test generates a "failing" result. This triggers a deeper reviewâ€â€which is essential for frameworks like GDPR or SOC 2.
Example:
Consider a case where a cloud provider hasn't been assigned a risk score for months.
Automated tests detect this gap and notify the GRC team. This helps ensure vendor risk is continuously monitored and maintained.
Without this automated test for compliance, a CISO may miss the issue until a critical audit.
Implications for CISOs:
- Continuous monitoring of third-party risks with automated, timely tests.
- Less reliance on manual vendor reviews and more proactive management.
4. STRENGTHENING ACCESS CONTROL AND IDENTITY REVIEWS
No more missed access reviews
Tracking user access rights is crucial for compliance. But it is tough to manage periodic reviews across different frameworks.
Automated tests for compliance simplify this. They track completed and pending reviews linked to relevant frameworks.
They mark completed reviews as passing. They flag incomplete ones as failing. Users can quickly prioritize and address pending reviews to stay compliant.
Example:
An access review linked to HIPAA is not completed in the present quarter.
As a result, the associated compliance test shows as failing.
The admin notices this and follows up with the respective POC to resolve the issue.
Implications for CISOs:
- Automates tracking of routine access reviews and prevents the risk of outdated permissions.
- Identifies gaps in outdated access reviews across applications and enhances security.
5. CONTINUOUS CLOUD SECURITY MONITORING
Real-time assurance for your cloud and applications
As more businesses move to the cloud, ensuring cloud security compliance is crucial. But cloud setups can be complex.
A strong cloud security strategy could be the solution. Cloud security tools offer visibility and automate compliance checks.
Automated tests run daily and flag issues like unencrypted databases or insecure endpoints. This ensures they align with frameworks like CMMC or GDPR.
Example:
Automated compliance tests detect an unencrypted S3 bucket in a dynamic AWS setup.
The team can quickly identify and address the issue, minimizing risk.
Without CAT, this misconfiguration might go unnoticed for weeks. This could lead to the exposure of sensitive data.
Implications for CISOs
- Real-time cloud compliance with automatic configuration checks.
- Immediate risk mitigation by flagging misconfigurations as they occur.
Automating compliance for continuous risk management
CAT offers CISOs a practical way to automate routine compliance checks. It covers policies, training, vendors, access controls, and cloud environments. This ensures compliance doesn't falter between manual reviews.

Conclusion
Automated compliance tests are a great tool for CISOs.They simplify the compliance assessment and management process. They improve audit readiness and help avoid costly compliance mistakes.
Tools like Scrut help organizations monitor compliance, address gaps, and stay ahead of regulations. For CISOs, these automated solutions act as a safety net, as they ensure audit readiness without last-minute stress or missed gaps.
Get in touch to learn more about how Scrut can help lighten your load.
FAQs
1. How does CAT (Control Automated Testing) help with continuous compliance? Scrut's CAT module allows you to run automated tests to evaluate all aspects of your organization's compliance readiness. These tests can be linked to specific platform modules or connected to evidence uploads from external applications. With a daily overview of passing and failing tests, users can proactively address risk and compliance issues early on.
2. What to do if a test is failing? A failing test does not necessarily indicate a risk, but it does signal an emerging issue, which could be either minor or major. Think of automated tests as daily checks on your overall compliance posture, helping identify any gaps that need to be addressed to strengthen your security posture.
3. Can CAT automate the manual aspects of compliance? CATS does not magically handle everything, but it puts compliance on autopilot.
Certain areas of compliance still require manual effort. For example, uploading pictures of fire prevention systems at the workplace, syncing policies, or onboarding vendors. Each of these activities can be linked to a test that checks the status and reports accordingly, ensuring they are completed.
Ready to see what security-first GRC really looks like?
Ready to see what security-first GRC really looks like?
Ready to see what security-first GRC really looks like?
See what a real security- first GRC platform looks like
Ready to see what security-first GRC really looks like?
Focus on the traveler experience. We’ll handle the regulations.
Get Scrut. Achieve and maintain compliance without the busywork.
Choose risk-first compliance that’s always on, built for you, and never in your way.
Ready to see what security-first GRC
One platform, every framework. No more duplicate work.
You can’t manage user access if you’re always playing catch-up.
Explore the future of enterprise GRC
Tired of chasing vendors for risk assessments?
Join the thousands of companies automating their compliance with Scrut.
The right partner makes all the difference. Let’s grow together.
Make your business easy to trust, put security transparency front and center.
Risk-first security starts with risk-first visibility.
Secure your team from the inside out.
Don't settle for slow, expensive compliance. Get Scrut instead.
Risk-first compliance for forward-thinking teams.
Audits without the back-and-forth. Just seamless collaboration.
Scale fast. Stay compliant. Automate the rest.
Compliance? Done and dusted, in half the time.
Get ahead of GDPR compliance before it becomes a problem.
Outgrowing table-stakes compliance? Create custom frameworks with ease.
Navigate SOC 2 compliance, minus the stress.
PCI DSS compliance, minus the panic.
Take the wheel of your HIPAA certification journey today.
We’ve got what you need to fast-track your ISO 27001 certification.
Make your NIST AI RMF journey as smooth as possible.
Your GRC team, multiplied and AI-backed.
Modern compliance for the evolving education landscape.
Ready to simplify healthcare compliance?
Don’t let compliance turn into a bottleneck in your SaaS growth.
Find the right compliance frameworks for your business in minutes
Ready to see what security-first GRC really looks like?
Real-time visibility into every asset
Ready to simplify fintech compliance?
The Scrut Platform helps you move fast, stay compliant, and build securely from the start.
Scrut helps you set up a security program that scales with your business and stands up to audits. Without last-minute chaos.
Scrut helps you streamline audits, close deals faster, and stay ahead of risk without slowing down your team. Because trust shouldn’t take months to earn.
Scrut helps you set up a security program that scales with your business and stands up to audits. Without last-minute chaos.
Tag, classify, and monitor assets in real time—without the manual overhead.
Whether you're entering new markets or launching new products, Scrut helps you stay compliant without slowing down.
Scrut pulls compliance data straight from the tools you already use—so you don’t have to dig for evidence, chase approvals, or manually track controls.
Less manual work, more customizability. The Scrut Platform gives you everything you need to align your compliance to your business’s priorities.
With Scrut, you’re not just adding a tool to your offering—you’re adding a competitive edge. Join our Partner Network and help your clients streamline their GRC program.
Gaining trust is your first step to growing and cracking better deals. The Scrut Platform comes pre-built with all the tools you need to showcase a firm security posture and build confidence.
Don’t settle for rigid systems—Scrut ensures your risk management strategy is as flexible as your business needs.
Start building a security-first culture. Save your operations from improper training and a lack of compliance awareness.
Scrut fast-tracks compliance so you can focus on scaling, not scrambling. Automate compliance tasks and accelerate enterprise deals—without the grind.
Automate assessments, track compliance, and get full visibility into third-party risk—all in one place.
Scrut automates compliance tasks, supports proactive risk management, and saves you time, so you can focus on growing your business. Start building trust with customers and scaling confidently.
Leave legacy GRC behind. Meet the AI-powered platform built for teams managing risk and compliance in real time.
Give auditors direct access, keep track of every request, and manage audits effortlessly—all in one place.
Scrut ensures access permissions are correct, up-to-date, and fully compliant.
Whether you need fast results or a fully tailored program mapped to your risks and needs, Scrut delivers exactly what you need, when you need it. Ready to start?
Scrut unifies compliance across all your frameworks, so you can stop juggling systems and start scaling securely.
Manually managing your compliance processes and audits can get inefficient and overwhelming. Scrut automates these outdated, manual processes and eliminates your last-minute worries.
Access automated compliance, real-time risk tracking, and expert-backed support—all in one platform. Get started with Scrut!
Less manual work, more customizability. The Scrut Platform gives you everything you need to align your compliance to your business’s priorities.
The Scrut Platform helps you move fast, stay compliant, and build securely from the start.
Earn trust and back it up with solid evidence. Scrut takes you through the SOC 2 compliance journey step-by-step, navigating every complexity you face.
Manage your PCI DSS compliance with real-time monitoring and effortless automation. Get started with Scrut today!
Securing your PHI shouldn’t be a constant hassle. Scrut automates your workflows—from risk assessments to monitoring—so you can put your compliance worries on the back burner.
Automate security controls, simplify audits, and keep your ISMS aligned with the latest standards. Get started with Scrut!
Tackle potential AI risks with NIST AI RMF-compliant controls and get expert support every step of the way.
Offload the grunt compliance work to us. Execute manual, draining GRC tasks with the reliable AI-powered Scrut Teammates without switching contexts or bottlenecks.
Whether you're managing student data, partnering with educational institute, or expanding to new geographies—Scrut gives you the tools to stay compliant, manage risk, and build trust at every step.
Scaling healthcare doesn’t have to come at the cost of security. Scrut keeps your organization compliant, audit-ready, and protected—no matter how fast you grow.
Scrut automates the hard parts of compliance and security so you can move fast and stay ahead of risks from day one.
The Scrut Platform helps you move fast, stay compliant, and build securely from the start.
Growth in fintech comes with heavy scrutiny. Scrut helps you stay compliant, audit-ready, and secure—without slowing down your momentum.



