The Cybersecurity Control Playbook

16Control Failures: Identification, Management, and Reporting

In large organizations, controls form the bedrock of cybersecurity efforts. These technical, administrative, or physical controls are responsible for preventing, detecting, and responding to potential threats that could disrupt operations or lead to security incidents. However, even the most well‐designed controls can fail. When they do, the consequences can range from minor operational disruptions to significant financial and reputational damage. Understanding how to properly test controls, manage failures, and implement proactive strategies is critical to maintaining the integrity of an organization's security framework.

This chapter explores the essential aspects of control testing and failure management, emphasizing the unique challenges that large organizations face. With complex, interconnected systems and numerous stakeholders, identifying and managing control failures becomes multifaceted. The focus of this chapter is not only on understanding what causes control failures but also on how to effectively address them through a combination of real‐time monitoring, automation, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

Key to this discussion is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into control testing and failure management. AI tools allow organizations to automate routine tasks, predict potential failures before they occur, and monitor controls in real time. By leveraging AI, large organizations ...