Many organisations have a security risk register. Fewer use it. Registers that run to dozens of rows, scored with complex formulas and updated once a year, tend to become compliance documents. Leadership signs them off without reading them, and nothing changes.
The new year is a good time to start again with something simpler.
Keep it to ten
List the ten security risks that would most affect your organisation. If you have more, group them or move the minor ones to an operational list. Ten is enough to cover what matters and short enough to discuss in a meeting.
Describe each risk in a sentence
"Theft of stock from the main warehouse by staff or contractors" is a risk. "Theft" is not. A clear description makes it obvious what controls apply and who should own it.
Score simply
Rate each risk as high, medium or low for likelihood and for impact. Precise numbers suggest a certainty that rarely exists, and they invite argument about the scoring rather than the response.
Give every risk an owner and a next action
Each risk needs a named owner and one specific next step, with a date. "Monitor" is not an action. "Review contractor access to warehouse by end of March" is.
Review it regularly
Bring the register to leadership quarterly. Ask three questions: Has anything changed? Are the actions done? Is anything missing?
What this means in practice
- Limit the register to your top ten security risks.
- Write each risk as one clear sentence.
- Use simple high, medium and low ratings.
- Assign a named owner and a dated next action to every risk.
- Review quarterly with leadership.
Talk to us about building or refreshing your risk register. → Risk assessments
