Why Human Error Is Not Human Failure In cybersecurityand especially in GRC human error is often treated like a flaw. A weakness. Something to blame when things go wrong.But the truth is simpler and more honest: Human error is not human failure. It is human nature. People forget.People get tired.People rush.People trust.People multitask. That doesn’t make them careless. It makes them human. If systems were only attacked by breaking code, security would be much easier. But attackers understand something important: humans are part of every system. That’s why most incidents don’t start with sophisticated hacking tools they start with a click, a response, a moment of urgency, or misplaced trust. When an employee clicks a phishing link, it’s not because they are foolish. It’s often because the message was designed to exploit emotions like fear, authority, or opportunity. When someone reuses a password, it’s usually because convenience feels necessary in a fast-moving world. These are not failures of character; they are predictable human behaviors. This is exactly why GRC exists. Policies, controls, training, and procedures are not there to punish people they are there to support people. GRC assumes humans will make mistakes and designs guardrails around that reality. It focuses on reducing the impact of errors, not pretending they won’t happen. That’s also why phrases like “just be more careful” don’t work. Awareness alone doesn’t stop incidents. Preparation does. Clear processes do. Verification does. Backup plans do. In GRC, success isn’t about eliminating human error. It’s about expecting it, planning for it, and minimizing harm when it happens. That mindset shifts security from blame to resilience. When organizations stop asking, “Who messed up?” and start asking, “Where did our controls fail to support people?” security improves. Because strong security isn’t built on perfect humans.It is built on realistic systems designed for imperfect ones. And that is not weakness.That is business continuous strategy.
Why Policies Exist, Because People Are Human
Policies often get a bad reputation. People see them as restrictive, boring, or unnecessary. Sometimes they feel like obstacles rules that slow things down or make work harder than it needs to be. But as I continue to learn about GRC, I am beginning to understand something important: Policies don’t exist because people are bad.Policies exist because people are human. Humans Are Predictable Not in a negative way but in a very real way. Humans: These behaviours show up in life, at work, and online. And when systems depend only on “doing the right thing,” risk quietly grows. Policies exist to guide behaviour when emotions, pressure, or distractions take over. Policies Create Consistency People don’t all think or act the same way. Without policies: Policies bring consistency. They ensure that when situations arise, there is a shared understanding of what should happen, no matter who is involved. That consistency reduces risk. Policies Support People Under Pressure When something goes wrong, people panic. In those moments, policies act like a reference point. They remove guesswork and reduce emotional decision-making. Instead of asking:What should I do right now? Policies answer:This is what we do. That clarity protects both people and organisations. Policies Are Preventive, Not Punitive A common misconception is that policies exist to punish. In reality, policies are designed to: They are guardrails not handcuffs. Why This Matters in GRC GRC doesn’t assume perfection. It assumes: Policies are one way GRC helps organisations prepare for those moments. They don’t remove risk.They help manage it. Outside of cybersecurity, policies exist everywhere: They exist not because people can’t be trusted but because structure keeps things working when human behaviour becomes unpredictable. On A Final Note… Policies are not the enemy. They are a recognition of reality. People are human and humans need guidance, clarity, and structure to reduce risk and protect what matters. That is why policies exist.Not to control people.But to support them.
Why Being Warned Is Not the Same as Being Prepared
As I continue learning about GRC, one thing is becoming very clear to me: Being warned does not mean being prepared. At first, I thought warnings were enough. If a system alerts you, if a message pops up, if someone tells you “this is risky,” then surely that should protect you right? But real life doesn’t work that way. Warnings Don’t Change Behaviour We see warnings everywhere: Most of the time, we click past them. Not because we don’t understand them but because we are most times distracted, hopeful, tired, or in a hurry. Sometimes we think, “This can’t happen to me.” A warning only informs you.It doesn’t prepare you. Preparation Is Mental, Not Just Technical Preparation means: In GRC, this is important. A warning might say, “This action is risky.”Preparation asks, “What happens if I continue, and am I ready for the consequences?” Why GRC Focuses on Readiness GRC exists because organisations know that: So instead of relying on warnings alone, GRC encourages: This turns information into action. Life Teaches This Lesson To Life itself is full of warnings. We are warned that things can go wrong; health, finances, relationships, careers. But preparation is what helps us cope when they do. Preparation doesn’t remove risk.It helps us handle it better. That is the same mindset GRC brings into cybersecurity. I am beginning to understand that security is not about avoiding mistakes completely. It is about: Warnings are helpful.Preparation is powerful. A warning tells you something could go wrong.Preparation helps you survive when it does. That is why in GRC, awareness alone is not enough.Readiness is what truly reduces risk. And this is a lesson I am still learning one step at a time.
Risk Management Starts With People, Not Systems
When people talk about risk in cybersecurity, the focus is often on systems servers, networks, software, and tools. But as I continue to learn about GRC, one truth keeps standing out to me: Risk management doesn’t start with systems.It starts with people. Before a system fails, a human decision is usually involved. When Risk Warnings Are Ignored When my Facebook page was taken over, I was warned. The platform showed me a message explaining the risk if I accepted access. I saw it. I read it. But in that moment, I was blinded by opportunity and trust, and I went ahead anyway. I learned the hard way. The system did its job; it warned me.The risk wasn’t hidden.The decision was human. People Create Risk Without Meaning To Most risks don’t come from bad intentions. They come from normal human behaviour: Systems don’t ignore warnings.People do. That’s why risk management focuses on people first. Life Itself Is Risk Risk is not limited to cybersecurity. When I was going to give birth, there were risks involved. That’s part of life. But the presence of risk didn’t stop the process; it required preparation. Doctors explained the risks.Plans were made.My mind was prepared to handle whatever came. That is what risk management looks like in real life. How This Connects to GRC GRC works the same way. It doesn’t pretend risk doesn’t exist.It acknowledges it and asks: GRC is about mental readiness as much as technical controls. Why Systems Fail After People Do Firewalls don’t panic.Software doesn’t feel rushed.Servers don’t trust strangers. People do. That’s why systems fail after people do. What I am Learning as a Beginner As someone still learning GRC, this is what I understand so far: Risk management is not about fear.It’s about awareness and preparation. We can’t remove risk from life.But we can prepare our minds to handle it. On A Final Note…. Cybersecurity tools matter.Systems matter.Technology matters. But risk management starts with people their decisions, their emotions, and their readiness. GRC simply helps us prepare for reality. And the more I learn, the more this human-first approach makes sense.
Why GRC Is More Than Paperwork
When people hear GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), the first thing that comes to mind is paperwork. Policies. Documents. Checklists. Forms. Endless writing. I used to think the same. But the more I learn about GRC, the more I realise something important: GRC is not about paperwork.Paperwork is the evidence. The real work of GRC happens long before a document is written and long after it has been filed away. Policies, reports, and documents don’t exist for decoration. They exist to answer real questions: The paperwork is simply how organisations record decisions that protect people, systems, and business operations. GRC Is About Thinking Ahead At its core, GRC is about anticipation. It asks: That’s not paperwork.That’s foresight. What Aviation Compliance Taught Me About GRC As a flight attendant, compliance was never optional it was my reality. One of the most important compliance requirements in aviation is our cabin crew licence. Every year, that licence must be renewed. But renewal is not automatic. Before it is approved, we must: Only after meeting all these requirements is the licence submitted for renewal. Medical fitness is also part of compliance.If you are under 40, your medicals are renewed every two years.If you are over 40, they are renewed every year. Recently, I went for my medicals and was told I now need to wear glasses. That information was recorded on my licence. From that moment, compliance became very clear to me: Even if my licence is renewed, if my glasses are not ready, I am not fit to fly. No excuses.No shortcuts.No “almost compliant.” That is compliance in real life. How This Relates to GRC GRC works the same way. You can have policies.You can pass audits.You can tick all the boxes. But if you are not complying with the actual requirements based on your role, your region, and your responsibilities then you are still a risk. In GRC: Just like aviation, compliance is not about punishment.It is about safety, readiness, and trust. Why This Changed My Perspective This is why GRC feels familiar to me. It is not paperwork for paperwork’s sake.It is about ensuring people, systems, and businesses are fit to operate before something goes wrong. A licence is proof.A medical is proof.A policy is proof. But the real work happens in preparation, discipline, and accountability. That’s why GRC matters.And that’s why it has always felt like home to me even before I knew its name.