Phishing attacks are no longer rare; they’re routine. But how organisations detect, respond, and learn from them defines their resilience.

In one such scenario, a phishing attempt via SMS was reported, targeting end users with fraudulent links disguised as legitimate communication. This wasn’t just a test of IT systems; it was a test of how integrated the organisation’s governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) capabilities truly were.

Here’s how a robust GRC platform like Assurtiv empowers teams to manage the full incident response and risk mitigation lifecycle through identification, assessment, response, mitigation, and continuous monitoring.

Step 1: Incident Logging in Real Time

The first step was capturing the event swiftly. Using Assurtiv’s Incident & Breach Reporting module, the security team:

  • Logged the phishing attempt with a timestamped entry
  • Classified it under “Customer Phishing Risk”
  • Triggered predefined escalation workflows to InfoSec, Compliance, and Communication teams
  • Ensured a central audit trail was created for all further actions

Step 2: Risk Assessment & Control Validation

The pre-identified “Customer Phishing Risk” in the Risk Register through Assurtiv’s GRC platform was immediately re-evaluated:

  • The risk level was reassessed based on incident scale and exposure
  • Linked controls like 2FA, secure SMS formatting standards, link shortener policies were reviewed for effectiveness
  • Gaps were identified in communication strategies and customer awareness levels

Step 3: Control Self Assessments (CSA)

Team initiated a Control Self Assessment through Assurtiv GRC platform

To evaluate control effectiveness and identify any breakdowns, the team initiated a Control Self Assessment through Assurtiv’s GRC platform:

  • Relevant control owners received structured self-assessment forms
  • Control validations focused on anti-phishing communication standards, transactional safeguards, and customer education workflows
  • Any flagged deficiencies were escalated and assigned for mitigation with tracked due dates

While audits are broader and span departments or time-bound scopes, CSAs offer a focused lens for control integrity tied to specific incidents making them ideal for immediate follow-ups.

Step 4: Policy Update & User Education

The incident uncovered gaps in digital communication protocols. Using the Policy & Document Management feature in Assurtiv’s GRC platform:

  • Anti-Phishing guidelines were revised with clear dos and don’ts
  • Customer education material was updated and published via internal channels
  • The new policy version was stored with full version control and approval history

Step 5: Third-Party Risk Review for Effective Incident Response and Risk Mitigation

Since the phishing incident involved redirection to a third-party domain, a vendor reassessment was triggered through Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) in Assurtiv’s GRC platform:

  • The platform identified the relevant vendor and mapped their previously submitted security controls.
  • Additional scrutiny was applied to email/SMS delivery partners for DMARC/DKIM, anti-spoofing measures, and link-sharing guidelines.
  • Monitoring frequency and vendor scores were adjusted accordingly.

Outcome: Integrated Risk Intelligence

The organisation was able to go from incident detection to resolution within a matter of hours, not days. All actions were centrally visible, traceable, and accountable; powered by Assurtiv’s integrated GRC platform.

Capability Traditional Approach  With Assurtiv 
Incident Logging  Manual, siloed  Centralised, real-time 
Risk Updates  Spreadsheet based  Linked to live risk register 
Control Checks Delayed, informal  Mapped & validated instantly 
Internal Audit  Reactive  Pre-built audit workflows 
Policy Revisions  Fragmented  Central, version controlled 
Regulatory Filing  Manual formatting  Auto generated templates
Vendor Review  Ad-hoc  Tied to incident impact 

Final Word

In a world where phishing attacks are evolving faster than firewalls, the real defense lies in governance discipline.

With Assurtiv, organisations can shift from reactive firefighting to proactive control, from isolated actions to cross-functional alignment, and from uncertainty to audit ready resilience.

Stay ahead of threats – automatically, intelligently, and transparently.

Request a demo to see how Assurtiv can strengthen your organisation’s incident response and risk mitigation framework.

 

Disclaimer: This blog post illustrates a generic use case and does not reference any specific organisation. All scenarios are hypothetical and intended solely for demonstrating Assurtiv’s GRC platform capabilities.