Explore how automation transforms control testing, improves assurance quality, and frees resources for value-added work.

Control testing is a critical part of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs. It provides assurance that policies are followed, risks are mitigated, and regulatory obligations are met.

Yet for many organizations, control testing is time-consuming, manual, and reactive. Compliance teams spend countless hours sampling transactions, gathering evidence, and documenting results—often only to find issues late.

Modern organizations are turning to automation to change this. By automating control testing, companies can improve assurance quality, reduce cost, and enable teams to focus on higher-value risk management work.

1. Why Traditional Control Testing Falls Short

Traditional, manual control testing has clear limitations:

• High resource demand: Skilled teams spend excessive time on repetitive tasks.
• Limited coverage: Sampling can miss exceptions or systemic issues.
• Point-in-time snapshots: Annual or quarterly testing may not catch emerging risks.
• Human error: Manual evidence collection and testing introduce inconsistencies.

These challenges mean organizations often learn about control failures too late—after losses or audit findings.

2. Benefits of Control Testing Automation

Automation offers a better way. Key benefits include:

• Continuous Monitoring: Automated controls and tests run regularly, providing real-time assurance.
• Broader Coverage: Instead of small samples, automation can assess entire populations of transactions or configurations.
• Faster Remediation: Early detection enables teams to fix issues before they escalate.
• Cost Savings: Reducing manual work frees resources for more strategic risk activities.
• Improved Accuracy: Automation enforces consistent, repeatable testing logic.

By transforming testing from periodic reviews to continuous assurance, organizations strengthen their control environment.

3. Use Cases for Automated Control Testing

Common areas where automation adds value include:

• IT General Controls (ITGC): Automated validation of user access reviews, change management logs, and backup configurations.
• Financial Controls: Reconciliations, segregation of duties checks, and transaction-level testing.
• Cybersecurity Controls: Continuous monitoring of firewall rules, vulnerability scans, and endpoint protection status.
• Vendor Risk: Automated collection and review of vendor compliance attestations and SLA performance data.

These use cases illustrate automation’s potential to cover diverse risks with less manual effort.

4. Integration with GRC Platforms

Modern GRC platforms often include automation features that support:

• Control libraries with standardized tests.
• Automated evidence collection from systems of record.
• Dashboards for real-time monitoring and exception tracking.
• Workflow management for remediation and approvals.

Integration ensures testing aligns with overall risk frameworks and reporting requirements.

5. Change Management and Success Factors

While automation offers clear benefits, success requires thoughtful implementation.

• Define Clear Objectives: Identify high-value, high-volume controls to automate first.
• Engage Stakeholders: Align compliance, IT, and business teams on goals and responsibilities.
• Validate and Tune Rules: Ensure automated tests accurately reflect control requirements.
• Train Teams: Build confidence in using and interpreting automated results.

A phased approach helps build capability, demonstrate value, and secure buy-in.

Conclusion

Control testing is essential—but it shouldn’t be a bottleneck.

By embracing automation, organizations can increase assurance quality, reduce compliance costs, and shift teams toward proactive risk management.

At Falconry360, we help organizations design and implement automated control testing strategies that deliver real, sustainable value—transforming compliance from burden to strategic advantage.

How Falconry360 Helps
Falconry360 automates control testing with standardized libraries, evidence workflows, real-time dashboards, and role-based approvals. Organizations can move from manual reviews to continuous assurance, improving compliance quality while reducing resource burden.