Build Your First GRC Agent: A Red Teamer's Guide

Michael Miller · 2026-06-26

AI won't replace GRC analysts, but it can eliminate much of the repetitive work they do. Let's walk through building an agent that continuously monitors controls, identifies evidence gaps, and opens remediation tasks. You don't need to be a coding wizard—just someone who's tired of manual checklists. ### Why Build a GRC Agent? Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) work is critical, but it's also full of busywork. You're tracking control evidence, checking for gaps, and chasing down stakeholders. An agent can handle the grunt work, freeing you up for the strategic stuff. Think of it as your digital assistant that never sleeps. ### The Core Components Your GRC agent needs three main parts: - **A monitoring module** that checks control status regularly (daily or weekly) - **A gap detector** that flags missing or outdated evidence - **A task creator** that automatically opens remediation tickets You can build this with simple scripts or low-code tools. The goal is to reduce friction, not create more. ### Step-by-Step Setup Start by mapping your controls. List each control, its required evidence, and the owner. Then connect your agent to your compliance platform (like Anecdotes or a custom database). Set up a schedule—say, every Monday morning—to scan for gaps. When the agent finds missing evidence, it creates a task in your project management tool. No more manual emails or spreadsheets. Just automated workflows that keep everyone accountable. ### Real-World Example Imagine a control that requires quarterly penetration tests. Your agent checks the evidence folder every week. If it's been 90 days since the last test, it opens a task for the security team to schedule one. Simple, but it saves hours of tracking. ### Tips for Success - Start small: automate one control first, then scale. - Use clear naming for tasks so team members know what's needed. - Review the agent's output weekly to catch false positives. Building a GRC agent isn't about replacing yourself. It's about making your work more impactful. Give it a try—you'll wonder how you managed without it.