Written by Michael Rasmussen, GRC Analyst & Pundit, GRC 20/20
Michael Rasmussen is globally recognized as the “Father of GRC” for defining the modern framework of Governance, Risk, and Compliance in 2002 while at Forrester Research. With over 30 years of expertise, he is a pioneering force in shaping how organizations align GRC strategy, processes, and technology. As founder of GRC 20/20 Research, Michael serves as a trusted advisor to boards and executives worldwide, helping them build agile, resilient, and ethical enterprises. A sought-after keynote speaker, podcast host, and OCEG Fellow, his influence spans regulatory frameworks, best practices, and risk management innovation across industries.
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn >
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
This year’s GRC Innovation Awards spotlight those courageous enough to rethink how governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) should operate in the digital era. ReadiNow has done precisely that — earning a 2025 GRC Innovation Award in the category of Enterprise Integrated GRC Architecture & Platforms for its groundbreaking use of Agentic AI within its no-code platform.
ReadiNow and GRC 7.0 – GRC Orchestrate
ReadiNow exemplifies what I define as GRC 7.0 – GRC Orchestrate (which is the core of my 2025 State of the GRC Market Research). In my work at GRC 20/20, I’ve articulated GRC 7.0 as the next evolutionary leap in governance, risk management, and compliance: one that is agile, intelligent, and orchestrated across the enterprise. It is defined by digital twins, Agentic AI, and integrated command centers that unify business objectives with risk and integrity.
Agentic AI is not a feature — it is a paradigm shift.
What Is Agentic AI for GRC?
Unlike passive AI that simply classifies or predicts, Agentic AI acts. It is:
- Context-aware – grounded in your organization's specific policies, data, and business logic
- Cognitively capable – able to perceive, reason, decide, and improve
- Autonomous but governed – taking action within controlled, role-specific boundaries
- Conversational and accessible – interacting via natural language and removing UI friction
This is what ReadiNow has embedded into its GRC platform. And it is this shift — from rule-based automation to agent-based orchestration — that sets it apart.
Launching the ReadiNow AI Agent Builder
At the core of ReadiNow’s innovation is the AI Agent Builder—a tool that allows organizations to create intelligent, autonomous agents that operate within their GRC environment.
Take the example of an Incident Logging Assistant:
- A user can instruct an agent: "You are a risk and compliance expert. Here is our incident management policy. Review incoming messages and determine if they qualify as reportable incidents. If so, guide the user and log it."
- The agent can access relevant policies and systems. A user might say: "The accounts team accidentally overpaid an invoice by $10,000. Should I log this?"
- The agent reviews the policy, evaluates the incident, provides guidance, and—if appropriate—logs the incident, provides a summary, and links it to affected risks, controls, and compliance requirements.
This isn’t just workflow automation — it’s autonomous GRC orchestration. And it’s exactly what GRC 7.0 calls for.
Beyond the Use Case: A System of Agent Teams
ReadiNow’s vision isn’t limited to one agent. It’s about an ecosystem of AI agents:
- Incident Triage Agents evaluate severity, impact, and required reporting.
- Risk Assessment Agents dynamically score and prioritize risks.
- Control Assessment Agents test and validate control effectiveness.
- Policy Drafting Agents support governance teams in authoring and reviewing content.
- Regulatory Intelligence Agents monitor change and update obligations.
These agents collaborate with humans, extending the reach of every GRC professional, freeing them from form-based data entry, and turning GRC into a proactive, conversational, and intelligent discipline.
Why ReadiNow Is an Innovation Leader
Most GRC solutions claim AI, but few achieve agentic autonomy within a truly no-code environment. ReadiNow stands out by delivering:
- Conversational Interface. Natural language prompts remove the need for navigating complex interfaces.
- Contextual Grounding. Agents operate within organizational logic, policies, and data.
- Governed Autonomy. Agents take action but within defined parameters and approval gates.
- Unified Ecosystem. Built on ReadiNow’s no-code platform, AI agents connect seamlessly with risk, compliance, audit, and ESG modules.
In doing so, ReadiNow operationalizes the GRC 7.0 architecture I’ve championed—a fully integrated, intelligent, and agile system of governance.
Looking Ahead: A GRC Future Powered by Agents
As organizations face growing pressure from regulations like APRA CPS 230, EU DORA, and the UK Corporate Governance Code, the ability to sense, reason, and act in real time becomes critical.
ReadiNow’s Agentic AI makes this possible. It’s not an evolution of GRC tools. It’s a revolution.
It empowers organizations to:
- Democratize access to GRC systems through natural interaction
- Proactively manage risk by embedding intelligence at every process step
- Accelerate time to action while reducing operational burden
- Build living digital twins of risk, controls, and obligations that adapt continuously.
With this award, we recognize that ReadiNow is not simply keeping up with the future of GRC—it is helping define it. GRC 20/20 is proud to honor ReadiNow with a 2025 GRC Innovation Award.
