Cognizant—Cyber security- Control Gap Analyst

Job description

Description: #Cyber Security Experts# Control Gap Analyst Experience: 5 to 12 Years Skill Level: SA/M Location: Bangalore only {Re-location fine} Function: Cyber Risk / IT Risk / GRC / Third-Party Risk Management Role Type: Individual Contributor Role Overview We are looking for an experienced 3PCRM Control Gap Analyst to manage third-party cybersecurity control exceptions, remediation activities, risk treatment, evidence validation, and issue closure. The role will own issues identified through 3PCRM assessments and work closely with Vendor Managers (VMs), technology teams, business stakeholders, Supplier Leads, and risk teams to drive timely remediation and closure. Key Responsibilities 1. Issue Entry & Ownership - Review the 3PCRM Assessment Letter and accurately enter control exceptions/findings into the designated Issue Management (IM) tool. - Assume ownership of assigned issues and ensure complete and accurate issue documentation. - Validate issue details, risk ratings, control gaps, remediation requirements, and due dates. - Maintain accurate issue records throughout the remediation lifecycle. 2. Remediation Plan Review & Approval - Review vendor-proposed remediation plans to determine whether they adequately address identified control gaps and risks. - Challenge remediation plans where actions are incomplete, unclear, or insufficient. - Coordinate with the Vendor Manager (VM) to obtain clarification or revised remediation plans. - Collaborate with VM and relevant Technology and Line of Business stakeholders to obtain required approvals. - Ensure remediation activities are risk-based, actionable, measurable, and aligned with organizational requirements. 3. Risk Treatment & Challenge Management - Initiate and manage risk treatment challenges using the approved IM Challenge Template. - Assess proposed risk treatment approaches and challenge vendor responses where appropriate. - Document rationale, decisions, stakeholder inputs, and required actions within the Issue Management process. - Ensure risk treatment activities are properly tracked and supported by evidence. 4. Remediation Follow-Up & Escalation - Monitor remediation milestones, target dates, and upcoming issue deadlines. - Proactively follow up with Vendor Managers and vendors for remediation progress and supporting evidence. - Escalate overdue or at-risk remediation activities to the appropriate stakeholders. - Where evidence has not been received two weeks prior to the due date, escalate to the Vendor Manager, company stakeholders, and Supplier Lead. - Maintain appropriate escalation records and stakeholder communications. 5. Evidence Validation & Issue Closure - Review remediation evidence submitted by vendors to determine whether it adequately addresses the identified control gap. - Validate evidence for completeness, relevance, accuracy, and effectiveness. - Determine whether the remediation action sufficiently mitigates the identified risk. - Update the Issue Management record with assessment results and supporting documentation. - Where remediation is sufficient, seek approval from the 3PCRM IM Lead Consultant for issue closure. - Ensure closed issues have complete documentation and an appropriate audit trail. 6. Risk Acceptance Management - Review vendor Risk Acceptance (RA) requests and evaluate the rationale provided for accepting the identified risk. - Assess proposed compensating controls and determine whether they adequately mitigate the associated risk. - Coordinate with relevant stakeholders where additional information or challenge is required. - Where acceptable, initiate/log the appropriate Exception Request. - Track risk acceptance deadlines and ensure required approvals are obtained. - Monitor RA expiry dates and initiate extension, remediation, or reassessment activities as appropriate. 7. Control Exception & Gap Management - Analyze cybersecurity control exceptions identified through third-party assessments. - Ensure control gaps are clearly documented with associated business and cybersecurity risks. - Track findings through remediation, risk acceptance, exception, and closure processes. - Identify recurring control gaps and contribute to trend analysis and risk reporting. - Support continuous improvement of the 3PCRM control exception and remediation process. Required Skills & Experience - 5+ years of experience in Cyber Risk, IT Risk, IT Audit, GRC, Information Security, or Third-Party Risk Management. - Strong experience in control gap, finding, issue, and remediation management. - Experience documenting cybersecurity findings, remediation plans, risk treatment activities, and control exceptions. - Experience reviewing and challenging remediation plans and risk acceptance requests. - Strong understanding of risk treatment, compensating controls, exception management, and issue lifecycle management. - Experience validating remediation evidence and determining whether issues can be closed. - Strong stakeholder management and escalation skills. - Excellent analytical, documentation, reporting, and communication skills. Tools & Platforms Experience with one or more of the following: - Archer - Jira - ServiceNow - Issue Management / GRC platforms - Microsoft Excel and reporting tools Cybersecurity & Risk Knowledge Working knowledge of: - Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM/3PCRM) - Cybersecurity Risk Management - IT General Controls (ITGC) - Control Testing & Assessment - Risk & Control Frameworks - Issue and Exception Management - Risk Acceptance - Compensating Controls - Remediation & Corrective Action Management - Audit and regulatory requirements - NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, SOC 2, or equivalent cybersecurity standards Preferred Qualifications - CISA, CRISC, CISSP, CISM, ISO 27001, or equivalent certification. - Experience working with enterprise GRC/Issue Management platforms. - Experience in vendor/third-party cybersecurity risk environments. - Experience working with technology, procurement, business, security, and supplier management teams. Key Competencies - 3PCRM Control Exception Management - Cyber Risk & IT Risk Management - Control Gap Analysis - Issue Management - Remediation Tracking - Risk Treatment & Challenge - Risk Acceptance & Exception Management - Evidence Validation - Stakeholder & Vendor Management - Escalation Management - Audit Readiness - Strong Analytical & Reporting Skills - Attention to Detail - Effective Written & Verbal Communication