Compliance teams are the unsung heroes of modern organizations, working tirelessly to ensure their companies stay on the right side of the law, maintain ethical standards, and protect reputations. Yet, for many compliance professionals, restful sleep is elusive. The pressures they face are relentless and ever-evolving, leading to what can only be described as “compliance insomnia.”
Last month, we hosted an excellent, collaborative event in London focused on the critical issues that keep compliance teams up at night. The workshop, "Compliance and Ethics Management by Design," was facilitated by Michael Rasmussen, GRC 20/20 Analyst and internationally recognized authority on governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC). Michael brought over 30 years of experience to the session, guiding attendees through the latest strategies, trends, and technologies shaping compliance management today.
So, what exactly keeps these professionals up at night? Let’s explore the core causes of compliance-related sleeplessness and how innovative solutions, like those from GAN Integrity, are helping teams finally sleep easy.
The Relentless Pace of Regulatory Change
The sheer volume and pace of regulatory changes are a primary source of anxiety for compliance teams. New laws and amendments (spanning everything from ESG to AI, privacy, and sanctions) emerge constantly across jurisdictions. The challenge isn’t just keeping up with the changes, but also understanding how they diverge globally and what enforcement priorities regulators will focus on next.
For multinational organizations, the complexity multiplies. Each country, and sometimes each state or region, may have its own unique requirements. Compliance teams must not only interpret and implement these rules but also reconcile them with business realities and operational constraints. The stakes are high: failure to comply can result in hefty fines, legal action, and severe reputational damage.
Technology, Data, and the Digital Dilemma
As organizations digitize operations, compliance teams face mounting concerns around data security and privacy. Cybersecurity threats and data breaches are ever-present risks, with the potential to expose sensitive information and trigger regulatory scrutiny. The rapid adoption of AI and machine learning introduces new ethical and compliance risks, such as opaque decision-making, data bias, and lack of transparency in AI models.
Data privacy and localization laws further complicate matters. Regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and China’s PIPL require organizations to manage data across borders with precision, while legacy systems and integration issues can hinder effective compliance. Implementing and leveraging regulatory technology (RegTech) is essential, but not always straightforward, especially when existing systems are fragmented or outdated.
Culture, Conduct, and the Human Factor: Building and Sustaining an Ethical Organization
A strong compliance culture is the backbone of any effective program, but maintaining it is challenging, especially in today’s hybrid and remote work environments. Compliance officers worry about non-financial misconduct, employee training fatigue, and the effectiveness of whistleblower protection and internal reporting mechanisms.
Resistance to change, lack of leadership support, communication barriers, and insufficient resources can all undermine efforts to foster a culture of integrity. Regular training is vital, yet employees may become disengaged if overwhelmed by frequent updates or poorly designed programs. Ensuring that all employees understand and embrace compliance is a continuous battle.
Global Operations and Third-Party Risk: Managing Compliance Across Borders and Partners
Operating across diverse jurisdictions and cultures introduces a host of additional risks. Third-party relationships, whether with vendors, suppliers, or agents—are a significant area of concern. Due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and supply chain transparency are essential to mitigate risks such as bribery, corruption, human rights abuses, and ESG violations.
Geopolitical instability can rapidly shift the risk landscape, forcing compliance teams to adapt quickly. The challenge is not just identifying risks, but also acting on them in a timely and effective manner, often with limited visibility and resources.
The Resource Crunch: Doing More With Less
Resource constraints are a persistent worry for compliance professionals. Budgets are often limited, and staffing shortages make it difficult to keep up with growing demands. Retaining skilled talent is a challenge, as the stress and burnout associated with compliance roles can be significant.
Demonstrating the return on investment (ROI) of compliance initiatives is another hurdle. Senior management and boards want to see tangible results, but quantifying the value of “what didn’t go wrong” is inherently difficult. This pressure adds to the overall stress and can contribute to a vicious cycle of overwork and insomnia.
Proving Compliance Effectiveness Through Measurement, Reporting, and Board Communication
Compliance teams are increasingly expected to provide real-time monitoring and reporting, quantify the effectiveness and maturity of their programs, and demonstrate “reasonable and proportionate” controls. Communicating complex compliance issues to senior management and the board (often in a way that is both comprehensive and accessible) can be daunting.
The need for transparency, documentation, and audit-ready records is ever-present. Manual processes and siloed systems make these tasks even more challenging, increasing the risk of errors and missed deadlines.
The Human Cost: Stress, Burnout, and Insomnia
The cumulative effect of these pressures is not just professional, but deeply personal. Compliance professionals often find themselves working late into the night, worrying about what they might have missed or what new regulation might land on their desk tomorrow. Insomnia, stress, and burnout are common, with real impacts on mental and physical health.
How GAN Integrity Gives Compliance Teams Peace of Mind
While the challenges are formidable, the right technology and support can make all the difference. GAN Integrity’s comprehensive compliance solutions are designed to address the very issues that keep compliance professionals up at night.
Unified, Integrated Platform
GAN Integrity brings all critical compliance systems and data into a single, integrated platform, eliminating silos and enabling teams to see everything in one place. This unified approach streamlines workflows, simplifies reporting, and provides a holistic view of compliance risks, making it easier to adapt to regulatory changes and business realities.
AI-Enhanced Risk Management
With AI-powered tools like Integrity Enrich™, GAN Integrity delivers deeper, faster, and broader insights into third-party risks, automating due diligence and continuous monitoring across the entire ecosystem. This empowers compliance teams to act on emerging threats before they escalate, reducing manual workload and freeing up time for strategic initiatives.
Flexible, Scalable Solutions
GAN Integrity’s platform is highly configurable, adapting to unique program requirements, governance frameworks, and risk appetites. Whether it’s managing ABAC, ESG, or modern slavery compliance, the platform provides the tools and integrations needed to stay ahead of evolving regulations without the need for costly IT projects or multiple disconnected systems.
Transparency, Documentation, and Support
Automated audit logs, customizable dashboards, and embedded reporting make it easy to demonstrate compliance effectiveness to stakeholders and regulators. With GAN Integrity, compliance teams can focus on what matters most: building a culture of integrity, protecting the organization, and driving business value.
From Compliance Insomnia to Restful Nights
The world of compliance is complex, high-stakes, and ever-changing. It’s no wonder so many compliance professionals struggle with “compliance insomnia.” But with the right technology partner, these challenges become manageable. GAN Integrity’s unified, AI-powered platform equips compliance teams with the visibility, agility, and support they need to navigate regulatory uncertainty, manage risks, and foster a resilient compliance culture.
With GAN Integrity, compliance professionals can finally rest easy knowing they have the tools, insights, and support to keep their organizations safe, ethical, and ahead of the curve.
Interested in learning more? Speak with one of our experts and dive into our integrated, flexible compliance platform capabilities.
Hannah Tichansky is the Content and Social Media Manager at GAN Integrity. Hannah holds over 13 years of writing and marketing experience, with 8 years of specialization in the risk management, supply chain, and ESG industries. Hannah holds an MA from Monmouth University and a Certificate in Product Marketing from Cornell University.