Keeping Assurance Frameworks Aligned With Changing Regulations And Risks

One of the biggest challenges organisations face is keeping assurance frameworks current, defensible, and aligned - without constantly rebuilding questionnaires, retraining teams, or reinterpreting requirements in isolation.

Why Static Assurance Frameworks Create Risk

Many organisations rely on assurance questionnaires and assessment frameworks that were designed years ago and updated only sporadically.

Over time, this creates problems such as:

• Misalignment with new regulations and supervisory guidance

• Gaps in coverage for emerging risks

• Inconsistent interpretation across teams and business units

• Increased audit challenge and remediation activity

When assurance frameworks fall behind reality, organisations are exposed - even if internal processes appear robust on paper.

What “Actively Governed” Assurance Really Means

Assurance questionnaires, such as the ones used across FSQS and JOSCAR are actively governed, not static.

This means they are not treated as fixed documents, but as living frameworks that are reviewed, updated, and refined to reflect changes in:

• Regulation and supervisory expectations

• Industry standards and best practice

• Risk exposure across supply chains

Active governance ensures assurance remains relevant and credible over time - without placing the burden of constant change on individual organisations.

How Hellios Governs Assurance Frameworks In Practice

Hellios works collaboratively with buyer communities, regulators, and industry bodies to ensure assurance requirements remain aligned with real-world expectations.

This includes:

Regular Review And Refinement Of Assurance Questions

Assurance questionnaires are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure they continue to capture the information buyers and regulators actually need - not outdated or redundant data points.

Alignment With New Regulations And Standards

As regulations, guidance, and industry standards evolve, assurance requirements are updated accordingly. This helps organisations stay aligned with expectations without having to interpret regulatory change independently.

Coverage Of Emerging And Expanding Risk Areas

Frameworks are adapted to reflect changes across key risk domains, including:

• Cybersecurity and data protection

• ESG, sustainability, and modern slavery

• Operational resilience and continuity

• Regulatory compliance and conduct

This ensures assurance frameworks keep pace with the risks regulators are increasingly focused on.

Why Governance Matters For Audit And Regulatory Confidence

Regulators and auditors expect organisations to demonstrate that their third-party risk management frameworks are current, proportionate, and defensible.

Actively governed assurance frameworks help organisations show that:

• Risk assessments reflect today’s regulatory landscape

• Evidence requirements are consistent and justified

• Assurance processes evolve in line with emerging risk

This reduces the likelihood of audit findings driven by outdated controls or misaligned expectations.

Reducing Change Fatigue For Organisations And Suppliers

When assurance frameworks are not actively governed, every regulatory update triggers another internal scramble. Teams are forced to rebuild questionnaires, reinterpret requirements, and push changes out to suppliers - often under time pressure and with limited clarity.

Over time, this leads to:

• Frustrated teams juggling compliance alongside day jobs

• Suppliers overwhelmed by repeated, inconsistent requests

• Slower onboarding and delayed business activity

• Increased errors, incomplete responses, and misaligned data

Instead of strengthening control, unmanaged change creates friction, drains resources, and erodes confidence - on both sides of the supplier relationship.

By governing assurance centrally, Hellios removes much of this burden, enabling change without disruption.

Organisations benefit from:

• Updated frameworks without internal redesign

• Clear, consistent requirements for suppliers

• Reduced risk of misinterpretation or drift

Suppliers benefit from:

• Clear guidance on what has changed

• Fewer conflicting requests

• More predictable assurance expectations

Hellios ensures assurance frameworks evolve in a controlled, transparent way - supporting continuity, confidence, and compliance.

Key Takeaway: Assurance Must Evolve To Remain Defensible

In a regulated environment, assurance frameworks cannot remain static.

Organisations need assurance models that:

• Keep pace with regulation and risk

• Remain consistent across teams and suppliers

• Produce evidence that stands up to scrutiny

By actively governing the assurance frameworks used across FSQS and JOSCAR, Hellios helps organisations stay aligned with real-world expectations - without managing change alone.