The most critical detail to capture in a risk register is risk ownership. The primary purpose of a risk register is to be an actionable tool for managing risk. Assigning an owner establishes clear accountability for monitoring the risk, ensuring that risk treatment plans are developed and implemented, and reporting on the risk's status. Without a designated owner, a risk is effectively unmanaged, regardless of its severity or the organization's appetite. Accountability is the cornerstone that transforms a risk register from a static list of problems into a dynamic management instrument.

A. Risk appetite is a high-level, strategic statement that guides the overall risk management framework; it is not a specific attribute of an individual risk in the register.

B. Risk severity level is essential for prioritizing risks, but without an owner, no action will be taken to address the risk, rendering its prioritization moot.

C. Risk acceptance criteria are the specific conditions under which a risk is acceptable, derived from risk appetite, and used to guide decisions rather than being a primary field per risk.

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1. ISACA

CISM Review Manual

16th Edition. In Domain 2: Information Risk Management

the manual emphasizes that a key output of the risk identification and analysis process is the risk register. It consistently highlights that for each identified risk

an owner must be assigned to be accountable for managing the risk through its lifecycle. The concept of accountability through ownership is presented as fundamental to effective risk management. (Domain 2

Task Statement K2.5: "Knowledge of methods to monitor risk (e.g.

key risk indicators [KRIs]

key performance indicators [KPIs]

audit results

vulnerability assessments)"). Effective monitoring is impossible without an assigned owner.

2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Special Publication (SP) 800-37

Rev. 2

"Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Life Cycle Approach for Security and Privacy." In Appendix F

"Risk Register

" the template for a risk register explicitly includes "Risk Owner" as a fundamental data element. This underscores its importance in a structured risk management framework for tracking and accountability.

3. ISO/IEC 27005:2022

"Information security

cybersecurity and privacy protection — Guidance on managing information security risk." Clause 8.2

"Information security risk identification process

" states that the output of risk identification should include the identification of risk owners. This establishes ownership early in the process as a foundational step before subsequent assessment and treatment.