assecurare

Assecurare is a neologism used in risk management and information security to describe an integrated approach that links assurance activities with security controls to sustain operational resilience. The term is not yet standardized and appears in some consultancy reports and industry discussions beginning in the early 2020s. It is typically applied to organizational programs that seek to harmonize risk assessment, control design, testing, and governance under a unified assurance envelope.

Etymology and usage: The name combines elements of the Italian assicurare (to insure or assure) with secur- suggesting security, signaling the intended fusion of assurance and security. It is mostly encountered in English-language industry literature as a concept rather than as an established process with formal certification.

Core concepts: An assecurare program maps business objectives to risk controls, defines assurance levels, and prescribes continuous monitoring and independent validation. It emphasizes early integration of risk assessment into system design, formal documentation of controls, periodic testing, and transparent reporting to executives and regulators. The approach seeks to reduce fragmentation between risk management, IT security, compliance, and internal audit.

Applications and challenges: It is discussed in sectors such as finance, health care, critical infrastructure, and cloud services. Proponents argue assecurare can improve resilience and audit readiness, while critics warn that the lack of standard definitions can lead to ambiguity and inconsistent application. Implementing assecurare requires clear ownership, scope, and measurable indicators to avoid overlap with existing assurance and governance activities.

See also: Assurance, Risk management, Compliance, Governance, Information security.