A META-ANALYSIS OF CYBERSECURITY FRAMEWORK INTEGRATION IN GRC PLATFORMS: EVIDENCE FROM U.S. ENTERPRISE AUDITS

This meta-analysis critically examines the integration of cybersecurity frameworks into Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) platforms and its impact on audit performance, compliance outcomes, and enterprise risk management across U.S.-based organizations. Leveraging quantitative data from 78 peer-reviewed studies and industry reports published between 2010 and 2024, the research aggregates and evaluates the effectiveness of implementing widely recognized cybersecurity frameworks—including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), ISO/IEC 27001, COBIT, and CIS Controls—within digital GRC environments. Using a random-effects model to account for sectoral and methodological heterogeneity, the study calculates standardized effect sizes and analyzes how such integrations influence key organizational metrics such as audit exception rates, control failure frequency, policy adherence levels, risk visibility, and regulatory response capabilities. The findings demonstrate statistically significant improvements in audit readiness, reduction in compliance violations, enhanced policy enforcement, and faster detection and containment of security incidents when cybersecurity frameworks are embed