CRISC emphasizes that the effectiveness of policies depends on enforcement. Even well-written, standards- aligned policies have no value if they are not consistently followed. Lack of enforcement allows inconsistent behavior, increases control breakdowns, and undermines risk governance. Alignment with global standards is beneficial but not essential for effectiveness. A missing repository creates administrative inefficiencies but does not directly increase risk. Higher cost is a business consideration but not a risk governance concern.
Insufficient enforcement is the most critical issue because it directly leads to risk exposure and control failure.
Reference: CRISC Review Manual - Governance (policy lifecycle and enforcement).