In a context where organizations rely on interconnected digital ecosystems, the control of cyber risk becomes an issue of governance as well as an operational imperative.
The EBIOS Risk Manager method, published by ANSSI, provides a structured framework to assess digital risks, define realistic priorities and guide security decisions at the strategic level.
EBIOS RM provides a pragmatic threat reading, combining compliance, attack scenarios and consideration of ecosystem exposure. It allows to articulate the vision of the COMEX, the business needs and the technical imperatives to strengthen the sovereignty and resilience of the organization.
1. Structure the governance of digital risk
The method is based on an iterative process, aligned with international standards (ISO 31000, 27005), which allows:
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to identify missions, business values and critical dependencies;
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to objectively measure the potential impacts;
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to mobilize decision-makers on priority risks;
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to integrate regulatory requirements (NIS2, GDPR, DORA…).
In this sense, EBIOS RM constitutes a governance foundation that goes beyond simple technical analysis to structure a coherent security strategy at the company level.
2. A threat and ecosystem-oriented reading
One of the major contributions of the method is the analysis of stakeholders: providers, partners, suppliers, subsidiaries, outsourced services.
The mapping of dangerousness, central in workshop 3, highlights:
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the most exposed digital relationships;
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the structuring dependencies;
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the weaknesses that can serve as an entry point for targeted attacks.
This approach allows organizations to make informed decisions: contract reinforcement, cyber maturity requirements, privilege limitation, segmentation, oversight mechanisms.
3. Risk scenarios to pilot investments
EBIOS RM focuses on the construction of strategic and operational scenarios, which link:
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a source of risk,
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an objective aimed at,
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a credible attack path,
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exploitable vulnerabilities.
This approach facilitates pragmatic arbitration at the COMEX level:
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what risk to accept?
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what risk to treat immediately?
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where to invest as a priority?
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which maturity trajectory to aim for?
The scenarios thus constitute a tool for dialogue between the professions, the IT department, the CISO and governance.
4. A framework to strengthen sovereignty, resilience and compliance
The method naturally integrates with major regulatory and security frameworks:
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NIS2: risk management, supplier control, detection, resilience.
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DORA: impact analysis, exposure management, targeted penetration tests.
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SecNumCloud: control of third parties and traceability.
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GDPR: impact analysis methodology.
It also supports a digital sovereignty approach by identifying critical dependencies, particularly those related to cloud services or providers subject to non-European legal regimes.
5. A decision support tool for the COMEX
For a leader, EBIOS RM offers:
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a consolidated vision of digital risk;
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priorities based on tangible elements;
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an ability to rationally arbitrate investments;
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a clear and controllable maturity ramp-up path;
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an explicit risk acceptance and monitoring framework.
In this, the method becomes a governance instrument that aligns strategy, security and performance.
The bottom line
EBIOS Risk Manager goes beyond the compliance logic to offer a true digital risk management approach, oriented towards decision-making and sustainable performance.
It gives organizations the means to secure their essential missions, anticipate advanced attacks and strengthen their digital sovereignty in an increasingly exposed environment.
