ISO 42001 A.5.2: AI Risk Treatment Process
AI systems introduce novel risks that traditional risk frameworks may not address. Control A.5.2 requires organizations to systematically treat AI-specific risks through documented, approved treatment plans. This ensures your AI deployments remain secure, compliant, and aligned with business objectives.
What this means
Organizations must establish a structured risk treatment process specifically for AI risks identified during assessment. This control allows four treatment options: applying controls to reduce or modify risk, avoiding the risk entirely, transferring the risk (via insurance or third parties), or accepting the risk with documented justification. All treatment decisions must be documented in formal risk treatment plans and approved by relevant risk owners—typically security, compliance, and business leadership—to ensure accountability and alignment across the organization.
How to comply
- 1.Identify all AI risks in your systems using ISO 42001 A.5.1 risk assessment
- 2.Define four treatment options for each risk: control, avoidance, transfer, or acceptance
- 3.Document each treatment decision with rationale, ownership, and timeline
- 4.Implement selected controls (technical, operational, or procedural) to modify risk
- 5.Establish residual risk acceptance criteria and gain sign-off from risk owners
- 6.Record all decisions in a centralized risk treatment register
- 7.Schedule periodic reviews to reassess treatment effectiveness
Evidence auditors look for
- Risk treatment plan template with columns for risk ID, treatment option selected, control description, owner, and implementation date
- Risk owner approval log or email chain documenting sign-off on treatment decisions
- Control implementation checklist showing deployment of AI-specific safeguards (e.g., model monitoring, data governance, bias testing)
- Risk avoidance documentation explaining why certain AI capabilities were deliberately not deployed
- Risk transfer agreement or insurance policy covering AI liability
- Residual risk acceptance statement signed by senior management
- Quarterly risk treatment status report tracking control effectiveness
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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