The SHIRPA™
Operating Model
The SHIRPA Operating Model is a strategic framework developed by the CTL Think Tank Group to guide organizations through the complexities of today’s cyber landscape
What Is SHIRPA™?
SHIRPA™ is a human-centered framework for enterprise governance and risk alignment that assists organizations in building trust, operating predictably, making better decisions, and taking action when risks exceed their tolerance.
Instead of just handing out tools or checklists, SHIRPA practitioners passionately work to create a thriving environment for lasting organizational success! By enhancing risk perception, streamlining workflows, sharing valuable data to support informed decision-making, and embracing structured transformation practices, they empower organizations to respond effectively when alignment falters. Together, we can unlock a brighter future!
SHIRPA is designed for organizations that want clarity, consistency, and resilience, not just activity.
Understanding SHIRPA 2.2
The SHIRPA Framework is designed as an interconnected system, not a checklist. To help explain how its five domains work together in practice, this short discussion walks through SHIRPA 2.2 using real-world security and resilience examples.
The conversation explores how organizational commitments shape controls, how capabilities are built and validated, and how the Conversion domain ensures insights lead to meaningful change. Together, the domains form a lattice that supports continuous improvement, adaptability, and business-aligned cyber resilience.
At its core, SHIRPA recognizes a simple truth:
Aligned people, purposeful process, and
open dialogue create resilient organizations.
By utilizing people, process, and dependable assurance, SHIRPA enables organizations to navigate uncertainty with confidence and deliver on their mission with integrity.
The Sherpa Metaphor
In the Himalayas, a Sherpa isn’t the one seeking glory at the summit. They are the guide who helps others get there. They know the terrain, understand the risks, and carry the tools to make the climb possible. That’s the spirit behind SHIRPA.
We see every idea, business, and creative vision as a mountain worth climbing. The path may be uncertain, but with the right guidance, strategy, and support, reaching the top becomes possible. SHIRPA exists to help you navigate that journey by providing direction, removing obstacles, and ensuring your vision not only reaches new heights but does so with confidence and purpose.
SHIRPA™ helps organizations align how people feel, how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how risk is addressed—creating trust, resilience, and sustained performance.
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Most organizations already have:
Policies
Controls
Metrics
Tools
Yet many still struggle with:
Misalignment between intent and execution
Conflicting priorities
Inconsistent decisions
Silent risk accumulation
SHIRPA exists to close that gap—by aligning human understanding, operational reality, decision inputs, and risk response into a coherent governance model.
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SHIRPA embodies these core principles:
Security | How people feel about risk
Hygiene | How well the organization operates
Information | What decisions are based on
Risk Posture Alignment | How the organization responds to residual risk