Pillar 6: Protect

Growth introduces exposure. As organizations scale their reach, systems, and visibility, the cost of missteps increases and tolerance for error decreases. Protect establishes the safeguards that allow growth to continue without creating legal, ethical, or reputational liabilities that undermine long-term value. It embeds compliance, consent, and accountability directly into operations so risk is managed proactively rather than reactively. When protection is designed into the system, teams move faster with confidence, decisions are defensible, and trust is preserved across customers, partners, and regulators. This pillar ensures that expansion strengthens the business rather than introducing hidden vulnerabilities that surface later.