
The Three Lines of Defense model is designed to give the board and senior management clarity on:
- Which line is responsible for which areas
- How each of the functions and elements interrelate
- Which risks each function or activity should monitor
What are the bodies 3 lines of Defense?
First Line of Defense
- Skin secretions have a low pH and are acidic. ...
- Stomach mucosa secretes hydrochloric acid and protein-digesting enzymes, which are deadly to microorganisms.
- Saliva in the oral cavity and lacrimal fluid from the eyes contain the enzyme, lysozyme, which kills bacteria by destroying the cells wall.
What is the third line of Defense called?
Answer Key
- Vaccines, immunity
- Antigen presentation, lymphocytes
- Pathogens
- B-cells, plasma cells
- Cytokines
- antigens
- Helper T-cells
- immune system
- Memory cells
- infection
What do critics say on three lines of Defense?
Critics of the Three Lines of Defense model say it is over-simplified, outdated, and no longer a good representation of how companies should manage risk.
Are three lines of Defence enough?
underlying the ‘Three Lines of Defence’ are not sound – they absolutely are. But the evolution of complex risk methodologies, frameworks and systems, has meant that responsibility for risk management activities are in danger of being diluted across multiple parties. We believe this means that the Three Lines of Defence model requires a

What is the 1st 2nd and 3rd line of defense in banking?
As they monitor the first line's activities, the second line can provide input and deliver on the organization's risk management strategy. The third line of defense assesses and reports on what it sees from the first and second lines. With this defined role, it's easier to gather evidence and conduct investigations.
Why do we need 3 lines of Defence?
The three lines of defense represent an approach to providing structure around risk management and internal controls within an organization by defining roles and responsibilities in different areas and the relationship between those different areas.
What is line of defence meaning?
line of defense Add to list Share. Definitions of line of defense. any organization whose responsibility it is to defend against something. “police are the major line of defense against crime” synonyms: line of defence.
What is the three line model?
The Principles of the Three Lines Model describe the importance and nature of internal audit independence, setting internal audit apart from other functions and enabling the distinctive value of its assurance and advice.
What are the three lines of defense and how do they provide physical security?
In the Three Lines of Defense model, management control is the first line of defense in risk management, the various risk control and compliance over- sight functions established by management are the second line of defense, and independent assurance is the third.
What is the role of 3rd line of defence in compliance risk management?
Third Line: The third line of defense is the external and internal auditors who independently evaluate the compliance risks and controls. They are also responsible for reporting to the Board and Senior Management's oversight functions.
Why is the first line of defence important?
Skin, tears and mucus are part of the first line of defence in fighting infection. They help to protect us against invading pathogens. You have beneficial bacteria growing on your skin, in your bowel and other places in the body (such as the mouth and the gut) that stop other harmful bacteria from taking over.
What is the Three Lines of Defense model (3LoD)?
The Three Lines Defense model is a regulated framework designed to provide a standardized, comprehensive approach to governance and risk management.
What are new updates to 3LoD?
The Three Lines of Defense model is a tried-and-true approach to risk management. But just as continuity and resilience plans should be regularly u...
What is the future of the 3LoD model?
As risks become more diverse, the Three Lines of Defense model must also continue to adapt. This truth may relate most directly to the third line:...
The first line of defense: business operational management
The first line of defense (1st LoD) is operational management, consisting of front-line managers responsible for day-to-day risk management activities. These managers supervise employees as they work within business systems and applications, ensuring that proper risk-management procedures are being followed.
The third line of defense: internal audits
The third line of defense (3rd LoD) in the 3LoD model is the internal auditor. Auditors are responsible for reviewing all risk management processes, procedures, and frameworks, providing comprehensive assurance of the effectiveness of governance and internal controls.
What are the principles of operational resilience?
The Three Lines of Defense are designed to support and improve an organization’s operational resilience.
What are new updates to 3LoD?
The Three Lines of Defense model is a tried-and-true approach to risk management. But just as continuity and resilience plans should be regularly updated to better account for changing situations, 3LoD has seen a number of revisions since it was first introduced.
What is the future of the 3LoD model?
As risks become more diverse, the Three Lines of Defense model must also continue to adapt. This truth may relate most directly to the third line: internal audits. Internal auditors and their associated processes must become more agile and forward thinking, promoting positive change throughout the rest of the 3LoD model.
Operational Risk Management with ServiceNow
Managing operational risk is a vital aspect of modern business. The 3LoD model exists to provide redundant layers of protection to offer increased security against a range of possible threats. But by itself, 3LoD may not be enough to fully shield organizations from evolving dangers.
Line 1: Risk owners
The first line of defence (1LOD) is provided by front line staff and operational management. The systems, internal controls, control environment and culture developed and implemented by these business units is crucial in anticipating and managing operational and non-financial risks.
Line 2: Risk oversight
The second line of defence (2LOD) is provided by the risk management and compliance functions. These functions provide the oversight and the tools, systems and advice necessary to support the first line in identifying, managing and monitoring risks.
Line 3: Risk assurance
The third line of defence (3LOD) is provided by the internal audit function. This function provides a level of independent assurance that the risk management and internal control framework is working as designed.
What are the three lines of defense?
The human body has three primary lines of defense to fight against foreign invaders, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi . The immune system’s three lines of defense include physical and chemical barriers, non-specific innate responses, and specific adaptive responses.
Which line of defense is most likely to be encountered by pathogens that successfully cross physical barriers?
Pathogens that successfully cross the physical barriers are next encountered by the second line of defense. This innate immune response mostly involves immune cells and proteins to nonspecifically recognize and eliminate any pathogen that enters the body.
How many levels of defense do pathogens need to cross to develop infection?
The immune system comprises three levels of defense mechanism that a pathogen needs to cross to develop infection inside the body.
What are the physical barriers that prevent blood and tissue infections?
Physical barriers, including the skin and mucosa of the digestive and respiratory tracts, help eliminate pathogens and prevent tissue and/or blood infections. Moreover, components that are secreted by the skin or mucosa, such as sweat, saliva, tears, mucous, help provide a basic barrier against invading pathogens.
What are the two types of immune responses?
In general, the immune system can be activated to generate two types of immune responses: nonspecific response (innate immunity) and specific adaptive response (acquired immunity).
What is the impermeable barrier that protects many pathogens from entering the body?
The skin is the impermeable physical/mechanical barrier that protects many pathogens from entering the body. Similarly, mucosa or mucous membranes that line the immediate internal systems help trap pathogens by producing mucous. Hairs inside the nasal cavity, as well as cerumen (earwax), also trap pathogens and environmental pollutants.
What is the Three Lines of Defence model?
The IIA and the Institute of Directors endorse the 'Three Lines of Defence' model as a way of explaining the relationship between these functions and as a guide to how responsibilities should be divided:
When was the 3 lines of defence published?
The concept has remained sufficiently important that a further position paper was published in June 2017 by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, titled: The Three Lines of Defence, hereafter the 2017 paper.
What are misaligned incentives for risk-takers in the first line of defence?
Misaligned incentives for risk-takers in the first line of defence – management may have put greater emphasis on and set compensation [or career progress] based on the achievement of financial objectives rather than control-orientated objectives;
How to improve coverage of risks and controls?
Improved coverage of risks and controls by identifying and refining where necessary the population of risks and controls, and appropriately allocating the ownership and performance of these risks and controls across the lines of defence. Consequently, any unintended risks and gaps in controls may be avoided, and unnecessary duplication of work should be avoided by removing layers of redundant controls;

First Line of Defense – Management
Second Line of Defense – Risk Management and Compliance
- The second line supports management to help ensure risk and controls are effectively managed. Management establishes various risk management and compliance functions to help build and/or monitor the first line-of-defense controls. Typical functions in this second line of defense include: 1. “A risk management function (and/or committee) that facilitates and monitors the implement…
External Auditors
- External auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion on the fairness (accuracy within a degree of materiality) of the financial statements in conformity with certain accounting standards. Additionally, external auditors may provide assurance to the Board of Trustees regarding institutional compliance requirements (such as Title IV funding of financial aid). For additional in…
What Is The Immune System?
What Are The Three Lines of Defense of The Immune System?
- The immune system comprises three levels of defense mechanism that a pathogen needs to cross to develop infection inside the body.
References
- Science Olympiad. Immune System. https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/2018_IMMUNE_SYSTEM_HANDOUT.…
- Let’s talk science. 2019. The immune response. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/stem-in-context/immune-response
- Austin Community College. Immune System. https://www.austincc.edu/apreview/EmphasisIt…
- Science Olympiad. Immune System. https://www.soinc.org/sites/default/files/uploaded_files/2018_IMMUNE_SYSTEM_HANDOUT.…
- Let’s talk science. 2019. The immune response. https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/stem-in-context/immune-response
- Austin Community College. Immune System. https://www.austincc.edu/apreview/EmphasisItems/Inflammatoryresponse.html
- NCBI. 2020. How does the immune system work? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279364/
Further Reading
What Is The Three Lines of Defence Model?
Is The Model Applicable to Any Organisation?
- In short, yes. The 2013 paper stated that the three lines of defence model is ‘appropriate for any organisation – regardless of size or complexity. Even in organizations where a formal risk management framework or system does not exist, the Three Lines of Defense model can enhance clarity regarding risks and controls and help improve the effectiveness of risk management syst…
The Key Benefits of Implementing An Effective Model
- To implement an effective and efficient model across an organisation is not simple and requires vision and ongoing support from the Board and executive management in terms of direction and resources. Benefits are: 1. Improved coverage of risks and controls by identifying and refining where necessary the population of risks and controls, and appropriately allocating the ownershi…
When Implementation of The Model Fails
- The Financial Stability Institute published Occasional Paper No 11 ‘The four lines of defence model’for financial institutions in December 2015. The paper included a root cause analysis of how the implementation of the lines of defence model arguably failed in practice during significant banking scandals with the following key findings: 1. Misaligned incentives for risk-tak…
Three Lines of Defence in Depth
- For an explanation of the role of Internal Audit in the three lines of defence model and some of the practical day-to-day challenges of implementation under an often-ongoing climate of ‘doing more with less’ watch our for the second article on this topic ‘Internal audit: challenges of implementation'.