Institutional Control Architecture™

The structural standard
for AI governance.

A three-tier certification framework built on seven governance layers. Traceability. Containment. Reversibility. Not a checklist — an architecture.

The 7-Layer Governance Framework
LAYER 01
Decision Traceability
Every AI decision must be traceable to a human-authorized policy. No black boxes.
LAYER 02
Containment Architecture
Failures must be contained. One system failure cannot cascade across the institution.
LAYER 03
Reversibility Protocols
Any AI action must be reversible within a defined timeframe. No permanent autonomous decisions.
LAYER 04
Human Override Authority
A qualified human can override any AI system at any time. Override pathways must be tested and documented.
LAYER 05
Operational Boundaries
AI systems operate within explicitly defined boundaries. Scope creep is a governance failure.
LAYER 06
Audit Infrastructure
Governance must be auditable. Logs, evidence, and documentation must exist for independent review.
LAYER 07
Institutional Accountability
A named individual is accountable for the AI governance posture of the organization. Not a committee — a person.
Certification Tiers

Three levels of structural governance.

Each tier builds on the previous. Start where your organization's maturity demands, progress as your governance architecture strengthens.

Tier 01
Self-Attestation
$2,500
per year
Your organization self-assesses against the 7-Layer Framework and attests to its governance posture. The entry point for institutions beginning their governance journey.
  • 7-Layer self-assessment workbook
  • ICA™ scoring methodology
  • Gap identification report template
  • Attestation certificate upon completion
  • Annual renewal with progress benchmarking
  • Access to ICA™ governance resource library
Apply for Tier 1 →
Tier 02
Verified Certification
$9,500
per year
An independent review of your organization's governance architecture against all seven layers. Evidence-based verification with scored assessment and remediation guidance.
  • Everything in Tier 1
  • Independent evidence review (remote)
  • Scored assessment across all 7 layers
  • Detailed remediation report
  • Verified Certification badge and certificate
  • Quarterly governance health check-ins
  • Priority access to advisory engagements
Apply for Tier 2 →
Tier 03
Full Audit Certification
$25,000
per year
Comprehensive on-site or deep-remote audit of your entire AI governance infrastructure. Full documentation review, stakeholder interviews, and board-ready reporting.
  • Everything in Tier 2
  • Comprehensive audit (on-site or deep remote)
  • Stakeholder and leadership interviews
  • Board-ready governance report
  • Full Audit Certification badge and certificate
  • Executive summary for investor / regulator use
  • Ongoing advisory retainer (first 90 days included)
  • Annual re-certification with trend analysis
Apply for Tier 3 →
Enterprise & Advisory

For organizations that need more.

Advisory Engagements

ICA™ Advisory

$5,000 — $25,000

Targeted governance advisory for specific AI deployments, risk assessments, or board preparation. Scoped engagements from single-system reviews to enterprise-wide architecture design.

Enterprise Licensing

ICA™ Enterprise License

$50,000 — $150,000 / year

License the ICA™ framework for internal use across your organization. Includes training materials, assessment tools, internal certification authority, and ongoing methodology updates.

Who this is for.

Chief AI Officers Building governance infrastructure from scratch or formalizing existing practices.
Chief Legal Officers Establishing defensible AI governance positions before regulators require them.
Boards of Directors Seeking independent assurance that AI risks are structurally governed.
Enterprise Procurement Evaluating AI vendor governance maturity as part of due diligence.
AI Startups Differentiating through verifiable governance in a market full of vague commitments.
Insurance & Risk Teams Establishing AI risk baselines and governance benchmarks for underwriting.

Structure restores control.

The Governance Diagnostic Call is a 30-minute assessment of your organization's current AI governance posture — and the fastest path to certification.

Book Governance Diagnostic Call →
Free 30-minute call · No obligation · Enterprise-grade confidentiality