CSM-Lite Quick-Start Guide

What is CSM-Lite?

CSM (Cognitive Systems Management) is the open-source framework that powers HAIEC compliance tools. Think of it as the Linux of AI governance—free to use, widely adopted, and enterprise-proven.

      Why CSM-Lite?

      The full CSM framework has 6 layers and 1,800+ pages of documentation. CSM-Lite simplifies this to 3 essential layers you can implement in 8 weeks.

Metric	Full CSM	CSM-Lite
Layers	6 layers	3 layers
Documentation	1,800+ pages	20 pages
Implementation Time	6-12 months	8 weeks
Best For	Enterprise (1000+ employees)	Startups & Mid-size (10-500)

The 3 Layers of CSM-Lite

Layer 1: System Inventory

FOUNDATION

Catalog all AI systems, their purpose, risk levels, and data flows.

Create comprehensive AI system inventory
Classify risk levels (Low, Medium, High, Critical)
Map data flows and dependencies
Identify stakeholders and owners
Document intended use and limitations

Layer 2: Risk Assessment

ANALYSIS

Evaluate potential harms, compliance gaps, and mitigation strategies.

Conduct comprehensive risk assessment
Identify applicable compliance requirements
Document potential harms and impacts
Create mitigation and remediation plans
Establish monitoring and review processes

Layer 3: Policy & Governance

IMPLEMENTATION

Establish policies, approval workflows, and governance structures.

Draft AI usage and acceptable use policies
Create approval workflows and decision trees
Establish AI governance committee
Define roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths
Implement training and awareness programs

8-Week Implementation Timeline

Weeks 1-2: Discovery & Inventory

Complete AI system inventory across organization
Interview system owners and stakeholders
Map data flows and system dependencies
Identify high-risk systems requiring immediate attention

Weeks 3-4: Risk Assessment

Conduct risk assessments for all identified systems
Document compliance gaps and requirements
Create prioritized mitigation plans
Establish risk scoring methodology

Weeks 5-6: Policy Development

Draft AI usage policies and guidelines
Create approval workflows and decision frameworks
Establish governance committee structure
Get stakeholder review and buy-in

Weeks 7-8: Implementation & Training

Roll out policies and governance structure
Train staff on new processes and requirements
Set up monitoring and reporting systems
Launch governance committee and review cycles

Common Compliance Scenarios

Hiring AI System

Regulations: NYC Local Law 144, EEOC Guidelines

Requirements:

Annual independent bias audit
Candidate notification at least 10 days before use
Data retention for 3 years
Adverse action notices with specific reasons

Credit Scoring AI

Regulations: FCRA, ECOA

Requirements:

Adverse action notices with specific reasons
Disparate impact testing on protected classes
Model explainability and documentation
Regular validation and monitoring

Healthcare AI

Regulations: HIPAA, FDA

Requirements:

PHI protection and encryption
Clinical validation and testing
Adverse event reporting
Patient consent and disclosure

Implementation Checklist

Task	Owner	Timeline	Status
Complete AI system inventory	IT/Engineering	Week 1-2	☐
Conduct risk assessments	Compliance Team	Week 3-4	☐
Draft AI usage policies	Legal/Compliance	Week 5-6	☐
Establish governance committee	Executive Team	Week 5-6	☐
Train staff on new processes	HR/Training	Week 7-8	☐
Launch monitoring systems	IT/Engineering	Week 7-8	☐

Key Takeaways

      Start Simple: CSM-Lite gives you 80% of the value with 20% of the effort
Focus on High-Risk: Prioritize systems that make consequential decisions
Document Everything: Good documentation is your best defense in an audit
Iterate and Improve: Compliance is a journey, not a destination
Get Executive Buy-In: Governance requires support from the top

    

Next Steps

Use HAIEC Tools: Our Bootstrap kit includes templates for all CSM-Lite components
Join the Community: Connect with 500+ AI compliance professionals
Schedule Consulting: Get expert guidance on your implementation
Consider Full CSM: Upgrade to the complete framework as you scale