Expert-led compliance. Consultant-managed, not self-serve.
SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and AI governance programs for growth-stage tech companies. Structured around DMAIC methodology — from gap assessment through continuous monitoring. CPA-attested. Fully managed.
Schedule a scoping call →15+
Frameworks delivered
20+
Global jurisdictions
60%+
Enterprise buyers require SOC 2
$10.2M
Avg. US breach cost (2024)
The problem
Your enterprise pipeline is blocked. Compliance is the bottleneck.
You built the product. Closed the pilot. Then procurement sent the vendor security questionnaire. You don't have SOC 2. The deal stalls. Three months later, your competitor — who does have it — closes the contract.
Or your Series A board wants to see your security posture before the next round. Or a hospital system asks for HIPAA documentation your team has never created. Or the EU AI Act deadline is 10 months away and no one on your team has heard of ISO 42001.
Over one-third of organizations have lost deals due to lacking compliance certification. 70% of venture capital firms now require SOC 2 before investing. The question is not whether you need it — it's how much pipeline you're losing while you wait.
What we do
The full compliance program. Managed end to end.
Every engagement starts with a gap assessment — we evaluate where you stand, identify what needs to close, and build a remediation plan around your team and timeline.
From there we manage everything: policy development, control implementation, evidence collection, and auditor coordination through to your final CPA-attested report or ISO certificate.
For ongoing needs: Virtual CISO and DPO retainer services starting from $800/month.
Services
SOC 2 Type I & II
The compliance gate for enterprise SaaS sales. CPA-attested report confirming your systems meet AICPA Trust Service Criteria. Most common first engagement for Series A–C companies.
It may apply to you if...
- →A prospect asked for your SOC 2 and you didn't have one
- →Your VC requires compliance before the next round
- →You're losing enterprise deals to competitors who have it
60%+ of enterprise buyers require SOC 2 as baseline
ISO 27001:2022
International ISMS certification required by European enterprise buyers, government contractors, and M&A due diligence. Natural complement to SOC 2 — 60–70% policy overlap.
It may apply to you if...
- →You're selling to European buyers or responding to government RFPs
- →You're going through M&A due diligence
- →You already have SOC 2 and want efficient international coverage
60–70% policy overlap with SOC 2 — efficient add-on
ISO 42001:2023 — AI Governance
The world's first AI Management System standard. EU AI Act enforcement begins August 2026. This is the framework your enterprise buyers will start requiring — and the first-mover window is still open.
It may apply to you if...
- →You build AI products and enterprise customers ask about AI governance
- →You need to comply with EU AI Act before August 2026
- →You want to differentiate before competitors get certified
AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft are already certified
HIPAA
The vendor gate for hospital systems, clinics, and insurers. Full compliance program for any platform handling Protected Health Information.
It may apply to you if...
- →Your platform touches patient scheduling, billing, or EHR data
- →A hospital system asked for HIPAA documentation
- →You process or store any form of Protected Health Information
22 HIPAA enforcement actions in 2024 — record levels
GDPR / UK GDPR
Applies to any company with EU users or EU data — regardless of where the company is incorporated. Combined with ISO 27001 or CCPA for efficient multi-jurisdiction coverage.
It may apply to you if...
- →You have users in the EU — even if your company is US-based
- →You collect behavioral, location, or personal data from EU residents
- →You're expanding into European markets
Applies regardless of where your company is incorporated
Virtual CISO
Ongoing security program management, risk assessments, board reporting, and incident response planning. Retainer-based.
It may apply to you if...
- →You need board-level security reporting but can't justify a full-time CISO
- →Your team lacks dedicated security leadership
- →You want ongoing compliance posture management, not a one-time engagement
Retainer-based — scales with your needs
Also available: CCPA/CPRA · PCI-DSS · DPO-as-a-Service · VAPT · ISO 27701 · India DPDPA · Saudi Arabia PDPL · Singapore PDPA · South Africa POPIA · Canada CPPA · GRC advisory · Compliance training
See all services →Why not a platform
Compliance platforms automate evidence collection. They don't do compliance.
Automation platforms connect to your infrastructure, monitor controls, and collect evidence. What they don't do: conduct your gap assessment, write policies that reflect your actual environment, or manage your auditor when exceptions arise.
You still need a consultant. With most platforms, that conversation starts only after you've committed to a significant annual licensing spend.
We deliver the full program — gap assessment, policy development, control implementation, auditor coordination, CPA-attested report — without the platform overhead.
One more thing: template policies fail audits. When your auditor's testing matrices don't match your actual environment, they flag it. Policies written around how your team actually operates pass. That's the difference.
| Big 4 | Platforms | ShieldKey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type II | $60K–$150K | $80K+/yr license + consultant | Scoped to your needs |
| Timeline | 6–12 months | Self-serve (you do the work) | 8–12 weeks |
| Output | CPA-attested report | Evidence dashboard (no attestation) | CPA-attested report |
| Policies | Custom (at enterprise price) | Templates | Custom |
| ISO 42001 | Limited capacity | Not offered | Available now |
Why ShieldKey
What sets this apart.
50–70% Below Big 4 Pricing
Efficient delivery model produces the same CPA-attested reports and ISO certifications at a fraction of Big 4 cost — without cutting scope or rigor.
US CPA-Attested SOC 2
SOC 2 reports attested by licensed US CPAs under US CPA firm letterheads. The same output your enterprise buyers expect from a Big 4 engagement.
IAF-Accredited Certifications
ISO certifications issued through IAF-accredited certification body partnerships. Internationally recognized, not self-assessments.
ISO 42001 Specialization
One of the few boutique firms offering ISO 42001 AI governance consulting. Big 4 are just entering at enterprise pricing. We deliver at mid-market rates.
NIST & OWASP-Aligned Testing
Cybersecurity testing aligned with NIST CSF, OWASP Testing Guide, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK. The same methodologies US auditors and enterprise buyers recognize.
Custom Policies, Not Templates
Every policy is written around how your team actually operates. Template policies fail audits when testing matrices don't match your environment. Ours pass.
Who we work with
Built for companies that can't afford a compliance gap.
Growth-Stage SaaS (Series A–C)
Your enterprise pipeline is stalled on compliance. Procurement requires SOC 2 before any contract moves forward. We get you audit-ready in 8–12 weeks — before that conversation becomes a lost deal.
AI-Native Companies
ISO 42001 today is where SOC 2 was five years ago. AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft are already certified. EU AI Act enforcement begins August 2026. The companies getting certified now won't be scrambling later.
FinTech & HealthTech
PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2 — often all three. Banking partner due diligence, hospital system procurement, and multi-framework requirements under one engagement. Regulatory risk creates a $10M+ downside.
B2B Tech Selling to Enterprise
Enterprise procurement requires SOC 2 or ISO 27001. Security questionnaires need certifications, not promises. We deliver the documentation that closes the RFP — not just checks a box.
Industries
Compliance requires industry-specific expertise.
SaaS & Cloud Platforms
SOC 2 is the baseline for enterprise sales. Multi-tenant architectures, shared infrastructure, and rapid release cycles create unique control requirements that template policies miss.
Healthcare & HealthTech
HIPAA compliance for platforms handling PHI — EHR integrations, telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and clinical data analytics. Hospital system procurement requires documentation that survives due diligence.
AI & Machine Learning
ISO 42001 certification, EU AI Act preparation, algorithmic accountability, and AI governance frameworks. The compliance landscape for AI companies is forming now — early movers set the standard.
FinTech & Payments
PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and multi-jurisdiction privacy compliance for platforms handling financial data. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing — your compliance program needs to keep pace.
Global Enterprise
Multi-framework, multi-jurisdiction compliance programs. GDPR, CCPA, PDPA, POPIA, DPDPA — consolidated into a single coherent governance structure instead of siloed country-by-country efforts.
Government Contractors
ISO 27001 and NIST-aligned security programs for companies selling to federal, state, or international government buyers. Compliance is a contract requirement, not optional.
How it works
DMAIC methodology. Not a template drop.
Every engagement follows a structured DMAIC approach — the same continuous improvement methodology used in enterprise quality management, adapted for compliance programs.
D
Define
Scoping call. We identify your target frameworks, buyer requirements, existing security posture, and timeline. You leave with a clear recommendation.
M
Measure
Gap assessment. We evaluate controls in place, controls missing, documentation gaps, and risk exposure against your target framework.
A
Analyze
Prioritized remediation roadmap. We map the gap between current state and audit-ready — before any implementation work begins.
I
Improve
Full program delivery. Policy development, control implementation, evidence collection, auditor coordination — through to your CPA-attested report or ISO certificate.
C
Control
Ongoing monitoring. vCISO or DPO retainer services, annual recertification support, continuous compliance posture management. The program doesn't end at the report.
Most engagements complete the first four phases in 8–12 weeks. The Control phase is an ongoing retainer — ensuring your compliance posture stays current as your product, team, and regulatory landscape evolve.
$10.2M
Average cost of a data breach in the US. Highest in the world.
IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2024
Why it matters
The cost of not having compliance.
$10.2M
Average US data breach cost (2024) — highest in the world
60%
Of SMBs close within 6 months of a data breach
1,488
Data breach class actions filed in the US in 2024 — nearly tripled since 2022
$7,988
CCPA penalty per consumer (intentional) — no cap on total
22
HIPAA enforcement actions in 2024 — record levels
21x
Average ROI on compliance investment vs. weighted risk exposure
Compliance is not a cost center. It's insurance against catastrophic financial loss — and the gate that opens your enterprise pipeline.
Scoped to your framework, team, and timeline.
Every engagement is scoped individually — framework complexity, company size, and existing security posture all factor in. No platform licensing fees. No annual subscriptions.
Book a 30-minute scoping call. You'll get a framework recommendation, rough timeline, and ballpark investment before committing to anything.
Schedule a scoping call →