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 →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.
Why it matters
The cost of not having compliance.
$10.2M average data breach cost in the US, the highest in the world. And the breach itself is only part of the bill.
$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.
What we do
The full compliance program. Managed end to end.
Every engagement starts with a gap assessment, where 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
Learn more →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
Learn more →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
Learn more →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
Learn more →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
Learn more →Also commonly requested
CCPA / CPRA
California privacy compliance for any company serving CA consumers or over $25M revenue.
Learn more →PCI-DSS
For any platform handling payment card data. Required by banking partners and merchants.
Learn more →DPO-as-a-Service
Outsourced Data Protection Officer for GDPR / UK GDPR compliance. Monthly retainer.
Learn more →VAPT
Vulnerability assessment + penetration testing aligned to NIST CSF, MITRE ATT&CK, and CIS Benchmarks.
Learn more →Regional privacy & other coverage
ISO 27701 · India DPDPA · Saudi Arabia PDPL · Singapore PDPA · South Africa POPIA · Canada CPPA · GRC advisory · Compliance training
Need ongoing leadership? Virtual CISO and DPO retainers available. Board reporting, program management, and continuous posture oversight. vCISO → · DPO →
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.
Define
Scoping call. We identify target frameworks, buyer requirements, existing posture, and timeline.
Measure
Gap assessment. Controls in place, controls missing, documentation gaps, and risk exposure.
Analyze
Prioritized remediation roadmap. We map the gap between current state and audit-ready.
Improve
Full program delivery. Policy development, control implementation, evidence, auditor coordination.
Control
Ongoing monitoring. vCISO or DPO retainer, annual recertification, continuous posture management.
Define
Scoping call. We identify target frameworks, buyer requirements, existing posture, and timeline.
Measure
Gap assessment. Controls in place, controls missing, documentation gaps, and risk exposure.
Analyze
Prioritized remediation roadmap. We map the gap between current state and audit-ready.
Improve
Full program delivery. Policy development, control implementation, evidence, auditor coordination.
Control
Ongoing monitoring. vCISO or DPO retainer, annual recertification, continuous posture management.
Most engagements complete the first four phases — readiness work — in 8-12 weeks. SOC 2 Type II then needs a 6-month observation window before the audit. The Control phase is the ongoing retainer that runs alongside it, keeping your posture current as your product, team, and regulatory landscape evolve.
See our full approach →15+
Frameworks delivered
20+
Global jurisdictions
60%+
Enterprise buyers require SOC 2
$10.2M
Avg. US breach cost (2024)
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, and the 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 Solutions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type II | $60K-$150K | $80K+/yr license + consultant | Scoped to your needs |
| Timeline · Type I | 4-6 months | Self-serve (you do the work) | Ready in 8-12 wks |
| Timeline · Type II | 6-12 months | Self-serve (you do the work) | ~6 months |
| 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 Solutions
What sets us 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 CSF & MITRE-Aligned Testing
Cybersecurity testing aligned with NIST CSF, MITRE ATT&CK, and CIS Benchmarks. 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 tech companies across SaaS, HealthTech, FinTech, AI/ML, and B2B enterprise, where compliance is a deal gate, not an afterthought.
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 SOC 2 Type I-ready in 8-12 weeks (and into the Type II observation window the day after) — 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.
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.
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.
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 →