Security and compliance frameworks, explained in plain language
Customers, auditors, and partners often say things like “We need SOC 2” or “Are you ISO 27001 certified?” or “Do you meet HIPAA or GDPR requirements?” This page explains what those frameworks are, why organizations ask about them, and how Cyberneza can help you respond with confidence using right-sized security and compliance practices.
SOC 2
SOC 2 is a report on how you protect customer data across security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. For many SaaS companies it is the first formal proof customers request as you move up-market.
- Who asks for it: B2B customers, especially in finance, healthcare, and enterprise IT.
- What it demonstrates: You have defined controls and can prove they operate over time.
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is an international standard for establishing and improving an information security management system (ISMS). It is often requested by global enterprises and organizations with a strong focus on structured risk management.
- Who asks for it: Larger enterprises, global customers, and security-conscious partners.
- What it demonstrates: You have a structured, risk-based approach to managing information security.
HIPAA
HIPAA applies if you handle protected health information (PHI) for covered entities or business associates. It defines administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for PHI and shapes how healthcare customers expect you to manage data.
- Who asks for it: Healthcare providers, digital health platforms, and partners handling PHI.
- What it demonstrates: You understand and address obligations around PHI privacy and security.
GDPR
GDPR is a European regulation focused on the protection of personal data and individual rights. Even if you are based in the United States, you may be in scope if you serve users in the European Union or process their data on behalf of customers.
- Who asks for it: Customers with users in the EU or legal and privacy teams reviewing data flows.
- What it demonstrates: You respect data subject rights and have appropriate safeguards in place.
PCI DSS
PCI DSS applies if your product stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data, or sits in the flow of a payment. Scope — how card data moves through your environment — drives most of the cost and effort, so right-sizing it is the first step.
- Who asks for it: Payment processors, acquiring banks, and customers handling card payments.
- What it demonstrates: You protect cardholder data with the required controls and validation.
NIST-based approaches
NIST frameworks, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, provide a structured way to think about identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover functions. Many organizations use NIST language to align internal programs, even if they also pursue SOC 2 or ISO 27001.
Cyberneza can help you map your controls and practices to NIST concepts so that security, compliance, and engineering teams have a shared picture of your program.
CIS Controls
CIS Controls provide a prioritized set of safeguards that help defend against common attacks. The technical and process controls in CIS map cleanly to what modern compliance automation platforms can track through integrations, tests, and automated evidence collection.
Cyberneza can help you understand which CIS Controls are most relevant to your stage and how to monitor them sustainably using the automation platform of your choice.
CMMC
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) applies to defense contractors that handle Controlled Unclassified Information. Level 2 certification is assessed by an authorized C3PAO; our role is to get you ready and coordinate with your selected C3PAO when appropriate — we do not perform assessments or issue certifications.
NIST SP 800-171
NIST SP 800-171 defines the 110 security requirements for protecting CUI and underpins CMMC Level 2. We help you scope your environment, implement the controls, build your SSP and POA&M, and support a defensible SPRS self-assessment.
ISO/IEC 42001
ISO/IEC 42001 is an AI management system standard for organizations developing, deploying, or governing AI systems. For teams already building ISO 27001-style management systems, it is often a natural extension — adding AI governance roles, AI risk processes, policies, controls, and evidence workflows.
AI risk & governance
Beyond the standard, customers and auditors increasingly ask how you discover shadow AI, control data flowing into AI tools, and govern AI use. Cyberneza assesses your AI risk and helps you put practical governance in place.
Cyber insurance readiness
Cyber insurance underwriting questionnaires function like a control framework — MFA, EDR, immutable backups, tested incident response, and email security must all be in place before carriers will bind coverage at reasonable premiums. The controls overlap heavily with SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
- Who asks for it: Your broker and the underwriter at renewal or new-coverage time.
- What it demonstrates: Your environment meets the preventive controls carriers now require.
Not sure what the acronyms mean?
MFA, EDR, DMARC, SIEM, RTO/RPO — every framework comes with its own vocabulary. Our plain-English security glossary defines the terms auditors, underwriters, and customers commonly ask about, so you can read a questionnaire or audit report without a security degree.
Choosing where to start
Many teams know they need to improve security and compliance but are unsure whether to start with SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA alignment, GDPR obligations, or a NIST or CIS-based approach. Often the right answer depends on your current customers, your next few deals, and your risk profile.
We can walk through your pipeline, product, and constraints and recommend a practical starting point that you can sustain as you grow.