Compliance Certifications
Compliance Certifications
‘Compliance’ is about meeting the requirements set forth by the laws, regulations, and standards relevant to its industry, operations, and information systems. Compliance activities are meant to ensure the organization follows these requirements and can avoid legal or financial penalties.
Several frameworks can guide organizations' compliance efforts, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO27027, ISO27018, ISO42001, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, CMMC, and CPCSC. The appropriateness of each framework depends on factors such as the organization’s industry, location (including areas served), and types of data processed. Modern GRC tools such as Vanta or Drata greatly reduce the time and effort required to achieve compliance.
SOC 2 is a compliance standard for service providers that handle sensitive customer information. It specifies how organizations should manage customer data. SOC 2 is popular in North America and focuses on the security and availability of information systems. It uses a framework called the Trust Services Criteria to evaluate performance in up to five categories:
- Security
- Availability
- Processing integrity
- Confidentiality
- Privacy
The security category is mandatory, though organizations have the option of whether or not to pursue the other criteria. As many have noted, this makes the SOC 2 standard somewhat of a “choose your own adventure” approach to cybersecurity compliance.
The SOC 2 audit, while narrowly focused on the area of customer data security, is very expensive — approximately twice the cost of ISO 27001. Though, it can instill a great deal of trust in an organization’s ability to safeguard customer information.
ISO 27001 is an internationally-recognized standard that defines how an information security management system (ISMS) should be implemented and maintained. This framework takes a holistic approach to cybersecurity, combining the areas of risk management and cyber-resilience with operational excellence.
ISO 27001 has a broader scope than SOC 2, which focuses primarily on data security controls, and prescribes the implementation of cybersecurity best practices across the entire organization. It also tends to be more popular than SOC 2 outside of North America.
Implementing ISO 27001 requires substantial effort and complete buy-in from company leadership, making it one of the more difficult certifications to maintain. However, its reputational and operational benefits make it a worthwhile endeavour — particularly for large organizations seeking to standardize their information security approach.
ISO/IEC 27017 offers guidance on the implementation of information security controls for cloud service providers and cloud customers. Built as an extension to ISO/IEC 27001, this framework addresses the unique risks associated with cloud environments, including shared responsibility models, data segregation, and access control.
The framework introduces cloud-specific control objectives that help organizations apply better safeguards when relying on third-party infrastructure or delivering cloud-based services. While not certifiable on its own, ISO/IEC 27017 is often implemented alongside ISO/IEC 27001 to strengthen cloud security postures.
We support both providers and customers in aligning with ISO/IEC 27017 to ensure their security architecture, policies, and vendor contracts reflect modern cloud risk management practices.
ISO/IEC 27018 is a privacy-centric extension of ISO/IEC 27001, focusing on the protection of personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud environments. It provides additional guidance for cloud service providers on data handling, user consent, breach notification, and customer control over their own information.
Adoption of ISO/IEC 27018 helps organizations demonstrate responsible data stewardship and regulatory alignment with privacy laws such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PIPEDA. Although not mandatory, the standard offers a structured way to address growing consumer and enterprise concerns around cloud-based privacy.
We work with clients to implement ISO/IEC 27018 as part of a broader privacy and security governance program, often in tandem with ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701.
ISO/IEC 42001 is the first international standard focused specifically on Artificial Intelligence Management Systems. It provides guidance for organizations developing or deploying AI technologies to ensure responsible use, risk mitigation, and governance throughout the AI lifecycle.
This framework outlines requirements for ethical considerations, transparency, accountability, and continual improvement when managing AI systems. While AI regulation is still emerging in many jurisdictions, implementing ISO/IEC 42001 positions organizations ahead of evolving compliance demands and demonstrates a proactive approach to trust and safety in AI.
We help clients implement AIMS frameworks that align with their innovation goals while meeting stakeholder and regulatory expectations.
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of security standards for handling payment card data.
The PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) administers the DSS and is comprised of stakeholders from six major payment brands, including MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. The council is supported by an advisory board made up of more than 30 organizations.
PCI DSS specifies twelve requirements for any organization that processes payment cards. For example, these organizations must regularly test their security systems and processes. Non-compliance can result in fines and restrictions on the ability to accept payment cards.
Benefits of Compliance Certifications
beyond just ticking the box
Compliance certifications open doors to new customers, contracts, and markets.
Whether you're selling into enterprise, government, or healthcare,
we help you get audit-ready efficiently and confidently.
& Market Differentiation:
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Customer trust: Certifications (ISO, SOC, etc.) reassure clients and prospects that you follow global standards for security and reliability.
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Competitive advantage: In RFPs and contract negotiations, being certified often tips the scale over uncertified competitors.
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Global market access: Some certifications open the door to industries or geographies that require them (finance, healthcare, EU, etc.).
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Process maturity: Certification frameworks enforce repeatable, auditable processes, reducing reliance on “tribal knowledge.”
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Efficiency gains: Documented, standardized processes lead to fewer errors, less rework, and smoother scaling.
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Alignment across teams: They force collaboration between IT, HR, Legal, and Operations, breaking down silos.
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Structured risk management: Certifications require systematic identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks.
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Resilience: You’re better prepared for incidents because of defined response plans and drills.
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Audit readiness: Instead of scrambling for external audits, you operate in a state of ongoing preparedness.
People & Culture:
- Security as a business value: Certifications normalize security/privacy as part of daily work, not just a compliance task.
- Employee engagement: Staff see the organization investing in doing things “the right way,” which can improve retention.
- Training uplift: Certification standards require ongoing education, strengthening workforce skills.
Financial Impact:
- Reduced downtime and breaches: Stronger processes and controls reduce costly incidents.
- Insurance benefits: Some cyber insurers offer lower premiums to certified organizations.
- Faster deals & renewals: Less back-and-forth on vendor security questionnaires saves both sales and legal time.
Strategic Growth & Longevity:
- Foundation for scaling: Certifications help early/mid-size companies build scalable governance structures.
- M&A readiness: Certified organizations are more attractive acquisition targets due to reduced compliance risk.
- Future-proofing: Certifications often align with or anticipate regulatory requirements (e.g., ISO 27701 for privacy).
Mirai Security helps you confidently navigate the complexities of Compliance Certification. Our objective is to get you audit-ready.
Alignment with a recognized security standard is a crucial component of any digital transformation.
Compliance frameworks demonstrate your security commitment to the global market.
Certification is not a simple process, but it's one we understand well.
Mirai Security is the first cybersecurity engineering firm with certified specialists in incident response, security testing, cloud security, governance, risk & compliance, application security, and human risk. We have extensive experience designing security architectures in highly regulated industries such as telecom, finance, critical infrastructure, and healthcare.