SOC 2
SaaS and technology companies whose enterprise customers require it before signing.
Cybersecurity Compliance Services, From Gap Analysis to Certification
Most organizations come to us with one of three problems: a customer sent them a security questionnaire they can't answer, a DoD contract now requires CMMC certification, or they've set a SOC 2 deadline and don't know where to start. SideChannel manages the entire compliance process, from identifying which framework you need through gap analysis, remediation, evidence collection, and audit or certification.
Our methodology blends Big Four audit practices with DoD information assurance standards, delivered at a cost that works for mid-market organizations.
Which Compliance Framework Do You Need?
The framework that applies depends on your industry, your customers, and what's being required of you.
CMMC
DoD contractors and subcontractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
HIPAA
Healthcare organizations and business associates handling protected health information (PHI).
ISO 27001
Companies selling internationally or into enterprise accounts that require a globally recognized certification.
NIST CSF
Organizations building a security program for internal governance or board reporting.
NIST 800-171
Organizations handling CUI for federal agencies outside DoD.
PCI DSS
Any organization that processes, stores, or transmits cardholder data.
SOX
Public companies with IT general controls requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley.
SEC cyber regulations
Publicly traded companies subject to cyber incident disclosure rules.
Not sure which applies? That's what the first conversation is for.
We will pinpoint your framework. Tell us your industry, your customers, and what is being asked of you, and we will tell you what the path looks like.
What a SideChannel Compliance Engagement Looks Like
Framework Identification and Scoping
We determine which framework(s) apply to your business and define what's in scope, which systems, data flows, and processes the compliance requirement covers.
Gap Analysis
We assess your current controls against the framework requirements and deliver a gap report with prioritized remediation items, effort estimates, and owner assignments. Most organizations have more in place than they realize; the gap analysis tells you exactly what's left to build.
Remediation
Your vCISO drives remediation and does the hands-on work: policy writing, control implementation, vendor reviews, and evidence collection. Timeline varies by framework and starting point.
Audit or Certification Readiness
We prepare your evidence package, coordinate with auditors (SOC 2, ISO 27001) or assessors (CMMC), and support you through the audit. We stay involved through the audit itself and see you through to the result.
Ongoing Maintenance
Compliance continues after certification. We maintain your program through annual renewals, control monitoring, and policy updates as frameworks and regulations change.
Regulatory Compliance and Cyber Program Design
NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF)
The most widely adopted security framework in the US. SideChannel's team co-authored Cybersecurity Risk Management: Mastering the Fundamentals Using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (Wiley). We use NIST CSF as the foundation for most security programs, mapping controls across other frameworks to reduce duplication.
SOC 2 Type I / SOC 2 Type II
Required by most enterprise SaaS buyers. SOC 2 Type I demonstrates your controls are designed correctly. Type II demonstrates they operated effectively over 6-12 months. We typically complete Type I readiness in 60-90 days.
ISO 27001
The international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). Required or strongly preferred for companies selling into European markets or enterprise accounts with international operations. We guide organizations from initial scoping through Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
PCI DSS
Required for any organization that processes, stores, or transmits credit or debit cardholder data, regardless of transaction volume. We assess your current controls against PCI DSS requirements, identify gaps across the 12 requirement domains, and support your path to either a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) or a full Report on Compliance (ROC) with a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA), depending on your merchant or service provider level.
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
Required for all DoD contractors handling FCI or CUI. CMMC 2.0 Level 2 requires a third-party assessment by a C3PAO. We prepare you for that assessment: gap analysis, remediation, System Security Plan (SSP) development, and audit coordination.
NIST 800-171 Compliance
The 110-control set underlying CMMC Level 2, required for organizations handling CUI for federal agencies. We conduct assessments, calculate your SPRS score, and manage your Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
NIST 800-53
The federal security control catalog used by US government agencies and contractors. NIST 800-53 defines controls across 20 families, from access control and incident response to supply chain risk management. We conduct 800-53 assessments, map your existing controls to the relevant baseline (Low, Moderate, or High), and develop a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for gaps. Most commonly required for federal contractors, cloud service providers seeking FedRAMP authorization, and organizations operating under federal information system requirements.
HIPAA / HITECH / HITRUST
Required for healthcare organizations and their business associates. We conduct HIPAA risk analyses, develop required policies and procedures, and support HITRUST certification for organizations that need the additional validation.
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)
IT general controls (ITGCs) required for public companies under Sarbanes-Oxley. We design and document SOX-compliant controls for access management, change management, and IT operations.
SEC Regulations
Publicly traded companies must disclose material cyber incidents and describe their cybersecurity governance programs. SideChannel is itself a public company (OTCQB: SDCH), so we understand these requirements firsthand.
GLBA | FTC Safeguards Rule
Required for financial institutions: banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, insurance companies, tax preparers, and any company that provides financial products or services to consumers. The FTC Safeguards Rule under GLBA requires a written information security program, a designated qualified individual overseeing it, and regular risk assessments. We build your GLBA-compliant security program, designate your vCISO as the qualified individual, conduct the required risk assessment, and prepare your annual board report.
NYS DFS Part 500 (operating as an authorized NY financial services virtual CISO)
Required for financial services companies licensed in New York State. We develop your cybersecurity program to meet DFS requirements and support your annual certification to the Superintendent.
How Long Does Compliance Take?
Timelines depend on the framework and your starting point. Companies with existing security controls move faster; companies starting from scratch take longer. Your gap analysis, delivered in weeks 2-4, produces a specific timeline for your situation.
Most compliance engagements run either as part of a vCISO retainer ($3,000-$12,000/month, which covers ongoing compliance management and security program leadership) or as a fixed-scope project ($15,000-$75,000 depending on framework and scope). The right structure depends on whether you need a one-time certification push or ongoing compliance management.
Weeks 1-2Framework Identification and Scoping
Weeks 2-4Gap Analysis
Weeks 4-12Remediation
Audit or Certification Readiness
Ongoing Maintenance
Click the dial to step through — hover to pause.
Strategy and infrastructure from the same team
Your vCISO owns the compliance program end to end. When remediation calls for new infrastructure, such as network segmentation or automated certificate management, the same team delivers it through Enclave, our zero-trust platform.
Compliance Services FAQ
We don't know which framework we need. Can you help us figure that out?
Yes, that's usually the first conversation. Tell us your industry, who your customers are, and what's being asked of you (a customer questionnaire, a contract requirement, or an insurance request), and we will tell you which framework applies and what the path looks like.
Do you handle the audit, or just help us prepare?
We prepare you fully and coordinate with auditors and assessors on your behalf. For SOC 2, we work with your chosen CPA firm. For CMMC, we coordinate with C3PAOs. We stay involved through the audit itself and see you through to the result.
We already have some security controls in place. Do we have to start over?
No. The gap analysis identifies what you have and what you're missing. Most organizations have more in place than they realize. The gap analysis tells you exactly what's left and in what order to build it.
Can you manage multiple frameworks at the same time?
Yes, and it's often more efficient to run them together. NIST CSF maps to SOC 2, HIPAA, and CMMC, so building controls once and mapping them to multiple frameworks reduces duplication and cost. Your vCISO designs your program to satisfy multiple requirements where possible.
What happens after we get certified?
Certification requires annual maintenance: control monitoring, policy updates, evidence collection for renewals, and keeping pace with framework updates. Your vCISO manages that ongoing program so you don't lose your certification between cycles.
Start Your Compliance Program
Tell us what is being asked of you and we will map the path, beginning with a gap analysis within two weeks.