United States
Compliance guides for US companies
Pages for US start-ups, SMEs and growth companies preparing SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 for a buyer, an investor, a contract or a new market.
Pages in this section
- How US Start-ups Answer Security Questionnaires FastHow US start-ups return buyer security questionnaires fast and accurately: one answer library, clear owners, evidence, and SOC 2 or ISO 27001 attachments.
- Do US Companies Need Both SOC 2 and ISO 27001?When a US start-up needs SOC 2, ISO 27001 or both: seven situations, how one build serves both, which comes first, cost, and our recommendation.
- First-Year Compliance Roadmap for a US Start-upA quarter-by-quarter plan for a US start-up's first compliance year: baseline, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and when HIPAA, PCI DSS or ISO 42001 come in.
- HIPAA Security Rule for US Health-Tech Start-upsDoes the HIPAA Security Rule reach your start-up? Required vs addressable, the safeguards in plain English, common gaps and a six-month plan.
- HIPAA vs SOC 2: What US Health-Tech Start-ups NeedHIPAA is a legal duty; SOC 2 is a CPA-issued report. How they differ for US health buyers, where the work overlaps, and which to do first.
- ISO 13485 and FDA's QMSR: What US Device Makers Need to KnowFDA's QMSR incorporates ISO 13485:2016 and took effect February 2, 2026. What it adds, who it covers and why a certificate is not FDA clearance.
- ISO 13485 Cost and Timeline for US Medtech Start-upsWhat drives ISO 13485 cost and time for US medtech start-ups: design controls, sites, suppliers and device class, plus typical phases and what is included.
- ISO 27001 Cost for US Start-ups: What You Pay and What Drives ItWhat a first ISO 27001 certification costs a US start-up, what the all-inclusive fee covers, what moves it, and how later-year audits are billed.
- ISO 27001 Timeline for US Companies: How Long Certification TakesA stage-by-stage ISO 27001 timeline for US start-ups: what sets the date, what delays it, and how to plan backwards from a customer deadline.
- ISO 42001 and the EU AI Act for US CompaniesWhen the EU AI Act reaches US AI companies, what an ISO/IEC 42001 certificate does and does not show, and what to tell European customers.
- ISO 42001 Explained for US AI CompaniesWhy US buyers, federal agencies and Colorado law push AI companies toward ISO/IEC 42001, what a certificate proves, and how Sterling gets you there.
- ISO 42001 vs NIST AI RMF: Which Do US AI Companies Need?NIST AI RMF is a voluntary US framework; ISO/IEC 42001 is certifiable. What US agencies, Colorado and buyers expect, and how to run one program for both.
- ISO 9001 Cost for US Companies: What You Pay and WhyWhat a first ISO 9001 certification costs a US start-up or SME, what the all-inclusive fee covers, what moves it, and what later years add.
- ISO 9001 for US Government and Defense SuppliersWhere ISO 9001 appears in US federal contracts, why it does not satisfy CMMC, what flows down to subcontractors and how to plan both tracks.
- PCI DSS 4.0.1 Requirements in Plain English for US BusinessesWhat PCI DSS 4.0.1 requires of US merchants and SaaS companies: six goals, what changed in 4.x, and the fastest route to validation.
- PCI DSS for US SaaS Companies: Scope, Roles and Buyer RequestsWhen PCI DSS applies to a US SaaS company: merchant vs service provider, cutting scope, shared responsibility and what enterprise buyers request.
- PCI DSS SAQ Types Explained: Which One Your US Business NeedsSAQ A, A-EP, B, C, P2PE, SPoC and D in plain English: how your card data flow decides the form, what v4.x changed and who confirms it.
- PCI DSS SAQ vs ROC: Which Route Your US Business NeedsSelf-assessment or a QSA report? Who decides for US businesses, how the routes differ, when a ROC is likely and how to hit a contract deadline.
- SOC 2 Bridge Letters: Covering the Gap for US CustomersWhat a SOC 2 bridge letter is, what it can and cannot say, when US customers request one, and how overlapping report periods avoid the gap.
- SOC 2 Cost for US Start-ups: What You Pay and What Changes ItWhat a first SOC 2 report costs a US start-up, what the all-inclusive fee covers, and which scope choices move the quote.
- SOC 2 for Series A: What Founders Need and WhenDo you need SOC 2 for a Series A? How investors and buyers differ, Type 1 vs Type 2, scope, timeline and cost drivers, plus our recommendation.
- SOC 2 Timeline for US Start-ups: How Long Each Stage TakesHow long a first SOC 2 report takes a US start-up: preparation, the Type 2 observation period, CPA fieldwork and the report, and what speeds each stage.
- SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2: Which Report US Buyers ExpectSOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 compared for US start-ups: what each covers, how US buyers read them, when a Type 1 pays and when to go straight to a Type 2.
- SOC 2 vs ISO 27001 for US Companies: Which to Start WithSOC 2 vs ISO 27001 for US start-ups: who issues each, why US buyers push vendors for proof, how one control build serves both, and where to start.
- Compliance Tool vs Consulting for US Start-upsCompliance software or done-for-you consulting for SOC 2 and ISO 27001? Who does each task, how to compare total cost, and what to ask any provider.
- Trust Center Checklist for US SaaS and Start-upsWhat US start-ups should put on a trust center, what to gate or keep private, and how to describe SOC 2 and ISO 27001 status accurately to buyers.
- Vendor Risk Reviews Explained for US Start-upsHow US buyers' vendor risk reviews work, the federal rules behind them, what reviewers read in your evidence, and how to be review-ready before a deal.
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Compliance for US Growth Companies, Done for You
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