# Agency Blog

> Expert perspectives on cybersecurity compliance, governance, and trust — from the team at Agency.

## About

Agency helps companies achieve and maintain SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS compliance. This blog covers compliance strategy, audit preparation, cost analysis, and industry insights.

- Website: https://getagency.com
- Blog: https://blog.getagency.com

## Pillar Content

- [AICPA and SOC 2: The Organization Behind the Framework](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/aicpa-and-soc-2): One of the most common knowledge gaps we see when working with clients is a misunderstanding of who actually owns and governs the SOC 2 framework.
- [Building vs. Buying Your Compliance Program: A Decision Framework](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/building-vs-buying-compliance): An analytical framework for deciding whether to build an in-house compliance program or engage external advisors, with cost modeling and decision criteria.
- [CMMC Compliance: Your Complete Guide to the Certification Journey](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/cmmc-compliance): CMMC compliance requires defense contractors to prove cybersecurity maturity. Learn the three CMMC 2.0 levels, the rollout timeline, and certification path.
- [CMMC Level 2 Compliance: The Complete Guide to 110 Controls and C3PAO Assessment](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/cmmc-level-2-compliance): CMMC Level 2 requires all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls across 14 families. Compare self-assessment and C3PAO paths, SPRS scoring, and the POA&M process.
- [CMMC Requirements Explained: Levels, Controls, and What You Need to Know](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/cmmc-requirements-explained): CMMC requirements define the cybersecurity standards defense contractors must meet to handle CUI. Learn about CMMC levels, controls, and certification.
- [Complete SOC 2 Glossary: Every Term Defined](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/complete-soc-2-glossary): SOC 2 compliance involves specialized terminology spanning auditing standards, security frameworks, technical controls, and regulatory concepts that can be.
- [Cybersecurity for Car Dealerships: Protecting Against Modern Threats](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/car-dealership-cybersecurity): A practical cybersecurity guide for car dealerships: the FTC Safeguards Rule, DMS security, vendor management, training, and the CDK Global lesson.
- [FedRAMP Authorization Explained: Levels, Control Families, and the 3PAO Process](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/fedramp-authorization-explained): Understand FedRAMP authorization levels, control families, and the 3PAO assessment process. Learn how cloud providers achieve FedRAMP compliance.
- [First SOC 2 Audit for Fintech Startups: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/first-soc-2-audit-fintech-startups): For fintech startups — whether building payment processing, lending platforms, banking-as-a-service infrastructure, investment tools, or insurance technology —.
- [GDPR Compliance: What You Need to Know](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/gdpr-what-you-need-to-know): A practical GDPR overview for US companies: key principles, lawful bases, data subject rights, breach notification, and transfers — plus SOC 2 overlap.
- [GRC Manager Salary & True Cost in 2026 (It's 2–3× the Offer Letter)](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/grc-manager-salary-and-true-cost): GRC manager salaries span $95K–$267K+ in 2026, but fully loaded the real cost is 2–3× the offer. The full cost model, and how it compares to a managed team.
- [HIPAA Compliance for Startups: A Practical Guide](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/hipaa-compliance-for-startups): A practical HIPAA guide for healthcare startups: the Privacy and Security Rules, breach notification, BAAs, technical safeguards, and common mistakes.
- [HIPAA Cybersecurity Requirements: Technical Safeguards, Passwords, and IT Security](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/hipaa-cybersecurity-requirements): Understand HIPAA cybersecurity requirements including technical safeguards, password policies, encryption standards, and IT security best practices.
- [How Much Does a SOC 2 Penetration Test Cost in 2026?](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-penetration-test-cost-2026): Real 2026 penetration testing prices by scope, sourced from vendors who publish them — plus what drives cost, why the cheapest AI tier can fail your audit, and the hidden fees buyers discover late.
- [How to Build an Information Security Management Program (ISMP)](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/information-security-management-program): Learn how to build an information security management program from scratch. Covers ISMP components, framework alignment, and measuring effectiveness.
- [How to Hire a GRC Manager in 2026: Job Description, Interview Questions & the Vanta/Drata Reality](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/how-to-hire-a-grc-manager): How to hire a GRC manager who can actually run Vanta or Drata: the real role, must-have skills, a job description template, and interview questions.
- [How to Maintain SOC 2 Compliance in 2026](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/how-to-maintain-soc-2-compliance-2026): SOC 2 compliance maintenance gets harder over time as controls drift. A definitive guide to preventing drift with continuous monitoring, audit-ready operations, and compliance management best practices that keep you in good standing year-round.
- [In-House vs. Managed GRC: A Decision Framework for Vanta & Drata Teams](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/in-house-vs-managed-grc-decision-framework): A genuinely balanced decision framework for staffing your compliance program — six criteria to score, the cases where hiring in-house really wins, the cases where a managed team wins, and what to demand from any managed provider.
- [ISO 27001 Certification Cost: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/iso-27001-certification-cost): Understand the factors that drive ISO 27001 certification cost in 2026, from consultant fees to audit costs. Learn what to budget for and how to reduce spend.
- [ISO 27001 Requirements Checklist: Everything You Need for Certification](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/iso-27001-requirements-checklist): Use this ISO 27001 requirements checklist to prepare for certification. Covers mandatory clauses, Annex A controls, implementation roadmap, and documentation.
- [ISO 27001 Risk Register Explained: Building and Maintaining Your Risk Assessment](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/iso-27001-risk-register-explained): How to build and maintain an ISO 27001 risk register: identification methodology, assessment criteria, treatment options, ownership, and upkeep.
- [Multi-Framework Compliance Strategy: Pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA Together](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/multi-framework-compliance-strategy): How to design one compliance program spanning SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA: control mapping, framework sequencing, and cutting redundant work.
- [NIST 800-171 Compliance Guide: Controls, SSP Templates, and Certification](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/nist-800-171-compliance-guide): Master NIST 800-171 compliance with this guide to all 110 controls, SSP templates, SPRS scoring, and the certification process for government contractors.
- [PCI DSS Compliance Guide: Levels, Requirements, and How to Become Compliant](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/pci-dss-compliance-guide): Learn how to become PCI compliant with this guide to PCI DSS levels, all 12 requirements, attestation of compliance, and service provider obligations.
- [SOC 2 and GDPR: Managing Both for Global SaaS Companies](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-and-gdpr-global-saas): At Agency, we work with SaaS companies selling internationally who face a dual compliance challenge that often feels like managing two separate programs: US.
- [SOC 2 and PCI DSS: How Fintech Companies Handle Both](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-and-pci-dss-fintech): Most fintech companies that process, store, or transmit payment card data need both SOC 2 and PCI DSS — and what we recommend is building a single compliance.
- [SOC 2 Certification: Is SOC 2 Actually a Certification?](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-certification-is-soc-2-a-certification): One of the most common questions we hear from clients early in their compliance journey is whether SOC 2 is a certification. The short answer: it is not.
- [SOC 2 Compliance Requirements: Everything You Need to Know](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-compliance-requirements): SOC 2 compliance requires your organization to demonstrate that security controls satisfying the AICPA's Trust Service Criteria are designed, implemented,.
- [SOC 2 Compliance Timeline: What to Expect at Every Stage](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-compliance-timeline): A detailed breakdown of the SOC 2 compliance timeline from initial planning through report delivery, with realistic durations for each phase.
- [SOC 2 for Cloud Infrastructure Providers](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-for-cloud-infrastructure-providers): Cloud infrastructure providers, hosting companies, IaaS/PaaS platforms, and managed service providers face the most scrutinized SOC 2 reports in the market.
- [SOC 2 for DevTools and Developer Platforms](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-for-devtools-developer-platforms): At Agency, we work with dozens of developer tools companies navigating SOC 2 — and the challenges they face are fundamentally different from a typical SaaS company.
- [SOC 2 for EdTech: What We Tell Education Technology Companies About Compliance](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-for-edtech-education-technology): SOC 2 for EdTech: how student data, FERPA, and COPPA reshape compliance, plus the controls school-district procurement teams actually scrutinize.
- [SOC 2 for Healthcare SaaS: What Healthtech Companies Need to Know](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-for-healthcare-saas-healthtech): Healthtech companies need SOC 2 in addition to HIPAA because the two frameworks serve different but complementary purposes.
- [SOC 2 for HR Tech: What Workforce Software Companies Need](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-for-hr-tech-workforce-software): At Agency, we work with HR technology companies that process some of the most sensitive data in the enterprise software landscape — Social Security numbers,.
- [SOC 2 for Payment Processing Companies](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-for-payment-processing-companies): Why payment processors need SOC 2 alongside PCI DSS: where the two overlap, which criteria matter, scoping pitfalls, and building one unified program.
- [SOC 2 in Due Diligence: What Investors and Enterprise Buyers Actually Check](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-in-due-diligence-what-investors-check): What reviewers actually open your SOC 2 report to check during fundraising and enterprise procurement — the six items they verify in order, sample due diligence questionnaire items, and which findings reprice a deal.
- [SOC 2 Readiness for Fundraising SaaS Startups](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-readiness-for-fundraising-saas-startups): A practical guide to SOC 2 compliance services for fundraising-stage SaaS startups — what readiness actually involves, why investors and enterprise buyers ask for it, and how a done-for-you team gets you audit-ready 3–4× faster.
- [SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria Explained: The Complete Guide](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-trust-service-criteria-explained): The Trust Service Criteria (TSC) are the standardized control framework defined by the AICPA that every SOC 2 audit evaluates against.
- [SOC 2 vs HIPAA: How They Compare for Healthcare Data](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-vs-hipaa-comparison): SOC 2 vs HIPAA compared: the fundamental differences, where the two overlap, why healthtech companies need both, and how to run one combined program.
- [SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: Which Certification Should You Get First?](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-vs-iso-27001-which-certification-should-you-get-first): SOC 2 or ISO 27001 first? A decision framework based on where you sell, plus how pursuing one reduces the work for the other and the right sequencing.
- [SOC 2 vs SOC 1: Key Differences Explained](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-vs-soc-1-differences): SOC 1 and SOC 2 are both audit frameworks governed by the AICPA, but they evaluate completely different things.
- [SOC 2 vs SOC 1: Key Differences for Buyers](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/soc-2-vs-soc-1-key-differences-for-buyers): One of the most common questions we get at Agency is whether a company needs SOC 1 or SOC 2 — and the confusion is understandable.
- [Switching from Drata to Vanta (or Vanta to Drata): Migration Guide, Costs, and Gotchas](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/switching-drata-to-vanta-migration-guide): A practical migration guide for switching between Drata and Vanta — what transfers and what doesn't, how to remap evidence and controls, the audit-window trap, real costs, and the contract terms to check first.
- [The Managed Compliance Buyer's Checklist: 25 Questions to Ask Before You Sign](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/managed-compliance-buyers-checklist-25-questions): Twenty-five questions to ask any managed compliance provider before you sign — covering scope, staffing, platform lock-in, evidence SLAs, auditor independence, and pricing, with the good answer and the red flag for each.
- [Top 7 SOC 2 Services for SaaS Startups in 2026](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/top-soc-2-services-for-saas-startups-2026): A ranked comparison of the top SOC 2 compliance services for SaaS startups in 2026 — readiness and maintenance providers compared on startup fit, ongoing support, and implementation depth, from automation platforms to done-for-you managed teams.
- [Vendor Risk Management: The Complete Guide to Third-Party Risk Programs](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/vendor-risk-management): How to build a vendor risk management program: risk tiering, assessment instruments, continuous monitoring, and fourth-party risk across the lifecycle.
- [What Does Vanta Do? A Complete Guide to the Compliance Automation Platform](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/what-does-vanta-do): Vanta automates security compliance — continuously collecting evidence, monitoring controls, and managing frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. This complete guide explains exactly what Vanta does, how it works, and how Agency, the number one Vanta partner globally, gets you live on it faster.
- [What Enterprise Banks Expect from Your Fintech SOC 2 Report](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/what-enterprise-banks-expect-fintech-soc-2): Enterprise banks evaluate fintech SOC 2 reports differently than other enterprise buyers.
- [What Is SOC 2 and How Do You Get It? The Complete Guide](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/what-is-soc-2-how-to-get-it): A complete SOC 2 guide for companies starting from scratch: what it is, who needs it, the Trust Service Criteria, the audit process, and what it costs.
- [What Is SOC 2 Type II? Definition, Process, and Timeline](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/what-is-soc-2-type-ii): What a SOC 2 Type II report is and how it differs from Type I: what the report contains, how the observation period works, and the full timeline.
- [Your First SOC 2 Audit: A Complete Roadmap for SaaS Companies](https://blog.getagency.com/articles/first-soc-2-audit-complete-roadmap): A step-by-step roadmap for SaaS companies preparing for their first SOC 2 Type II audit, from scoping through certification and beyond.

## Topics

- [Agency News & Perspectives](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/agency-news): Updates, perspectives, and commentary from the Agency team.
- [Audit Insights & Preparation](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/audit-insights): Advisory wisdom from hundreds of audits: what to expect and how to prepare.
- [Client Stories & Case Studies](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/client-stories): Real outcomes from compliance engagements, with before-and-after analysis.
- [Compliance Economics & ROI](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/compliance-economics): Building the business case for compliance investment and budget justification.
- [Compliance Operations](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/compliance-operations): Running your compliance program after certification: maintenance, monitoring, and renewal.
- [Compliance Strategy & Roadmaps](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/compliance-strategy): When to start, how to sequence, and whether to build or buy your compliance program.
- [Industry Perspectives](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/industry-perspectives): Compliance advisory insights by vertical: fintech, healthtech, AI, and more.
- [Leadership & Governance](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/leadership-governance): Board-level perspectives on security governance, risk management, and compliance leadership.
- [Multi-Framework & Cross-Compliance](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/multi-framework): Strategies for pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and other frameworks together.
- [Startup & Growth-Stage Compliance](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/startup-compliance): First-time compliance guidance for startups navigating resource constraints and founder decisions.
- [Tools, Platforms & Technology](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/tools-technology): Evaluating GRC platforms, automation tools, and compliance technology.
- [Trends & Market Insights](https://blog.getagency.com/topics/trends-insights): Emerging trends in cybersecurity compliance and the evolving regulatory landscape.

## Full Index

- [All 185 articles](https://blog.getagency.com/llms-full.txt)