Industries
Audits, pen tests and certifications.
How to choose · Security services and compliance
Choose a provider by confirming the testers' demonstrated experience with your technology, a clearly defined scope and rules of engagement, a methodology aligned with recognised standards, and a report that gives reproducible findings with practical fixes. Be wary of vendors who sell an automated scan as a test, and agree retesting, confidentiality and data handling before work begins.
Comparison · Security services and compliance
SOC 2 is an auditor's report on controls, common with North American customers, while ISO 27001 is a certification of an information security management system, widely recognised internationally. Choose based on what your buyers ask for, your markets, and how you want to run security. Some organisations pursue both, since many controls overlap and one effort can support the other.
Cost factors · Security services and compliance
Costs track scope, depth and effort. For testing, the number of applications, user roles, integrations and the manual hours required matter most. For audits, scope, organisational size, maturity of existing controls, evidence volume and the length of any observation period drive effort. Compare quotes by deliverables and assumptions, not headline figures, and budget for remediation and retesting.
Suitability · Security services and compliance
Pursue a formal certification or audit when customers, regulators or contracts require it, or when sales cycles repeatedly stall on security reviews. Earlier on, a practical baseline of good controls, a clear policy set and a completed questionnaire may suffice. Start with a recognised baseline scheme, then move to heavier attestations as the customer base and data sensitivity grow.