This is a question that comes up often when we speak with clients. In a fast-paced world where data and tech are evolving rapidly, many organizations are ready to scale just as fast. This often requires multiple certifications to build client (or potential client) trust.
Maybe it’s a SOC 2 certification or an ISO 27001 certification. Maybe GDPR and HIPAA. The challenge isn’t deciding if to pursue them but how. You don’t have unlimited time, and the pressure is on to stand out from those who are lagging behind on their certification pursuits. So, does it make sense to try to pack more than one certification (and, in turn, audit) in a short timeframe?
Overlap in Certifications Creates Time Efficiency
SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, and other compliance frameworks are often more alike than they seem. While each framework has its own emphasis, they largely address similar areas of the business—such as security, governance, and controls—but through different lenses depending on the specific objectives and context of the certification. You’ll see recurring themes: how you manage data, handle incidents, train your team, and review policies. These frameworks often evaluate leadership structures, internal execution, communication protocols, and ongoing improvement. There’s a shared backbone of accountability and process.
At Decrypt Compliance, we work with clients to identify where those overlaps exist to effectively ensure compliance with our unified audit methodology. Instead of running through five different audit processes in isolation, we design a strategy that highlights shared controls and reduces duplicative work. For startups that need to move fast, that matters. It’s not about checking boxes. It’s about understanding how your current controls support multiple standards simultaneously, then building the right documentation and processes to demonstrate it.
Preparing Your Team for the “All-in” Approach of Pursuing Multiple Certifications Simultaneously
While the benefits are clear, there’s no denying that running multiple audits in parallel requires your team to be ready to go all in. Leadership must be aligned, decision-makers must be available, and your documentation should already reflect a strong baseline. These audits evaluate how management communicates, the structure of meetings, the sharing of information, the consistency and transparency of decision-making, and other key aspects.
Most frameworks will want to see records from board meetings, executive communications, and operational leadership. If your team has never had to formalize this information, the lift will be heavier. But if you’re already doing the work and just haven’t structured it for an audit yet, we’ll help identify areas of improvement as you prepare for your audit to create a fuller picture. The “all-in” approach works best when you’re prepared to commit to the process.
Streamlining Certification Audits
Once you’re ready, the audits themselves can be more streamlined. We don’t waste time separating efforts when the underlying policies apply across multiple frameworks. We help your team understand what each audit is looking for and how your current controls meet those expectations.
Audit findings often affect more than one standard. A gap in access control might appear in your SOC 2 report, but it could just as easily apply to ISO 27001 or another framework or certification. That’s why it’s important to have one audit firm reviewing the entire compliance landscape. Instead of siloed findings and disjointed action items, you’ll get a single path forward that aligns your compliance efforts with how your company actually operates.
Experience Rapid Compliance at the Ready
Decrypt Compliance helps companies pursue multiple certifications efficiently to bring rapid compliance to the table. We’ve built our approach to avoid delays, eliminate redundant work, and surface what matters across every framework. If you’re ready to take your compliance seriously without slowing down your business, we’re ready to be your advisor. Contact Decrypt Compliance and tap into your rapid compliance needs.
