Compliance frameworks provide structured sets of security and privacy requirements that organizations must meet to achieve certification. DSALTA supports multiple frameworks, allowing you to manage all your compliance needs in one platform.
What Are Compliance Frameworks?
A compliance framework is a structured set of guidelines, controls, and best practices designed to ensure organizations meet specific security, privacy, or regulatory requirements. Each framework serves different purposes and audiences:
Industry Standards: Demonstrate security practices to customers and partners (SOC 2, ISO 27001) Regulatory Compliance: Meet legal requirements for specific industries or regions (HIPAA, GDPR) Security Benchmarks: Implement recognized security controls (CIS, NIST)
Frameworks Available in DSALTA
DSALTA supports 15+ compliance frameworks across different categories:
Security & Trust Frameworks
SOC 2: The most common framework for SaaS companies, focused on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Required by many enterprise customers.
ISO 27001: International standard for information security management systems. Recognized globally and often required for international business.
ISO 27017: Cloud-specific extension of ISO 27001, focusing on cloud service security.
ISO 27018: Privacy controls for cloud computing, particularly relevant for organizations handling personal data in the cloud.
Privacy & Data Protection
GDPR: European Union regulation for data privacy and protection. Required for any organization handling EU residents' data.
CCPA/CPRA: California privacy regulations. Relevant for businesses serving California residents.
HIPAA: Healthcare privacy and security requirements for organizations handling protected health information.
Financial & Payment Security
PCI DSS: Payment card industry security standards for organizations handling credit card data.
SOX: Financial reporting controls, primarily for publicly traded companies.
Government & Sector-Specific
FedRAMP: Required for cloud services used by US federal agencies.
NIST CSF: Cybersecurity framework widely used by government contractors and critical infrastructure.
NIST AI RMF: Risk management framework for artificial intelligence systems.
CMMC: Cybersecurity maturity model certification required for Department of Defense contractors.
Industry-Specific Standards
CIS Controls: Center for Internet Security's prioritized security actions.
TISAX: Automotive industry information security assessment.
23 NYCRR 500: New York financial services cybersecurity regulation.
[Screenshot needed: Frameworks page showing available frameworks with categories]
How Frameworks Work in DSALTA
Each framework in DSALTA consists of:
Controls: Specific security requirements you must implement (e.g., "Multi-factor authentication is required")
Evidence Requirements: Documentation or proof needed to demonstrate control implementation
Tests: Automated checks that verify controls are working correctly
Policies: Written procedures and standards that document your approach
Audit Criteria: Specific elements auditors will evaluate during certification
Framework Relationships and Overlap
Many frameworks share similar requirements. For example:
Access control requirements appear in SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR
Encryption requirements are common across most frameworks
Incident response procedures are nearly universal
DSALTA's intelligent mapping recognizes these overlaps. When you implement a control for SOC 2, DSALTA automatically:
Maps it to equivalent controls in other active frameworks
Reuses evidence across multiple frameworks
Shows which frameworks each control satisfies
This means implementing your second framework requires significantly less work than your first.
Framework Progress Tracking
For each active framework, DSALTA displays:
Completion Percentage: Overall progress toward full implementation
Control Status Breakdown: How many controls are completed, in progress, or not started
Evidence Completeness: Percentage of required evidence collected
Test Results: Automated test pass/fail rates
Readiness Score: Assessment of audit readiness
These metrics help you understand where you stand and what needs attention.
Framework Recommendations
When you first access the Frameworks page, DSALTA provides personalized recommendations based on:
Your industry and business model
Organization size and maturity
Geographic location and data handling
Customer requirements (if indicated)
Recommended frameworks appear with a "Recommended" badge, but you can explore and activate any framework regardless of recommendations.
Certification vs. Compliance
Understanding the difference:
Compliance: Meeting framework requirements and having evidence to prove it. You can be compliant without formal certification.
Certification: Official attestation from a third-party auditor that you meet framework requirements. Required for many customer contracts.
DSALTA helps you achieve both. Use the platform to become compliant, then engage an auditor when you're ready for formal certification.
Choosing Your Frameworks
Consider these factors when selecting frameworks:
Customer Requirements: What do your customers require in security questionnaires or contracts?
Industry Standards: What's expected in your industry? (SaaS companies typically start with SOC 2)
Geographic Scope: Do you serve customers in specific regions? (EU = GDPR, California = CCPA)
Regulatory Obligations: Are you in a regulated industry? (Healthcare = HIPAA, Finance = SOX/PCI)
Business Goals: Are you pursuing government contracts (FedRAMP) or international expansion (ISO 27001)?
Multi-Framework Strategy
Most organizations implement multiple frameworks over time:
Year 1: SOC 2 (customer requirement) + GDPR (EU customers)
Year 2: Add ISO 27001 (international expansion)
Year 3: Add industry-specific frameworks as needed
DSALTA's overlapping control mapping makes this progression efficient—each additional framework builds on previous work.
Framework Lifecycle
Frameworks aren't one-time achievements:
Initial Implementation: 3-6 months to first certification
Continuous Compliance: Ongoing monitoring and evidence collection
Annual Audits: Yearly recertification to maintain credentials
Framework Updates: Periodic standard updates requiring control adjustments
DSALTA supports you through the entire lifecycle, not just initial certification.