What does IT compliance mean?

IT compliance means your organization meets the regulatory, legal, and contractual requirements that govern how you handle data and technology. This includes privacy laws like PIPEDA, industry standards like PCI DSS, and voluntary certifications like SOC 2. It covers everything from how you store customer data to how you manage employee access to systems.

What IT compliance frameworks apply to Canadian businesses?

The most common frameworks for Canadian mid-market companies include PIPEDA (federal privacy law), PHIPA (Ontario health data), SOC 2 (security controls certification), PCI DSS (payment card data), and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Which ones apply depends on your industry, the type of data you handle, and your clients’ contractual requirements.

What does a managed IT provider do for compliance?

A managed IT provider handles gap assessments, policy development, technical controls implementation, continuous monitoring, evidence collection, and audit support. They deploy and manage the security tools compliance requires, like EDR, MFA, encryption, and audit logging, and maintain the documentation auditors need to verify your controls.

How much does IT compliance cost?

Costs vary significantly based on which frameworks apply and your current maturity level. A SOC 2 Type II audit alone can cost $20,000–$100,000+ depending on scope. Ongoing compliance management through a managed provider typically runs $2,000–$10,000 per month for mid-market companies, covering monitoring, evidence collection, policy maintenance, and remediation.

Is IT compliance the same as cybersecurity?

No. Cybersecurity is one component of IT compliance, but compliance extends beyond security. It also covers data privacy, access governance, vendor risk management, documentation, HR processes like onboarding and offboarding, and financial controls like PCI DSS. You can have strong cybersecurity and still fail a compliance audit if your policies and documentation are not in order.

How do I know if my business is compliant?

The only way to know for certain is through a formal gap assessment against the frameworks that apply to your business. This maps your current controls, policies, and processes against specific compliance requirements and identifies where you fall short. If you have never had one done, that is the place to start.