Security Compliance Cost Estimator
Achieving security compliance certifications requires investment in policies, technology, personnel, and audits. Costs vary significantly based on the framework, company size, current security maturity, and whether you use in-house staff or consultants. This calculator provides estimates based on industry benchmarks and consulting firm surveys.
Estimate Compliance Costs
Costs are estimates based on industry averages from consulting firms, compliance platforms, and published case studies. Actual costs depend on your specific environment, existing controls, vendor choices, and audit firm pricing. Initial certification is typically more expensive than annual renewal. This is for planning purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Compliance Framework Comparison
| Framework | Typical Timeline | Audit Required? | Common Industries |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type II | 6–12 months | Yes (CPA firm) | SaaS, technology, any B2B handling customer data |
| HIPAA | 6–18 months | Self-assessment + OCR audits | Healthcare, health tech, business associates |
| PCI DSS | 3–12 months | Yes (QSA or SAQ) | Any organization processing payment cards |
| ISO 27001 | 9–18 months | Yes (accredited body) | International companies, enterprise sales |
| NIST CSF | 6–12 months | No (voluntary framework) | Federal contractors, critical infrastructure |
| GDPR | 6–18 months | DPA audits possible | Any organization with EU data subjects |
| CMMC Level 2 | 12–24 months | Yes (C3PAO) | DoD contractors handling CUI |
Cost Categories Explained
- Gap assessment: Initial evaluation of current controls vs. requirements. Identifies what needs to change.
- Technology & tooling: Security tools (SIEM, endpoint detection, encryption, access management), compliance platforms, monitoring.
- Policy & documentation: Writing security policies, procedures, risk assessments, evidence collection templates.
- Personnel: Dedicated compliance staff, security engineer time, employee security awareness training.
- Remediation: Fixing identified gaps — technical controls, process changes, vendor reviews.
- Audit & certification: External auditor fees, readiness assessments, penetration testing, certification body fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which compliance framework should we pursue first?
SOC 2 Type II is the most common starting point for B2B technology companies, as it is widely requested by enterprise customers. If you process payment cards, PCI DSS is mandatory regardless of other certifications. Healthcare organizations must address HIPAA first. ISO 27001 is preferred for international business. Many controls overlap between frameworks, so the second certification is typically 40-60% cheaper than the first.
How much does annual renewal cost?
Annual renewal typically costs 30-50% of the initial certification cost. The major ongoing expenses are the annual audit fee, continuous monitoring tools, personnel time for evidence collection, and keeping policies current. SOC 2 requires a new audit report annually. ISO 27001 has annual surveillance audits with full re-certification every 3 years.
Can we handle compliance without hiring dedicated staff?
Small companies (under 50 employees) often use a compliance platform (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe) combined with a part-time consultant instead of a full-time hire. This approach typically costs $30K-$60K per year versus $120K+ for a dedicated compliance hire. As you grow, dedicated staff becomes more cost-effective, especially if managing multiple frameworks.