Simpra
Field notes from the Simpra team

Compliance, explained by people
who ship it.

Practical guides on SOC 2, ISO 27001, risk management, vendor questionnaires, and operating a real compliance program. No jargon, no filler.

Latest Data & Privacy 4 min read

GDPR for US-Based SaaS Selling to EU: The Short Version

Your first European customer is about to sign. Their security review mentions GDPR five times. Here's the short version — enough to close the deal and know what to ask a lawyer later.

Read article →
Archive

Every article we've published.

AI & Governance 4 min read

Why AI-Native Compliance is Actually Different

Every GRC vendor now claims to be "AI-powered." Most aren't, really. Here's the actual distinction that matters in 2026 — especially with AI...

Access Management 3 min read

The Complete Guide to Quarterly Access Reviews

The access review is the single most-tested control in SOC 2 audits. Here's how to run one in under two hours, and what auditors specificall...

Vendor Risk 3 min read

Third-Party Risk: Managing Your Sub-Processor List

Your sub-processor list is a security artifact, a legal artifact, and a sales artifact at the same time. Here's how to keep it accurate with...

Founder 4 min read

Building a Security Team of One

Most early-stage SaaS has exactly one person thinking about security: the founder. Here's how to structure that role so it doesn't become a ...

Data & Privacy 4 min read

Data Residency: A Practical Guide for Multi-Region SaaS

Your first European customer just asked where their data is stored. Your first Canadian customer wants it in Canada. Here's how to handle da...

Trends 3 min read

Continuous Compliance vs Annual Audits: The Shift Happening Now

Annual SOC 2 audits are becoming a lagging indicator. Buyers and auditors are both shifting toward continuous compliance — here's what that ...

HIPAA 4 min read

HIPAA for B2B SaaS: What You Actually Need

A hospital just asked if you're HIPAA compliant. You have no idea. Here's the short version: what HIPAA actually requires of you, and what t...

SOC 2 3 min read

Common Reasons SOC 2 Audits Get Qualified Opinions

SOC 2 audits don't really fail — they come back with qualified or adverse opinions. Here are the five patterns we see most, and how to avoid...

Founder 4 min read

The Real Cost of Compliance (And How to Budget for It)

The auditor quote is the smallest line item. Here's the full-stack cost of getting SOC 2 done in year one — including the hidden ones that e...

Policies 4 min read

How to Write an Access Control Policy That Passes Audit

Most access control policies are copy-pasted templates that auditors spot in under a minute. Here's how to write one that's actually specifi...

Vendor Questionnaires 3 min read

Vendor Questionnaires: CAIQ vs SIG vs Custom

Every buyer sends a different questionnaire format. Here's what each one actually is, where they overlap, and how to avoid answering the sam...

Penetration Testing 4 min read

A Practical Guide to Your First Penetration Test

You need a pen test. You've never done one. Here's what actually happens, what it costs, what questions to ask a pen test firm, and what to ...

Evidence Automation 3 min read

Evidence Collection: Why Screenshots Aren't Working Anymore

Auditors are tightening evidence standards. A screenshot from six months ago doesn't prove a control is running today — and they're starting...

Risk Management 4 min read

How to Build a Risk Register You'll Actually Use

Most risk registers die in the spreadsheet they were born in. Here's how to build one that survives contact with real operations — and actua...

Frameworks 3 min read

ISO 27001 vs SOC 2: Picking Your First Framework

They overlap about 60%. They're audited completely differently. Here's a decision framework for which to pursue first — and when to do both.

SOC 2 4 min read

The 7 Controls That Catch Startups Off-Guard in SOC 2

Most SOC 2 controls are obvious (encrypt stuff, log things). These seven aren't, and they're where first-time programs get caught.

SOC 2 3 min read

SOC 2 Type I vs Type II: Which One Does Your Buyer Actually Want?

The difference between Type I and Type II isn't rigor — it's time. Here's how to figure out which your buyer will accept, and when to level ...

Vendor Questionnaires 3 min read

Why Most Security Questionnaires Take a Week (And Don't Have To)

300 questions × 3 minutes each = a week of founder time. Here's where that time actually goes — and why AI drafting cuts it to under two hou...

SOC 2 4 min read

A Founder's First SOC 2: What Actually Matters in the First 60 Days

You just heard "do you have SOC 2?" on a sales call. Here's what to do in the next two months — and what to ignore while you figure out whet...