Question 1

What compliance does a company need to sell to the Canadian government?

Accepted Answer

To sell to the Canadian government or healthcare institutions, companies typically need to complete a Threat & Risk Assessment (TRA) and a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA). If handling personal information, PIPEDA compliance is required. For health data in Ontario, PHIPA applies. SecuritComply has built-in TRA and PIA modules designed for Canadian government contracts.

Question 2

What is CPCSC and do Canadian defence contractors need it?

Accepted Answer

CPCSC (Canadian Program for Cyber Security Certification) is Canada's equivalent to the US CMMC program. Level 1 requires annual self-assessment of 15 basic cyber hygiene controls (based on FAR 52.204-21). Level 2 requires third-party assessment by a certified C3PAO and covers 110 controls based on NIST SP 800-171. Canadian defence contractors handling federal contract information or CUI need CPCSC certification.

Question 3

What compliance frameworks are required for Canadian healthcare companies?

Accepted Answer

Canadian healthcare companies must comply with PHIPA (Ontario Personal Health Information Protection Act) for patient data in Ontario. If serving US customers, HIPAA applies. A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is required before deploying new systems handling personal health information. Vendor risk assessments are also required for any third parties touching patient data.

Question 4

What is the cheapest way for a Canadian startup to get SOC 2 certified?

Accepted Answer

The most affordable path to SOC 2 for a Canadian startup is to use a GRC platform like SecuritComply to manage controls and collect evidence, then hire a licensed CPA firm to conduct the audit. SOC 2 Type I (point-in-time) is faster and cheaper than Type II (6-12 month observation period). SecuritComply typically comes in 50 to 70% below typical quotes for US-based GRC tools like Vanta or Drata, and keeps your compliance data in Canada.

Question 5

What compliance does an AI company in Canada need?

Accepted Answer

AI companies in Canada should consider ISO 42001 (AI Management System standard), NIST AI RMF (for US federal customers), Canada AIDA (Artificial Intelligence and Data Act, Bill C-27), and the EU AI Act (for products sold in Europe). SecuritComply supports all four AI compliance frameworks natively.

Question 6

Does compliance data need to stay in Canada?

Accepted Answer

For many Canadian organizations, yes, especially those subject to PHIPA, federal government contracts, or organizations handling sensitive personal information under PIPEDA. US-based GRC platforms like Vanta and Drata store data on US servers. SecuritComply is hosted entirely in Canada, making it the only GRC platform that satisfies Canadian data residency requirements.

What's your situation?

Selling to Government or Healthcare

Canadian Defence Contractor

SaaS Startup Pursuing SOC 2

Healthcare Company

Fintech & Financial Services

Company Building AI Products

Expanding Internationally or Upmarket

Not sure where to start?