ShiftControl helps small and medium businesses simplify security, identity management, and cost control for their cloud-based apps. For a B2B SaaS product dealing with extremely sensitive admin access, SOC 2 compliance wasn't optional—it was essential.

The Problem

"We've had businesses tell us they can't buy our product if we don't have it," explains the co-founder of ShiftControl. As a bootstrapped post-revenue startup with headquarters in Singapore and a team split between Singapore and Hong Kong, they needed to move fast on compliance.

The team had already tried to tackle compliance using another free platform. Despite having experience in this area, they found the process overwhelming. "The examples, templates, and actions were generic and didn't work for our business," they recall.

For a company dealing with extremely sensitive admin access, demonstrating security wasn't just about closing deals—it was about building trust. They wanted to be ready with compliance before customers even asked.

The Solution

When ShiftControl discovered Comp AI, they found a fundamentally different approach. Instead of generic templates, Comp AI provided guidance tailored to their specific business needs.

"Comp AI is also a startup, so there were a few rough edges we worked out together, but I found the team knowledgeable and engaging!" the co-founder notes. The team answered questions, limited the information requests, and handled much of the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

The private Slack channel integration was particularly valuable. "We're Slack users and we do the same thing with our customers. So this workflow is great because you get instant access to the people you need without having to go through a terrible customer support channel."

What impressed them most was how much happened automatically. While they still had to generate some evidence, Comp AI handled extensive evidence generation behind the scenes based on the data provided. The typically tedious back-and-forth with auditors was completely managed by Comp AI.

The Result

ShiftControl passed their SOC 2 audit in approximately six weeks—from start to finish. The achievement validated not just their compliance efforts, but their security practices from day one.

"We got the assurance that the good security practices we believed in and put into place in the company from the start are actually working," the co-founder explains. "Our secure baseline really helped us pass the audit quickly."

One pleasant surprise was the auditor scheduling. "Usually, these things get scheduled and then you have to wait, but once we were done, they got us slotted in right away!"

With SOC 2 certification in hand, the team immediately went back to potential customers who had been blocked by the compliance requirement. While the full business impact is still unfolding, they're confident about closing deals that were previously out of reach.

Conclusion

For bootstrapped startups and small businesses, ShiftControl's experience offers valuable insights about modern compliance approaches. As they put it: "If you have good SDLC practices and a decent base of security, one person could complete an audit fairly quickly with Comp AI's help."

Looking ahead, ShiftControl is already working on ISO 27001 and GDPR certifications with Comp AI. Their advice to other startups is clear: choose a partner that understands the unique constraints of smaller businesses.

"I think compliance is harder for smaller businesses with less resources and knowledge, and this is where Comp AI really shines!"

In one word, they describe their experience as: "Successful."