Professional services firms don’t need to comply with every security framework—but they do need a defensible baseline. For most firms with 10–25 employees, that baseline is the CIS Critical Security Controls, with additional standards like PCI-DSS or SOC 2 applying only in specific situations. In practice, most firms can reach a compliant, auditable security posture in 60–120 days, at an average managed IT cost of $125–$175 per user per month, depending on scope and documentation requirements.
The key is knowing which standards actually apply to your business—and avoiding overpaying for ones that don’t.
Quick Definitions
PCI-DSS: A standard for entities that store, process, or transmit cardholder data.
SOC 2: An AICPA standard focused on five Trust Services Criteria.
CIS Controls: A prioritized set of cybersecurity best practices (widely recommended as a baseline).
Step 1: Start With CIS Controls as Your Foundation
For small and mid-sized professional services firms (legal, accounting, insurance, consulting), CIS Controls v8 is the most practical and widely accepted framework.
Why CIS Controls matter:
They define “reasonable security” in plain language
They map to cyber insurance requirements
They support FTC Safeguards expectations
They are achievable without disrupting daily operations
Most firms should target CIS IG1 or IG2, not enterprise-level security.
Step 2: Know When PCI-DSS Actually Applies
PCI-DSS is not universal. It only applies if your firm:
Processes credit card payments
Stores cardholder data
Manages payment portals or POS systems
If you outsource payments properly, your PCI scope may be minimal. If you don’t, compliance becomes a real risk—both financially and legally. Please keep in mind, that even if you simply process credit card payments using an outside service you absolutely have PCI-DSS requirements that you must follow.
Step 3: Understand Where SOC 2 Fits (and Where It Doesn’t)
SOC 2 is not a requirement for most professional services firms. However, some cyber-insurance policies may require it as a matter of course.
SOC 2 is typically required when:
You are a technology provider
You host or manage client data as a service (personally identifying information)
Your clients contractually demand it
Many firms mistakenly pursue SOC 2 when CIS Controls + documentation would meet their real obligations at a fraction of the cost.
Step 4: Implement the Right Controls (Without Breaking the Business)
Compliance fails when security is layered on after workflows are built.
A business-first compliance approach includes:
MFA for email and remote access
Managed endpoint security and patching
Secure, tested backups
Logging and visibility
Policies that reflect how your firm actually works
Security should support productivity—not slow it down.
Step 5: Document, Test, and Maintain Compliance
Compliance isn’t just technical—it’s needs to be provable!
Most firms need:
Incident response policy
Acceptable use policy
Backup and disaster recovery documentation
Ongoing reviews as staff, tools, and workflows change
This documentation is what protects you during:
Client security questionnaires
Cyber insurance renewals
Regulatory reviews
Legal disputes after incidents
CIS-Driven Compliance Without Overengineering
A 14-employee accounting and advisory firm began receiving client security questionnaires asking about MFA, incident response plans, and data protection controls. They were unsure whether they needed SOC 2, PCI-DSS, or something else entirely—and were concerned about cost and disruption.
Instead of pursuing an unnecessary certification, the firm aligned to CIS Controls IG1 over a 75-day period. This included:
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Enabling MFA across email and remote access
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Standardizing endpoint security and patching
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Implementing secure, tested backups
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Documenting incident response and acceptable use policies
The result:
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Passed client security reviews without exceptions
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Renewed cyber insurance with no premium increase
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Avoided the cost and overhead of SOC 2
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Maintained normal day-to-day workflows with no productivity loss
This approach gave the firm documented, defensible security aligned with real business risk—not a checkbox exercise.
The Bottom Line
Most professional services firms don’t need SOC 2.
Some need PCI-DSS.
All need CIS-aligned, documented security.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s reasonable, defensible, and auditable security that protects your business and client trust.
