--- title: Free Compliance Readiness Checklist | CMMC, SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001 description: Would you pass a compliance audit today? Get the free 42-point readiness checklist covering CMMC, SOC 2, HIPAA Security, and ISO 27001 from BlueSteel Cybersecurity. image: https://go.bluesteelcyber.com/hubfs/Checklist_Cover.png --- [![BlueSteel Cybersecurity logo](https://go.bluesteelcyber.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BSC-Logo_FullColor.png?width=2500&height=836&name=BSC-Logo_FullColor.png "BlueSteel Cybersecurity logo")](https://bluesteelcyber.com) FREE CHECKLIST: CMMC • SOC 2 • HIPAA • ISO 27001 # Would you pass a compliance audit today? Most companies don't fail audits because of sophisticated attacks. They fail because nobody stopped long enough to answer basic questions: Where does our sensitive data live? Who has access? What would an assessor ask first? Get the free checklist. It has the exact questions we walk through with every new BlueSteel Cybersecurity client. Fill in the form and it lands in your inbox. ![Free Compliance Readiness Checklist for CMMC, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. See where you stand.](https://go.bluesteelcyber.com/hs-fs/hubfs/compliance-checklist-portrait-854x1800-v2.png?width=480&height=1050&name=compliance-checklist-portrait-854x1800-v2.png "Free Compliance Readiness Checklist for CMMC, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. See where you stand.") ## What's inside the checklist Five sections and 42 checkpoints, the same ones we walk through with every new BlueSteel client: ![Example page from the Compliance Readiness Checklist](https://go.bluesteelcyber.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Checklist_Cover.png?width=400&height=540&name=Checklist_Cover.png "Example page from the Compliance Readiness Checklist") ### The Universal Core 10 fundamentals every framework starts with: security ownership, asset inventory, MFA, policies, backups, incident response. ### CMMC module SPRS scores, SSP reality checks, CUI scoping, and C3PAO timeline math for defense contractors. ### SOC 2 module Trust Services Criteria selection, Type I vs. II, evidence collection, and auditor readiness. ### HIPAA Security module ePHI inventory, BAAs, and the Security Risk Analysis items OCR cites most when they're missing. ### ISO 27001 module ISMS scope, Statement of Applicability, internal audits, and certification-body planning. ### Self-scoring guide Score yourself into Audit-Ready, Foundation Built, or At Risk, and know exactly what to do next. ### The 3 expensive mistakes Buying the audit before the readiness, scoping too big, and treating compliance as a one-time project. ### Next-step plan Where to start based on your score. Most fixes are a Tuesday afternoon, not a six-figure engagement. ## Common questions The questions founders and ops leaders ask us most, before and after the checklist. We're too small to need compliance, right? Small companies are actually simpler targets, which is exactly why more contracts and customers now require compliance from small businesses. If a deal, contract, or regulator hasn't asked yet, one will. How long does SOC 2 take? Typically 2 to 4 months of readiness work, then a Type I audit (point in time) or a 3 to 12 month Type II observation window. The clock is driven by your sales commitments, so start from your deadline and work backward. Do I need CMMC Level 1 or Level 2? It depends on your contracts: Level 1 (self-assessment) covers Federal Contract Information; Level 2 (certification) is required when you handle Controlled Unclassified Information. Your contracts should state it. If you're unsure, that's the first thing to resolve. Does HIPAA apply to us if we're just the software vendor? Yes. Business associates are directly liable under HIPAA. If you create, store, or transmit ePHI on behalf of a covered entity, you need BAAs, a Security Risk Analysis, and the Security Rule safeguards. What does readiness actually cost? Far less than a failed audit or a stalled deal. Most gaps in the checklist are process fixes, not tooling purchases. The expensive mistake is buying the audit before you're ready for it. What happens after I get the checklist? Work through it and you'll know your gaps in under an hour. If you want a second set of eyes, book a free 20-minute readiness gut-check with Ali. No pitch: useful whether we ever work together or not. # Prefer your score in 3 minutes? Take the free Compliance Readiness Scorecard. Answer 13 questions and get an instant score with a personalized gap report. No sales call required. [Take the free readiness scorecard](https://go.bluesteelcyber.com/scorecard?hsLang=en) [![BlueSteel Cybersecurity logo](https://go.bluesteelcyber.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BSC-Logo_FullColor.png?width=2500&height=836&name=BSC-Logo_FullColor.png "BlueSteel Cybersecurity logo")](https://bluesteelcyber.com) © 2026. All rights reserved.