Certification as a Sales Enabler for SaaS
For SaaS companies, security certifications have moved from differentiators to deal requirements. Enterprise procurement teams routinely require ISO 27001 or SOC 2 Type II as a precondition for contract signature — and AI-enabled SaaS products now face additional ISO 42001 and EU AI Act governance requirements. BALTUM structures programmes that get you certified efficiently, without distracting your engineering team.
ISO 27001 vs SOC 2 — Which Do You Need?
- ISO 27001 — Preferred by European and international enterprise clients; certifiable and globally recognised through IAF MLA network.
- SOC 2 Type II — Required for US enterprise and Fortune 500 procurement; conducted by AICPA-accredited CPA firms.
- Both — Increasingly required for global SaaS platforms with customers in both US and European markets. BALTUM's unified evidence framework makes dual certification significantly more efficient than sequential programmes.
AI-Enabled SaaS — ISO 42001
SaaS products incorporating LLMs, ML models, or automated decision-making are now subject to ISO 42001 and, for EU-market products, the EU AI Act. ISO 42001 certification demonstrates responsible AI governance — a growing requirement in enterprise vendor risk assessments and a legal obligation for high-risk AI system providers in the EU from 2026.
Typical Certifications for SaaS Companies
- SOC 2 Type I (interim, 2–3 months) → Type II (6–12 month observation)
- ISO 27001 first certification: 3–5 months
- ISO 27001 + SOC 2 unified: 5–7 months
- ISO 27001 + ISO 42001 + SOC 2: 6–8 months integrated programme
GRC Platform Integration
BALTUM consultants are experienced across all leading compliance automation platforms — Vanta, Drata, Sprinto, Secfix, and others. We integrate your certification programme directly into your chosen GRC toolchain, enabling continuous compliance and automated evidence collection from day one.