Step 12: Build Security Maturity
Always Ready. (Not Just 'Audit-Ready')
Make security part of your process
The difference between a single audit and a trusted, resilient organization is proactive cybersecurity
The secret? How well you operationalize your security & compliance program.
It's time to maintain and strengthen what you've built—so you're always ready, not just audit-ready.
This step is where your Information Security Management System (ISMS) becomes a living, breathing part of your business operations—not just documentation on a shelf.
Security is an ongoing journey. The real work begins now.
Build, Operate, & Showcase Security
A mature security and compliance program includes:
BUILD
Establish a complete security program from risk assessment to program management and reporting.- OPERATE
Create a simple process to create, distribute, execute and approve all relevant tasks.
- SHOWCASE
Demonstrate performance against security and risk goals to your auditors, management and third-parties.
Keys to Scalable Cybersecurity
Follow Documented Processes (For Real)
Most companies say they follow processes. Mature organizations prove it.
Click for action steps
Secure as You Operate
Whether it’s a customer questionnaire, a regulator inquiry, or your next audit—your ability to show the receipts matters.
Click for action steps
What to Avoid at This Stage
Great compliance programs support trust, enable growth, and make security a shared company value.
Click for action steps
Need Help Getting Started?
Not every organization has the resources to build a compliance practice from the ground up.
So, we created a plug-and-play Security & Compliance Program to help you build a scalable compliance program 4x faster.
Our Answers to Common Questions
Kevin Brown
ISO & Director of Professional Services
What does it mean to have a secure ISMS?
Security maturity in compliance refers to the effectiveness of your organization’s security practices, processes, and controls to meet regulatory, industry, or internal standards consistently.
It reflects how well security is integrated into your operations - from basic reactive measures to proactive, optimized processes that adapt to evolving threats and requirements.
How can I measure my organization’s security maturity?
You're already on the right track (especially if you've followed this playbook), using frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework, HIPAA, or ISO 27001.
Continue to evaluate key areas, like policies and procedures, risk management, incident response, employee training, and technology controls.
Conduct gap analyses, internal audits, or third-party assessments to score maturity levels (e.g., initial, repeatable, defined, managed, optimized).
Track metrics like incident frequency, response times, and compliance audit outcomes to gauge progress.
This was my first audit. How do I achieve maturity?
Completing your first audit is a major milestone—but true security and compliance maturity go beyond a passing report. Maturity means building a system that evolves with your business, adapts to new risks, and weaves security into daily operations.
Start by reassessing your risk regularly, reviewing policies, and tracking remediation actions as part of an ongoing cycle.
Map out your next-stage goals (like cross-departmental ownership, automation, or expanding to additional frameworks), and treat each year as a step toward stronger, more proactive governance.