Compliance Checklist: Stay Compliant with Industry Regulations

Compliance isn't only for regulated industries. Any business that handles customer data, employs people, or operates online has obligations — and the cost of non-compliance is severe:

• GDPR fines reach 4% of global revenue or €20 million
• HIPAA violations cost $100–$50,000 per violation, per record
• PCI DSS non-compliance can cost you the ability to process credit cards

Beyond fines, breaches destroy trust, trigger audits, and create liability. The upside: compliant businesses win more enterprise contracts and operate more efficiently.

If you process personal data of anyone in the EU/EEA, GDPR applies regardless of where you're located. Core requirements:

• Lawful basis for every processing activity — consent, contract, legal obligation, legitimate interest, etc.
• Data subject rights — access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, objection
• Breach notification within 72 hours of becoming aware
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with every vendor that handles personal data
• Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) — documented accountability
• Data Protection Officer appointment (in specific cases)

GDPR requires you to *demonstrate* compliance through documentation, not just achieve it.

HIPAA covers covered entities (providers, plans, clearinghouses) and their business associates (any vendor touching protected health information). Three rule sets:

• Privacy Rule — patient rights over their health info, minimum-necessary use, notice of privacy practices
• Security Rule — administrative, physical, and technical safeguards for electronic PHI
• Breach Notification Rule — notify affected individuals, HHS, and (for large breaches) media within 60 days

Required documentation: risk assessments, security policies, workforce training records, and Business Associate Agreements. HIPAA is an ongoing program — annual reviews, not a one-time checklist.

SOC2 is increasingly table-stakes for B2B SaaS. It evaluates controls across five trust service criteria:

• Type I — evaluates control *design* at a point in time
• Type II — evaluates *operating effectiveness* over 6–12 months (what enterprise buyers want)

Preparing for SOC2 means documented policies, access controls, change management, incident response, vendor management, and continuous monitoring.

Beyond the major frameworks, most industries add their own:

• Financial services — FINRA, SEC, SOX (public companies), AML, KYC
• Card payments — PCI DSS (12 requirements covering network security, data protection, access control)
• Manufacturing/energy — environmental regulations
• Any employer — OSHA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, plus state employment laws

If you operate in multiple states or countries, you must comply with each jurisdiction where you have customers, employees, or operations — not just your home base.

Don't boil the ocean. Start by identifying which regulations apply to your business (based on industry, locations, data types), then build controls for the highest-risk gaps first. Re-assess at least annually and whenever you enter a new market or add a new data type.

The Compliance Checklist Generator on Adept.club asks about your industry, locations, and frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, SOC2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001) and produces a prioritized, tailored checklist. Free, no sign-up.