Question 1

What makes ABM Audit different from Big Four firms?

Accepted Answer

ABM Audit is purpose-built for technology companies. Our auditors are former engineers, CISOs, and cloud architects who understand your technology stack — not generalist accountants learning your systems on the job. We deliver reports 40% faster at 40-60% lower cost than Big Four firms, with deeper technical understanding and partner-level attention on every engagement.

Question 2

Where are your offices located?

Accepted Answer

Our headquarters are in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), our Americas office is in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and our European office is in central Paris. We serve clients globally across 40+ countries from these three hubs.

Question 3

What industries do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We specialise exclusively in technology companies: SaaS platforms, fintech, AI/ML companies, enterprise software, healthtech, e-commerce, and government technology providers. This focus means every auditor on your engagement has relevant domain expertise.

Question 4

Do you offer fixed-fee pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All ABM Audit engagements are priced on a fixed-fee basis. We confirm pricing during the scoping phase, and it does not change unless you request a material scope expansion. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices.

Question 5

What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Accepted Answer

A SOC 2 Type I report assesses the design of your controls at a specific point in time. A Type II report assesses both the design and operating effectiveness of controls over a period (typically 6-12 months). Type II is the gold standard and what most enterprise customers require.

Question 6

How long does a SOC 2 Type II engagement take?

Accepted Answer

Typical timelines: Type I in 4-6 weeks, Type II in 8-12 weeks from kickoff to final report. Our average delivery is 24 business days from fieldwork completion. Timelines vary based on scope, readiness, and complexity.

Question 7

Do you work with compliance automation platforms?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We integrate with Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, Sprinto, and other platforms for automated evidence collection. If you use a compliance platform, it typically accelerates the engagement by 20-30%.

Question 8

What Trust Services Criteria should we include in our SOC 2?

Accepted Answer

Security is mandatory. We recommend adding Availability and Confidentiality for most SaaS companies. Processing Integrity is important for fintech and data processing companies. Privacy is relevant if you handle personal data directly. We help you determine the right scope during the readiness phase.

Question 9

Is ABM Audit an accredited ISO certification body?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ABM Audit operates an accredited ISO certification body, qualified to issue internationally recognised certifications. Our certifications are accredited by ANAB and IAS, ensuring they are accepted worldwide.

Question 10

Can you coordinate ISO 27001 and SOC 2 in a single engagement?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is one of our key differentiators. Our coordinated audit methodology tests overlapping controls once, reducing audit effort by 30-40%. You get both your ISO 27001 certificate and SOC 2 report from a single engagement with one team.

Question 11

What is ISO 42001 and do I need it?

Accepted Answer

ISO 42001 is the international standard for AI Management Systems, published in 2023. It establishes requirements for responsible AI governance, including risk management, data quality, and transparency. If your company develops or deploys AI/ML systems, ISO 42001 certification is becoming a competitive differentiator and may become a regulatory requirement under the EU AI Act.

Question 12

How much does a SOC 2 audit cost?

Accepted Answer

Indicative pricing: SOC 2 Type I from $18,000 for startups (<50 employees), from $30,000 for mid-market. SOC 2 Type II from $25,000 for startups, from $45,000 for mid-market. Enterprise pricing is customised. All pricing is fixed-fee and confirmed during scoping.

Question 13

What is your readiness assessment process?

Accepted Answer

Our readiness assessment is a 2-3 week engagement where we evaluate your current control environment against your target framework. Deliverables include a gap analysis report, prioritised remediation roadmap, and estimated timeline for formal audit readiness.

Question 14

How do coordinated multi-framework audits save money?

Accepted Answer

Many frameworks share common control requirements. For example, ISO 27001 Annex A controls overlap significantly with SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. By testing these controls once and mapping results to both frameworks, we eliminate duplicate effort — typically saving 30-40% in audit fees and 2-3 months in timeline.

Answers for Teams Planning Their Next Assurance Cycle

Select a category

Explore deeper resources while you build your business case

Ready for a fixed-fee proposal and dated plan?