Communication and collaboration: the differentiator of modern audit firms

INTRODUCTION TO CLOUDHOUND

CloudHound delivers enterprise-grade discovery and migration tooling for AWS, providing the clarity, insight, and direction needed to accelerate cloud adoption and reduce infrastructure costs.

With deep automated discovery, real-time cost modeling, and intelligent recommendations, CloudHound helps partners streamline migration planning and execution for complex enterprise environments.

WHY SOC 2

CloudHound works with large, security-conscious enterprises, where SOC 2 compliance is required. This led Dr Aidan Gill, Founder of CloudHound, to pursue third-party assurance and adopt broader security best practices. “The customers I work with require compliance standards to align with their security posture. It’s a fundamental expectation in this space, so making it a priority was essential,” he said.

After confirming that SOC 2 was the expected framework for vendors in the APAC region, CloudHound set its sights on becoming compliant. The goal was to achieve compliance as quickly as possible. “Speed of execution is crucial in building trust and momentum with enterprise customers,” shared Aidan. Having compliance in place early meant he could begin negotiations with key customers and partners.

CHOOSING AN AUDIT PARTNER

CloudHound discovered AssuranceLab through the Drata Auditor Directory, where their top-rated status immediately stood out. A few key differentiators made the decision to partner with them an easy one.

COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION - THE MODERN WAY FOR AUDITS

Rather than waiting days for answers or dealing with the usual back-and-forth of an audit, CloudHound experienced AssuranceLab’s modern approach. Built on rapid communication and close collaboration, the process involved responding to questions as they came in with clear, actionable feedback.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER COMPANIES

When asked for advice to other startups pursuing compliance, Aidan said, “The best way to approach an audit is to be 100% ready before engaging an auditor. Make sure your compliance platform is fully prepared, as starting from a strong position makes the process much smoother.”

EYES ON THE FUTURE FOR CLOUDHOUND

While CloudHound has only recently achieved its SOC 2 attestation, it’s already making a significant impact in early customer and partner conversations. In every engagement so far, SOC 2 has been a hard requirement in continuing commercial discussions.

“These are sensitive environments, and our customers and partners need confidence that we meet their security and compliance standards. That’s where SOC 2 delivers real value, being able to enter these conversations with a formal attestation and a clear commitment to best practices without question,” said Aidan.

CloudHound is currently focused on growing its presence in Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand into global markets. “We have a lot of partners interested in the technology. The goal is to expand into Europe and the US quickly, as this is a global opportunity. We aim to have helped partners and customers analyse many thousands of enterprise servers by the end of the year,” said Aidan.

If you would like to experience the AssuranceLab difference yourself, contact our team: info@assurancelab.com.au