Regulation, in plain terms
PDPL and ISO obligations translated into what your team must actually do on a Tuesday.
Service / Governance, Risk & Compliance
Controls the board can trust.
We run the circle. You pitch your case. PDPL, ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, enterprise risk and vendor risk, built into how the business operates, not bolted on for an audit.
01 / Reputation, be known
Compliance is nowa commercial asset.
Governance posture is framed as something you can show a client, not just survive an audit with.
OutcomeCompliance you can sell with
02 / Visibility, be seen
Gaps hidein the paperwork.
Policies, data flows and third-party exposure are inventoried so the real gaps surface early.
OutcomeNothing left undocumented
03 / Trust, be chosen
Enterprise buyerscheck before they sign.
PDPL and ISO readiness work is sequenced so the evidence exists when procurement asks for it.
OutcomeDue diligence stops slowing deals
04 / The moment, be met
Audit readyas a standing state.
Controls, owners and review cycles are kept current so readiness does not decay between audits.
OutcomeReady without the scramble
Where Governance, Risk & Compliance sits in the circle
- Visibility
- Engagement
- Community
- Conversion
- Sale
The circle runs every week whether you buy one line or all eight. This line carries the engagement stage, and the stages either side of it are wired to it by default so nothing falls between suppliers.
Why this holds up
Proof, beforethe promise.
Evidence first
Every control is paired with the artefact an auditor or a client will ask to see.
Kept alive
Review cadence and ownership are assigned so the programme does not expire after certification.
Why it matters
Compliance theatre fails audits and slows the business. We build proportionate, evidence-backed GRC so leadership can move fast and prove control at the same time.
What you get
- UAE PDPL & GDPR readiness program
- ISO 27001 / SOC 2 / PCI-DSS advisory and certification support
- Enterprise risk management framework
- Internal audit & control testing
- Third-party / vendor risk management
- Policies, SOPs and board-level reporting
UAE use-cases
ADGM fintech preparing for FSRA audit
Built the risk register, mapped controls to FSRA + ISO 27001, completed Stage 1 audit with zero majors.
Abu Dhabi healthcare provider (UAE PDPL)
Data inventory + DSAR workflow + consent management deployed in 10 weeks ahead of enforcement.
Regional retailer (PCI-DSS)
Scoped cardholder environment down by 70% before audit, lowering ongoing compliance cost materially.
What we deliver, and when
Month 1
- Gap assessment vs. target framework(s)
- Risk register + control library
- Remediation roadmap
Month 2 to 4
- Policies + SOPs deployed
- Evidence collection automation
- Staff training rolled out
Audit
- Internal audit rehearsal
- External auditor liaison
- Findings closure
Outcome KPIs we hold ourselves to
First-time pass
Audit pass rate
< 30 days
Control evidence freshness
100%
Third-party risk reviews on time
Frequently asked
Which frameworks do you cover?＋
UAE PDPL, GDPR, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, NESA/SIA, ADHICS, FSRA and DFSA risk frameworks.
Are you certified auditors?＋
We are not the certifying body, that conflict of interest is avoided by design. We prepare you and liaise with accredited auditors of your choice.
How long to ISO 27001?＋
Typically 4 to 6 months for mid-market scope, including remediation.
Can you operate the GRC function as managed service?＋
Yes: virtual DPO, virtual CISO and outsourced internal audit are available as ongoing retainers.
Will this slow the business down?＋
Done well, GRC accelerates enterprise deals (procurement closes faster) and reduces incident cost. We design for proportionality, not perfectionism.
Governance, Risk & Compliance for…
Sector-specific applications of this system.
Next step
Run a free GRC gap scan
We respond within one UAE business day with a fixed-scope proposal.
Full circle
The circle closeswhere it began: with you.
We run reputation, visibility, trust and the follow-up around governance, risk & compliance until a qualified appointment lands on your calendar. Then we step back and you pitch.
Run a free GRC gap scanSALES@ NEXTSTEPSALESANDMARKETING.COM