Health SaaS — From Zero Cyber Maturity to Integrated ISMS in 10 Weeks

At a Glance

Client — Fast-growing B2B Health SaaS processing sensitive patient data (PHI/PII)
Challenge — Starting from zero cyber maturity, facing contractual obligations for strong cybersecurity and privacy
Starting point — No formal cyber program, Essential Eight at ML0, fragmented privacy and AI processes
Goal — Achieve Essential Eight ML2, implement ISO 27701 PIMS and ISO 42001 AIMS — integrated into one unified management system
Result — Single integrated ISMS delivered in 10 weeks, enabling enterprise growth and meeting all contractual requirements

The Challenge

As the platform scaled to enterprise buyers (hospitals, payers, large providers), contractual obligations demanded robust cybersecurity to protect sensitive health data.

The organisation faced significant risks:

Zero cyber maturity — no structured program, leaving them exposed to common attack vectors
Essential Eight at ML0 — basic controls only, failing to meet government and enterprise security expectations
No PIMS or AIMS — fragmented privacy and AI governance, resulting in delays in customer assurance and stalled deals

The biggest fears were data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, lost contracts, and reputational damage — all while needing to maintain focus on product development and growth.

Our Approach

We delivered a lean, integrated cybersecurity program — combining Essential Eight uplift, ISO 27701 privacy (PIMS), and ISO 42001 AI governance (AIMS) into a single management system.

Cybersecurity Foundation (Essential Eight to ML2)
Rapidly assessed current maturity and uplifted to ML2 across all eight strategies: application control, patching, macro configuration, user application hardening, privileged access, multi-factor authentication, OS patching, and backups.
Privacy Integration (ISO 27701 PIMS)
Extended the security foundation into a full Privacy Information Management System — catalogued 50+ processing activities (ROPA), implemented DPIA triggers/templates, rights handling, and third-party obligations.
AI Governance (ISO 42001 AIMS)
Added responsible AI controls — AI model inventory, risk/impact assessments, human oversight, and monitoring for ethical and secure AI use.
Single Integrated Management System
Unified all three areas (cybersecurity, privacy, AI governance) into one ISMS — shared risk register, overlapping controls, and consolidated evidence — eliminating duplication and creating a coherent, defensible program.
Readiness & Validation
Conducted integrated internal audits across all domains, closed findings, and prepared for external certification — ensuring a calm, surprise-free process.

Results

Single integrated ISMS in 10 weeks — from zero cyber maturity to full compliance across security, privacy, and AI
Essential Eight maturity raised to ML2 — strong protection against common cyber threats, meeting contractual obligations
DPIA & AI impact coverage >95% — confident handling of new data flows and AI features
50+ activities catalogued in ROPA — complete privacy visibility, dramatically reducing assurance time for customers
Faster enterprise deal closures — no more stalled contracts due to security/privacy/AI gaps

Key Deliverables

Essential Eight uplift to ML2 with full test evidence
ISO 27701 PIMS — ROPA, DPIA framework, rights workflows, third-party management
ISO 42001 AIMS — AI inventory, risk assessments, oversight, monitoring
Single integrated management system — unified risk register, controls, and evidence
Internal audits & certification support across all domains

The Bottom Line

This health SaaS provider transformed from zero cyber maturity and fragmented processes to a single, integrated ISMS covering Essential Eight ML2, privacy (PIMS), and AI governance (AIMS) in just 10 weeks — meeting all contractual obligations, eliminating the biggest fears around breaches and delays, and unlocking enterprise growth.

Ready to integrate cyber, privacy, and AI into one strong, defensible system?
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