Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Compliance

Isn’t compliance a “big corporation” problem?

No, this is a "today" problem for every business. These regulations apply to any company that handles customer data, regardless of size. More importantly, customers and investors now expect all businesses to handle personal data responsibly. Demonstrating this builds trust, wins sales, and increases your company's value.

What if my business isn't a "tech" company?

If you have a website, a customer mailing list, or accept payments, then marketing, e-commerce, and data privacy regulations apply to you. Any information that can identify a person—names, addresses, email addresses—requires a plan to handle it responsibly. These rules have a broad reach across all sectors and industries.

What are the biggest compliance challenges businesses face?

• Keeping Up with Constant Change: Regulations like GDPR and the EU AI Act are complex and always evolving.

• Navigating a Complex Web of Rules: Laws often overlap, and it's difficult to know which ones apply to you and how to navigate contradictions between jurisdictions.

• Wasting Resources: Without expert guidance, it's easy to spend too much time and money on the wrong compliance activities, distracting you from your core business goals.

What's the difference between a CISO and a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)?

While both roles protect your business, they focus on different areas:

• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): Your Digital Security Expert

  • Focus: Safeguarding your company's digital information, systems, and technology from cyber threats (e.g., hacking, data breaches, malware).

  • Responsibilities: Developing cybersecurity strategy, implementing security tech, managing cyber risks, and responding to security incidents.

  • Simply put: They build and maintain your digital fortress, focusing on the "how" of technical security.

• Chief Compliance Officer (CCO): Your Regulatory Navigator

  • Focus: Ensuring your entire business adheres to all applicable laws, regulations (like data privacy), internal policies, and ethical standards across all operations.

  • Responsibilities: Overseeing broad regulatory adherence, developing company-wide policies, managing holistic business risks, and ensuring ethical conduct.

  • Simply put: They guide your entire business to operate within all the rules of the road, focusing on the "what" and "why" of legal and ethical adherence.

Why Aetos Data Consulting is Different:

Many startups and SMBs can't afford both. Aetos acts as your Fractional Chief Compliance Officer, offering the strategic oversight and comprehensive guidance that bridges these critical areas. We ensure your business is compliant across all regulatory fronts, leveraging both legal and operational expertise, giving you peace of mind and a competitive edge.

How is compliance different from cybersecurity?

It’s a common and costly mistake to assume strong cybersecurity is the same as being compliant. The two are related, but distinct. Cybersecurity is the technical practice of defending your data and systems from attack—think of it as the locks and alarm system on your business. Compliance, on the other hand, is the business framework of meeting the rules set by laws like GDPR and industry standards like SOC 2. It’s the proof that your business is "built to code." While you cannot be compliant without good cybersecurity, a strong technical shield alone is not enough to meet your obligations.

True compliance requires going beyond the technology. It involves creating the right internal policies, training your team effectively, conducting due diligence on your vendors, and having documented processes to manage customer data rights. For a growing business, getting this right isn't a burden; it's a strategic advantage. A comprehensive compliance program protects you from fines, builds the trust needed to win major customers, and ultimately secures the long-term value of your company.