The need for compliance

Scott Stuart, the Director of Information Security for LinenMaster, quickly recognized the need for cybersecurity compliance in the laundry software industry. As an industry innovator, LinenMaster is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that enables shipping and receiving, invoicing and inventory for healthcare, hospitality, route accounting, industrial/uniform, and sterile pack processing and delivery across North America.

As a seasoned professional with decades of IT experience, Scott recognized an increase in SaaS cybersecurity attacks and knew it was crucial for LinenMaster to demonstrate they take data security seriously. “Cybersecurity compliance is now essential to doing business,” said Scott. “It’s important that we provide our customers with assurance that we take the security of their valuable assets seriously.”

Finding the best fit

When Scott began his search for an auditing firm, he was looking for a reputable organization who came highly recommended. “ISO 27001 would be our first audit experience, so I wanted the best of the best in a partner,” said Scott. “A-LIGN was highly recommended by many vendors and considered a top auditing firm in the industry.” After he conducted his due diligence, Scott knew A-LIGN would be the best fit for LinenMaster.

Earning an ISO 27001 certification and more

As soon as LinenMaster partnered with A-LIGN, they immediately started the ISO 27001 audit process. “Working with A-LIGN made the preparation much easier as they laid out exactly what was needed prior to the assessment,” said Scott. 

He found the audit process to be extremely clear with open communication. “The auditors are fantastic, knowledgeable and offer impressive insight,” Scott explained. “If you’re experiencing a nonconformity, the auditors are so experienced that they help you to understand what went wrong and how to fix the issue.”

Following their successful ISO 27001 certification, LinenMaster decided to continue their compliance journey with regular penetration testing. Since then, the SaaS company’s security program evolved to execute a gap assessment for CMMC, adopt additional ISO 27017 controls, and complete a SOC 2 Type 1 report and SOC 2 Type 2 report.

Utilizing compliance automation software

With an extensive background in technology, Scott found A-LIGN’s audit automation and compliance software tool, A-SCEND, to be very valuable. “A-SCEND makes working with A-LIGN even better,” he said. “A-SCEND makes evidence collection a breeze and the audit much more streamlined.”

Scott also appreciated A-SCEND’s Crosswalk feature that clearly illustrates how easy it is to deduplicate efforts across multiple certifications by using evidence from your current and/or previous audits. “The Crosswalk feature gave me the confidence to pursue additional certifications,” he said. “It was surprising to see how close we were to earning a variety of compliance certifications after completing ISO 27001.”

A lasting relationship

With Scott’s lead, LinenMaster’s numerous compliance certifications have helped them to secure new customers and unlock additional revenue. Their A-LIGN issued SOC 2 report has alleviated the need for him to complete the 500-question security questionnaire and instead, provide proof from a reputable auditing firm that the SaaS company has all necessary controls and guidelines in place to secure their customer’s data.

“We struck gold by choosing to work with A-LIGN and I plan to continue for the next 10+ years,” said Scott. “Working with A-LIGN is a no brainer and my first choice for every type of audit they offer!”

Next steps

To learn more about how A-LIGN can help your organization through a variety of cybersecurity compliance assessments and audits, please visit www.a-lign.com/services or complete this form and an A-LIGN expert will reach out to you within 24 hours.

About LinenMaster

Healthcare, Hospitality, Route Accounting, Industrial/Uniform, and Sterile Pack processing and delivery. Their goal is to give clients the tools and resources to oversee every single step of the linen management process – from purchasing and maintaining inventory, to processing and distribution, to reporting and invoicing. Utilizing their software-based approach, they are able to deliver scalable solutions that fit each industry and operation’s unique needs and budget. No complicated set-up process. No long-term commitment. Just the advanced solutions and expert support you need to keep your business running smoothly. For more information, visit the company online: https://linenmaster.com/.