Governance Strategy and Achievements

The ai Corporation already had a solid security foundation through long standing PCI DSS compliance, but new client expectations meant it needed to provide even broader assurance. SOC 1 and SOC 2 were chosen because they directly address how well a company manages the services it delivers and the protection of client data.

Despite tight deadlines, The ai Corporation received an unqualified opinion on its SOC 2 report in February 2026, confirming that all controls were operating effectively with no exceptions. This result reflects the Company’s strong internal processes and its ability to move quickly and effectively. Beyond meeting immediate client requirements, these certifications give the Company a clear competitive edge in a market where trust and security maturity matter.  Importantly, the adoption of SOC 2 has also strengthened The ai Corporation’s position when engaging with strategic partners. As the Company progresses into the open loop card issuing space and works closely with Bank Identification Number (BIN) sponsors, the ability to demonstrate independently assured, year-round control effectiveness helps build trust, accelerates discussions and removes friction in stakeholder assessments. These achievements ensure The ai Corporation is ideally placed to meet evolving client expectations and grow securely and competitively within its niche sector.

Partnership With URM

Supportive, Approachable and Responsive

Throughout the project, URM’s consultants were easy to work with and quick to respond. They explained SOC requirements in straightforward, practical terms, helping The ai Corporation understand exactly what was needed at each step. Their clear guidance on documentation, evidence gathering and requirement interpretation was especially valuable given the tight timelines.

Expertise and High Quality Guidance

URM’s expertise helped The ai Corporation formalise and align its existing processes with SOC expectations. One of the most challenging tasks, the SOC system description, became far more manageable with URM’s hands-on support. Their input saved significant time and ensured the final documentation was accurate and compliant.

Another major challenge was documenting the customer onboarding process, which varied widely between clients. URM helped the team capture a consistent, audit-ready version of the process while still allowing for the bespoke steps needed for enterprise customers. This work was essential to meeting audit requirements and has also improved clarity for future onboarding.

URM was also able to support The ai Corporation in the development of its SOC 1 control framework, which, due to being very service-specific, had to be developed from the ground up.  URM was able to use its experience of producing these frameworks for a wide range of supplier services to assist The ai Corporation in identifying its business processes and IT general controls that could potentially impact its clients’ internal controls over financial reporting.

Flexible and Pragmatic Support

URM adapted its approach to fit in with The ai Corporation’s way of working.  Instead of pushing generic or overly rigid solutions, URM helped refine the strong processes already in place and helped shape them into SOC-compliant versions.  This pragmatic approach avoided unnecessary re-work and kept the project moving forward swiftly.

Conclusion

Achieving unqualified SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports highlights both The ai Corporation’s strong governance practices and its proactive, solutions-focused culture.  URM’s practical guidance and flexible support helped the organisation navigate the process smoothly and confidently.  Together, they have strengthened The ai Corporation’s ability to meet client expectations, stand out in a competitive market and continue to demonstrate excellence in information security.

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