Trust is not a claim. It is evidence. Every assertion made across this Trust Center — every security control described, every compliance framework cited, every governance principle articulated — must ultimately be verifiable through independent audit, third-party certification, and documented evidence.
Ariana Nexus is an emerging institution building toward the highest standards of compliance assurance in its industry. Some organizations wait until they are large enough to afford certifications. Ariana Nexus has chosen a different path: build the controls now, align with the frameworks now, document the evidence now, and pursue formal certification on a deliberate, resourced timeline that matches our growth.
This page is the master roadmap — a single, consolidated view of every certification, audit, and assurance milestone that Ariana Nexus is pursuing, has achieved, or is planning. It is designed to give procurement officers, CISOs, compliance teams, and government contracting officers a clear, honest picture of where we are today and where we will be at each stage of our growth.
Before listing what Ariana Nexus is pursuing, it is important to document what is already in place. The following controls and capabilities are operational — not planned, not on a roadmap, but functioning today:
Identity and Access Management: - Microsoft Entra ID with Multi-Factor Authentication enforced for all users — no exceptions. - Conditional Access policies enforcing location-aware, device-compliant, risk-based access. - Microsoft Intune device management with BitLocker/FileVault encryption enforced. - Just-in-time admin access evaluation (Privileged Identity Management on roadmap for M365 E5).
Data Protection: - Microsoft Purview Sensitivity Labels with four-tier classification (Public, Internal, Confidential, Restricted). - Data Loss Prevention policies blocking unauthorized transmission of Confidential and Restricted data. - AES-256 encryption at rest across all Microsoft 365 workloads. - TLS 1.2+ encryption for all data in transit. - Document-level encryption via Azure Rights Management for Restricted-tier content.
Threat Monitoring: - Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (anti-phishing, anti-malware, safe attachments, safe links). - Unified Audit Logging across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, and Entra ID. - Conditional Access sign-in risk evaluation with anomalous behavior detection.
Governance and Compliance: - AI Governance Policy with six principles, five prohibited practices, and engagement acceptance framework. - Cultural Compliance Bureau with independent override authority and ten-principle Cultural Compliance Standard. - Human-in-the-Loop principle enforced for all AI-assisted outputs. - Incident Response Plan aligned with NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 3 (finalized April 2025; supersedes Rev. 2). The IRP incorporates the CSF 2.0-aligned incident response life cycle model introduced in Rev. 3. - Formal pre-engagement AI Risk Assessment (five dimensions). - OFAC screening for all personnel, clients, and vendors. - Microsoft BAA executed for HIPAA-covered services. - DPA template with SCCs and UK IDTA for EU/UK client engagements.
Organizational: - Cyber insurance active with nationally recognized carrier (AM Best A or higher). - Third-party backup solution (daily incremental, weekly full, geographically separate). - Vendor due diligence process for all Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors. - Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) maintained. - Purview automated retention labels active.
The following timeline consolidates every certification and audit milestone referenced across this Trust Center into a single, sequenced plan. Targets are set based on organizational growth, regulatory landscape, and client requirements:
Microsoft 365 Business Premium fully deployed — Infrastructure. Operational Entra ID, MFA, Conditional Access, Intune, Defender, Purview — all active
AI Governance Policy documented — Governance. Operational Six principles, prohibited practices, engagement acceptance criteria
Cultural Compliance Standard (AN-CCS-1.0) — Governance. Operational Ten principles, Scorecard, CCB independent authority
Incident Response Plan (NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 3) — Security. Operational CSF 2.0-aligned IRP with AI-specific procedures
Microsoft BAA executed — Compliance. Operational HIPAA coverage for M365 environment
DPA template with SCCs/UK IDTA — Compliance. Operational Ready for EU/UK client execution
Cyber insurance active — Risk. Operational AM Best A or higher carrier
OFAC screening program — Compliance. Operational All personnel, clients, vendors
SAM.gov registration — Government. In Process Federal procurement registration
8(a) certification application — Government. In Process SBA Small Disadvantaged Business certification
GSA MAS application — Government. In Process General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule
ISO 27001 advisory firm identified — Certification. In Discussion Advisory engagement to prepare for certification
M365 E5 evaluation and migration — Infrastructure. Q3–Q4 2026 Microsoft Sentinel SIEM, Privileged Identity Management, advanced Purview
ISO 27001:2022 gap assessment — Certification. Q4 2026 Advisory firm conducts gap analysis; remediation plan developed
EU-U.S. DPF self-certification evaluation — Compliance. Q4 2026 Data Privacy Framework for EU data transfers
Penetration testing (first engagement) — Security. Q1 2027 Independent third-party penetration test
ISO 27001:2022 certification audit — Certification. Q2 2027 First certification — Ariana Nexus’s foundational security certification
SOC 2 Type I readiness assessment — Certification. Q2 2027 Gap assessment against Trust Services Criteria
ISO 27001:2022 certified — Certification. Q2 2027 Information Security Management System
SOC 2 Type I report — Certification. Q3 2027 Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity
CMMC Level 2 assessment readiness — Certification. Q4 2027 CMMC Phase 2 (C3PAO assessments) begins November 10, 2026; readiness preparation for assessment
Cyber Essentials (UK) evaluation — Certification. Q4 2027 UK government cybersecurity certification baseline
SOC 2 Type II report — Certification. Q2 2028 12-month operating effectiveness evidence
ISO 27701:2019 — Certification. Q2 2028 Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 — Certification. Q3 2028 AI Management System — first AI-specific certification
CMMC Level 2 certified — Certification. Q4 2028 DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model
HITRUST e1/i1 assessment — Certification. Q4 2028 Healthcare information security
Cyber Essentials Plus (UK) — Certification. Q4 2028 Enhanced UK cybersecurity certification
FedRAMP authorization pursuit — Certification. 2029–2030 Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
HITRUST r2 assessment — Certification. 2029–2030 Comprehensive healthcare security certification
SOC 2 Type II (annual renewal) — Certification. Annual Continuous 12-month operating effectiveness
ISO 27001 surveillance audit — Certification. Annual Annual surveillance; recertification every 3 years
NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 alignment assessment — Compliance. 2030 Federal information security framework
EU AI Act conformity assessment — Compliance. 2029 For Cultural Intelligence API and AI services
ISO 27001 recertification cycle — Certification. 2030 Three-year recertification
Post-quantum cryptography readiness assessment — Security. 2030+ NIST post-quantum standards evaluation
Autonomous compliance monitoring — Technology. 2030+ AI-assisted continuous compliance verification
Global cultural compliance certification (proposed) — Standard-Setting. 2030+ Ariana Nexus-developed cultural compliance standard
Ariana Nexus’s certification budget scales with revenue. This is a deliberate strategy that balances the urgency of demonstrating assurance with the financial reality of an emerging institution:
Principle 1: Controls before certificates. Ariana Nexus builds the controls first and certifies second. The security controls, governance frameworks, and compliance procedures documented across this Trust Center are operational today — they do not wait for a certification audit to be implemented.
Principle 2: Revenue-aligned investment. Certification costs (advisory fees, audit fees, tool upgrades, personnel time) are budgeted as a percentage of revenue. As revenue grows, certification investment grows proportionally — ensuring that Ariana Nexus can sustain its certification program without overextending financially.
Principle 3: Client-responsive prioritization. The certification sequence is prioritized based on client requirements. If a major healthcare client requires HITRUST before the standard timeline, the investment is accelerated. If a government client requires CMMC before SOC 2 Type II, the sequence is adjusted. The roadmap is a plan, not a constraint.
Principle 4: No certification theater. Ariana Nexus will not pursue certifications for marketing value alone. Every certification on this roadmap serves a specific client need, regulatory requirement, or operational improvement objective. Certifications that do not serve a clear purpose are not pursued.
This Trust Center frequently uses the term “aligned” when describing Ariana Nexus’s relationship to a framework. It is important to understand what this means:
“Aligned” means that Ariana Nexus has designed its controls, policies, and procedures to follow the framework’s requirements, and the organization operates in accordance with those requirements to the best of its ability. Alignment is self-assessed and has not been independently verified by a third-party auditor.
“Certified” means that an accredited third-party auditor has independently verified that Ariana Nexus meets the framework’s requirements. Certification is externally validated.
“Compliant” means that Ariana Nexus meets the legal requirements of an applicable regulation (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA). Compliance is an ongoing obligation, not a point-in-time certification.
“Roadmap” means that the certification or compliance milestone is planned but has not yet been achieved. The target date represents Ariana Nexus’s current plan, which is subject to change based on organizational growth, client requirements, and regulatory developments.
NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 / Rev. 3 — Aligned (Rev. 2 controls implemented; Rev. 3 transition planned per DoD rulemaking). CMMC Level 2 (Q4 2028)
NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 3 — Aligned (IRP operational, CSF 2.0 life cycle model). SOC 2 Type II evidence (Q2 2028)
NIST AI RMF 1.0 — Aligned (four functions implemented). ISO 42001 (Q3 2028)
ISO 27001:2022 — Aligned (advisory firm engaged). Certified (Q2 2027)
ISO 27701:2019 — Aligned (privacy controls operational). Certified (Q2 2028)
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 — Aligned (AI governance operational). Certified (Q3 2028)
SOC 2 — Aligned (Trust Services Criteria mapped). Type I (Q3 2027); Type II (Q2 2028)
HIPAA — Compliant (BAA executed, controls operational). HITRUST e1/i1 (Q4 2028); HITRUST r2 (2029–2030)
GDPR — Compliant (DPA with SCCs, Privacy-by-Design). ISO 27701 (Q2 2028)
CCPA/CPRA — Compliant (privacy rights operational). SOC 2 evidence (Q2 2028)
EU AI Act — Aligned (risk classification, prohibited practices). Conformity assessment (2029)
CMMC — Aligned (controls toward Level 2). Certified Level 2 (Q4 2028)
FedRAMP — Roadmap (M365 GCC migration). Authorization (2029–2030)
Cyber Essentials (UK) — Roadmap. Certified (Q4 2027); Plus (Q4 2028)
HITRUST — Roadmap. e1/i1 (Q4 2028); r2 (2029–2030)
Ariana Nexus plans to offer a dedicated, client-accessible Trust Portal where clients can view, request, and download compliance documentation under NDA:
Planned portal capabilities: - View current certification status (certified, aligned, roadmap) for all frameworks. - Download available audit reports (SOC 2, ISO 27001 certificate, penetration test summaries) under NDA. - Request specific compliance documentation (DPA, BAA, SCC addendum, engagement-specific compliance evidence). - View the current Trust Center pages in a searchable, indexed format. - Submit compliance questionnaire responses (CAIQ, SIG, custom questionnaires) — pre-populated from Ariana Nexus’s evidence repository. - Track audit and certification milestones with projected dates.
Target launch: Q2 2027 (aligned with ISO 27001 certification — the first certification that clients will want to verify through the portal).
Until the Trust Portal is operational, clients may request compliance documentation through: - Email: trust@ariananexus.com - Phone: (607) 697-5250 - Requests are fulfilled within five (5) business days. Certain documents (SOC 2 reports, penetration test reports) require executed NDA before release.
SAM.gov registration — In Process. Federal procurement registration for contract eligibility
8(a) certification — In Process. SBA Small Disadvantaged Business — Afghan-American woman-owned
GSA MAS — In Process. General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule
NAICS codes — Registered. 541930 (Translation/Interpretation), 541611 (Administrative Management Consulting), 541990 (Other Professional Services), 611430 (Professional Development Training)
DUNS / UEI — Active. Unique Entity Identifier for federal procurement
Past performance — Emerging. No federal contract past performance yet — Ariana Nexus is an emerging contractor building its performance record
CMMC Level 2 — Roadmap (Q4 2028). Required for DoD CUI contracts
FedRAMP — Roadmap (2029–2030). Required for federal cloud service contracts
Ariana Nexus is available for state and local government procurement through direct award, competitive bid, and cooperative purchasing agreements. State-specific certifications (e.g., Virginia SWAM) are evaluated based on client demand.
Internal security review — Semi-annual. Q3 2026
Penetration testing — Annual (beginning 2027). Q1 2027
Vulnerability scanning — Continuous (Microsoft Defender). Ongoing
Trust Center review and update — Semi-annual. September 2026
Privacy impact assessment — Annual and per-engagement. Ongoing
AI Governance Policy review — Annual. March 2027
Cultural Compliance Standard review — Annual. March 2027
ROPA update — Continuous. Ongoing
Cyber insurance renewal — Annual. Per policy anniversary
Vendor due diligence review — Annual per vendor. Ongoing
OFAC screening refresh — Semi-annual and continuous monitoring. Ongoing
Incident Response Plan testing (NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 3 aligned) — Annual (tabletop exercise). Q4 2026
Business continuity plan testing — Annual. Q4 2026
For procurement officers: This roadmap gives you the honest picture. We tell you what is operational, what is aligned, what is on the roadmap, and when we plan to achieve each milestone. We do not claim certifications we do not have. We do not blur the distinction between alignment and certification. When we say “ISO 27001 certified,” it will mean an accredited auditor has verified it — not that we have read the standard and believe we comply.
For CISOs: The controls are operational today. MFA, Conditional Access, Intune, Purview DLP, Sensitivity Labels, AES-256 encryption, audit logging, Defender — all active. The certifications that independently verify these controls are sequenced starting with ISO 27001 in Q2 2027. You do not have to wait for a certificate to verify our security posture — you can assess our controls directly through a security questionnaire or on-site assessment.
For government contracting officers: SAM.gov, 8(a), and GSA MAS are in process. NAICS codes are registered. We are an emerging contractor building our past performance record. CMMC Level 2 is targeted for Q4 2028 to support DoD CUI engagements. FedRAMP is on the 2029–2030 horizon.
For healthcare compliance teams: Our BAA with Microsoft is executed. HIPAA controls are operational. HITRUST e1/i1 is targeted for Q4 2028 and HITRUST r2 for 2029–2030. In the interim, our Trust Center documentation provides the compliance evidence you need to assess our suitability for PHI processing.
For all clients: We build the controls first. We certify second. Our roadmap is deliberately sequenced so that certifications validate controls that are already operational — not controls that were implemented the week before the audit. This approach produces genuine assurance, not compliance theater.
If your organization requires compliance documentation, audit evidence, or a certification timeline briefing, contact trust@ariananexus.com or +1 (202) 771-0224.
Roadmap Contingency. The certification roadmap represents Ariana Nexus’s current plan based on projected organizational growth, client requirements, and regulatory developments. Target dates are estimates, not commitments. Dates may be accelerated or deferred based on revenue growth, client-responsive prioritization, and certification body availability.
Framework Alignment. Where “aligned” is stated, the alignment is self-assessed and has not been independently verified by a third-party auditor. Alignment claims are made in good faith based on Ariana Nexus’s understanding of the applicable framework requirements.
Third-Party Dependence. Certifications are issued by accredited third-party auditors and certification bodies. Ariana Nexus does not control the audit process, timeline, or outcome. Pursuit of certification does not guarantee certification.
Government Procurement. SAM.gov registration, 8(a) certification, and GSA MAS are subject to government processing timelines and eligibility determinations. Pursuit of these designations does not guarantee approval.
Limitation of Liability. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ARIANA NEXUS’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO CERTIFICATIONS, AUDIT FINDINGS, OR COMPLIANCE STATUS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH IN THE APPLICABLE ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT, OR, WHERE NO ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT EXISTS, ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100). ARIANA NEXUS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO CERTIFICATION STATUS, AUDIT OUTCOMES, OR COMPLIANCE REPRESENTATIONS. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL LIMIT OR EXCLUDE ARIANA NEXUS’S LIABILITY FOR: (A) FRAUD OR FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION; (B) DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE; OR (C) ANY OTHER LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY UNDER THE UK UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS ACT 1977, THE UK CONSUMER RIGHTS ACT 2015, OR GDPR.
Dispute Resolution. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this page shall be subject to the dispute resolution provisions in the Terms of Use, Section 18.
This page is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute a warranty, guarantee, or binding commitment regarding Ariana Nexus’s certification status or timeline. Certification targets are forward-looking estimates subject to change. Nothing in this page shall be construed as a waiver of any right, defense, or immunity available to Ariana Nexus under applicable law.
