How Bravado Unlocked $100K+ in Enterprise Revenue with 14-Day SOC 2 Certification

When an unexpected enterprise opportunity required immediate SOC 2 compliance, Bravado turned to Workstreet for rapid certification without disrupting their core business operations. The result: $100,000+ in new revenue and a scalable security foundation that continues to accelerate their enterprise sales.

An Unexpected Opportunity Creates Urgent Compliance Need

Bravado, a leading platform connecting top sales talent with quality companies, never expected to be in the compliance business. During a routine board meeting, their team showcased an internal operations tool they had built for their own use. Their investors immediately recognized its potential, suggesting they test the commercial market for what seemed like a valuable standalone product.

The market response was swift and overwhelming. When Bravado showed their tool to a small group of companies, one of the world's fastest-growing software companies immediately expressed interest in purchasing it. The deal promised to be substantial—over $100,000 in new revenue—but it came with a catch that would test Bravado's agility and resourcefulness.

At the contracting stage, the enterprise customer delivered an ultimatum: they required SOC 2 compliance. This security validation was something Bravado didn't possess since the tool had only been used internally. Suddenly, what seemed like an exciting opportunity was threatening to slip away due to compliance requirements.

"We weren't planning to build out or launch an enterprise-grade product in 2024," explained Bravado's CEO. "We basically just had a board meeting where we showed off an internal tool that we had built and our investors were like, 'This seems like a really great product. Why don't you go sell it directly to customers?'"

The challenge was daunting. Bravado needed to achieve SOC 2 Type 1 certification quickly or risk losing a significant enterprise deal. Their engineering team had limited bandwidth to allocate to compliance work, and security implementation wasn't their core expertise. Most concerning of all, standard SOC 2 timelines typically span one to three months—far longer than their opportunity window would allow.

Workstreet Takes Complete Ownership of the Challenge

Recognizing the urgency of Bravado's situation, Vanta connected them with Workstreet as their premier services partner. As Vanta's largest services partner, Workstreet understood exactly what was needed: a comprehensive approach that would address both the aggressive timeline and Bravado's resource constraints without compromising on quality.

Within 24 hours of initial contact, Workstreet had assembled a dedicated team and begun the rapid compliance process. The approach was designed to be completely hands-off for Bravado, allowing their team to maintain focus on their core business while Workstreet handled every aspect of the compliance journey.

The first step involved conducting a rapid initial security assessment and producing an engagement letter within 48 hours. This strategic move allowed Bravado to immediately begin discussions with their prospect's information security team while the full certification work proceeded in parallel. Rather than waiting for complete certification, Bravado could demonstrate their serious commitment to security and provide immediate credibility in enterprise security conversations.

Simultaneously, Workstreet's team conducted a comprehensive gap analysis to identify all areas requiring elevation to enterprise-grade security standards. They created a prioritized implementation roadmap and handled all vulnerability identification and patching coordination. This thorough approach ensured that no security gaps would surface during the audit process.

Comprehensive Implementation Without Internal Disruption

The documentation and policy development phase showcased Workstreet's ability to deliver enterprise-grade compliance without burdening client resources. Workstreet drafted comprehensive security policies specifically tailored to Bravado's operations, facilitated all review and approval processes with minimal internal resource requirements, and ensured every document met SOC 2 Type 1 standards.

Throughout the implementation phase, Workstreet designed every process to minimize demands on Bravado's engineering team. This resource-conscious approach allowed Bravado's developers to maintain their focus on core product development while leveraging Workstreet's vCISO expertise to handle the majority of compliance tasks.

The certification process itself demonstrated Workstreet's deep operational knowledge and established relationships within the compliance ecosystem. The team utilized their extensive expertise with Vanta's platform to streamline evidence collection, applied proven methodologies that cut typical certification time by over 60%, and coordinated directly with auditors to expedite the entire process.

Perhaps most importantly, Workstreet managed the entire compliance journey from initial assessment through final audit coordination. Bravado had a single point of contact for all compliance-related activities, and Workstreet handled all auditor communications and evidence requests. This comprehensive project management approach ensured nothing fell through the cracks while maintaining the aggressive timeline.

Record-Breaking Results Drive Immediate Business Impact

The partnership between Bravado and Workstreet yielded results that exceeded all expectations. The SOC 2 Type 1 certification was completed in just 14 days—a timeline that industry experts would typically consider impossible without compromising quality. This record-breaking achievement immediately secured the enterprise deal worth over $100,000 that had prompted the compliance effort.

The impact extended far beyond the initial deal. Bravado discovered that their new compliance posture opened doors throughout the enterprise market. Four of the five fastest-growing software companies in the world now use Bravado's Hunter product, and all of them have successfully navigated the same security audit process that had initially seemed so daunting.

"The speed with which we were able to get our engagement initial letter, the thoroughness with which we were able to figure out everywhere that we needed to patch any vulnerabilities and ensure our system was enterprise grade, and then the fast turnaround to get SOC 2 done, I think in like two weeks is what it was, was awesome," said Bravado's CEO.

The transformation was comprehensive. What had started as a potential revenue blocker became a competitive advantage that accelerated Bravado's enterprise sales cycles. Every subsequent security review became frictionless, with Bravado passing each one without issues. The company seamlessly transitioned to the SOC 2 Type 2 certification process, building on the solid foundation Workstreet had established.

Strategic Business Value Beyond Compliance

The rapid compliance implementation delivered strategic business value that transformed how Bravado approached enterprise opportunities. The certification unlocked an entirely new market segment, establishing credibility with enterprise customers who had previously been inaccessible due to compliance requirements.

Crucially, the implementation preserved Bravado's engineering resources throughout the process. While Workstreet handled the complex compliance work, Bravado's development team maintained full velocity on core product features. This parallel approach meant there was no opportunity cost in terms of product development or innovation.

The enhanced security posture also accelerated future sales cycles by removing security reviews as a bottleneck in the enterprise sales process. Prospects could move directly from interest to contracting without lengthy security evaluations. This efficiency enhancement positioned Bravado as a security-conscious, enterprise-ready vendor across their entire market.

"All of them (security reviews) have been super smooth for us to get through because of the work that you guys did for us," noted Bravado's CEO. "We've had no hiccups, no issues, passed everything. And it's been great."

Lessons for Revenue-Driven Growth

Bravado's experience illuminates several crucial insights for companies facing similar compliance challenges. Most fundamentally, compliance can serve as a revenue accelerator rather than a cost center when approached strategically. Companies that view security investments as competitive advantages can unlock new market opportunities and accelerate enterprise sales rather than simply checking regulatory boxes.

The case also demonstrates that speed doesn't require compromising on quality when working with the right expertise. Bravado achieved a timeline that seemed impossible while maintaining standards that continue to pass rigorous enterprise security reviews. This outcome was possible because Workstreet brought both deep technical knowledge and operational efficiency to the engagement.

Perhaps most importantly, partnering with specialists allows internal teams to maintain focus on core business functions while compliance experts handle complex implementation work. Bravado's engineering team never had to choose between product development and compliance requirements because Workstreet managed the entire process independently.

For companies looking to accelerate their compliance journey, the key is recognizing that early security investments eliminate future sales friction and create a foundation for sustained enterprise growth. Companies considering this approach should explore comprehensive vCISO services or flexible pricing options designed for growing businesses.

Building Sustainable Enterprise Growth

With their solid security foundation now in place, Bravado is exceptionally well-positioned for continued enterprise growth. The company has successfully transitioned to the SOC 2 Type 2 audit process, building on the framework Workstreet established. They continue approaching additional enterprise prospects without security review concerns, knowing their compliance posture can withstand any evaluation.

Most importantly, Bravado has maintained their focus on core business priorities throughout this transformation. Their teams continue driving product innovation and market expansion while their security infrastructure scales seamlessly with their business growth. The foundation Workstreet built grows with their operations, supporting enterprise sales without requiring ongoing internal security expertise.

This sustainable approach to compliance has transformed what could have been a one-time firefighting exercise into a strategic advantage that continues delivering value. Every new enterprise conversation begins with confidence rather than compliance concerns, and every security review reinforces Bravado's reputation as a trustworthy vendor.

Your Enterprise Revenue Opportunity

Don't let compliance requirements become a barrier to your next big enterprise deal. Workstreet helps fast-growing companies achieve rapid compliance without disrupting engineering priorities, just as we did for Bravado.

Ready to unlock enterprise revenue? Schedule a consultation with our Trust Engineers to learn how we can accelerate your path to compliance and enterprise growth.

Related Resources

• Eight Steps to a Seamless SOC 2 Audit
• What's the Fastest Way to Complete a SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 Audit?
• How Workstreet Became Vanta's #1 Managed Service Provider
• vCISO Services for Growing Companies
• Workstreet Pricing Plans

About Bravado

Bravado is a leading platform that connects top sales talent with quality companies. Their innovative solutions help sales professionals showcase their achievements and help companies find the right sales talent. Learn more at bravado.co.

About Workstreet

Workstreet delivers AI-enabled security solutions that help SaaS businesses build and scale trust that accelerates growth. As Vanta's largest services partner, Workstreet specializes in rapid and right-sized security and compliance that minimizes disruption to internal resources and maximizes ROI. Learn more about our SOC 2 services.

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