Quick Start Guide
Get started with compliance essentials in PartnerAlly.
Quick Start Guide
This guide gets you up to speed with compliance essentials and PartnerAlly fundamentals. Complete it to build a solid foundation for your compliance work.
Before You Start
Ensure you have:
- PartnerAlly account access
- At least one framework enabled
- Some policy documents ready to upload
The Compliance Basics
What Is Compliance?
Compliance means meeting requirements set by:
- Regulations - Laws and government rules (HIPAA, GDPR)
- Standards - Industry frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001)
- Contracts - Customer or partner requirements
- Internal Policies - Your own organization's rules
Why It Matters
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Trust | Customers trust compliant organizations |
| Access | Required for certain markets/customers |
| Security | Compliance improves security posture |
| Risk | Reduces legal and business risk |
Your First Week in PartnerAlly
Complete Onboarding
Follow the onboarding wizard to set up your organization and enable frameworks.
Upload Key Documents
Upload your most important policy documents for AI analysis.
- Security Policy
- Privacy Policy
- Access Control Procedures
Review AI Findings
Check the compliance gaps identified by AI analysis.
- Sort by severity
- Focus on critical/high first
- Understand what's missing
Key Concepts
Controls
Controls are specific requirements from frameworks:
- Example: "Implement access control mechanisms"
- Your documents should address these controls
- Gaps exist where controls aren't covered
Gaps
Gaps are areas where you don't meet requirements:
- Found through document analysis
- Have severity ratings
- Need to be remediated
Workflows
Workflows are plans to address gaps:
- Series of tasks
- Assigned to team members
- Track remediation progress
Risks
Risks are potential negative outcomes:
- May come from gaps
- Need assessment and treatment
- Tracked in the risk registry
Gaps → Workflows → Tasks → Resolution. This is the core remediation flow in PartnerAlly.
Quick Wins
Immediate Actions
| Action | Impact |
|---|---|
| Upload all policies | Triggers comprehensive gap analysis |
| Review critical gaps | Know your biggest issues |
| Assign gap owners | Create accountability |
| Create first workflow | Start remediation |
Week 1 Goals
- All major policies uploaded
- Critical gaps reviewed
- At least one workflow created
- Dashboard understood
Month 1 Goals
- All known gaps documented
- Workflows for high-priority items
- Team trained on basics
- Regular review rhythm established
Understanding Your Dashboard
Trust Rating
Your overall compliance score:
- Higher is better
- Improves as you resolve gaps
- Target 80%+ for healthy program
Framework Health
Per-framework scores:
- Focus on your primary framework first
- Balance attention across frameworks
- Prepare for framework-specific audits
Risk Exposure
Your risk posture:
- Critical/High risks need attention
- Track trends over time
- Connect to compliance gaps
Document Basics
What to Upload
| Document Type | Why Important |
|---|---|
| Security Policy | Foundation of security controls |
| Access Control | Who can access what |
| Data Protection | How data is handled |
| Incident Response | How you handle incidents |
| Business Continuity | How you recover from disasters |
Getting Good Analysis
For best AI analysis:
- Use text-based PDFs (not scans)
- Include clear section headings
- Cover topics thoroughly
- Keep documents current
Gap Prioritization
By Severity
| Severity | Action |
|---|---|
| Critical | Address immediately |
| High | This week/month |
| Medium | Within quarter |
| Low | As time permits |
By Audit Timeline
If audit approaching:
- Focus on audit framework
- Prioritize gaps auditors check
- Gather evidence proactively
- Complete workflows before audit
Creating Your First Workflow
Select a Gap
Choose a high-priority gap to address.
Generate Workflow
Click "Generate Workflow" to let AI create a plan.
Review Tasks
Check the generated tasks and adjust as needed.
Assign Owners
Assign each task to a team member.
Activate
Start the workflow and begin work.
Daily Habits
Morning Routine
- Check your Action Inbox
- Review any new gaps
- Update task progress
- Address blockers
Weekly Routine
- Review dashboard metrics
- Check workflow progress
- Address overdue items
- Plan next week's work
Getting Help
In-App Resources
- AI Chat - Ask compliance questions
- Help Icons - Hover for explanations
- Learning Hub - Training content
Support
- Documentation - You're here!
- Support Team - For issues and questions
- Community - Peer discussions
Next Steps
After completing this quick start: