This guide helps compliance consulting firms manage consultants working across multiple clients with different compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST 800-53, SOC 2) using ISMS Copilot's workspace isolation and AI assistance.
Who this is for
Consulting firm managers, compliance consultants, and vCISO service providers juggling multiple client engagements across different regulatory frameworks and industry standards.
What you'll accomplish
You'll organize multi-framework client work using dedicated workspaces, map controls across different standards, maintain client confidentiality, and reduce cognitive load when switching between frameworks throughout the workday.
The multi-framework challenge
Consultants managing clients across ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST 800-53, and SOC 2 face framework fatigue: different control numbering schemes, terminology variations, overlapping requirements, and the constant mental context-switching that leads to errors and burnout.
ISMS Copilot's workspace system isolates each client and framework combination, allowing consultants to work in focused contexts without mixing client data or frameworks.
Step 1: Structure your workspace architecture
Design a workspace naming and organization system that supports multi-framework, multi-client work.
Recommended workspace naming conventions:
Client-Framework pattern: "ClientA-ISO27001", "ClientB-DORA", "ClientC-NIS2"
Project-based pattern: "BankXYZ-DORA-2024", "StartupABC-SOC2-TypeII"
Framework-focused pattern: "NIST-Clients" (if managing multiple NIST clients with similar needs)
Create a workspace index document outside ISMS Copilot listing all active workspaces, their client assignments, and framework focus to help consultants navigate efficiently.
Step 2: Select appropriate personas per workspace
Choose the right persona for each client engagement based on the nature of work.
Implementer persona: Use for clients building new ISMS/compliance programs from scratch
Auditor persona: Use for gap analysis, readiness assessments, or internal audit support
Consultant persona: Use for advisory work, training, or guidance across frameworks
Switching personas in an existing workspace resets context. Set the persona when creating the workspace and maintain it throughout the engagement.
Step 3: Upload client-specific documentation
For each client workspace, upload relevant documents to enable context-aware assistance without cross-client contamination.
Documents to upload per client workspace:
Current policies and procedures
Previous audit reports or gap analyses
Risk assessments and treatment plans
Organizational charts and scope definitions
Framework-specific templates (e.g., SOA for ISO, System Security Plan for NIST)
Step 4: Map controls across frameworks
Use ISMS Copilot to understand control relationships and avoid duplicating work when clients need multiple frameworks.
Cross-framework mapping prompts:
"Map ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.8 (Asset Management) to NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls"
"Which DORA requirements align with our existing ISO 27001 A.17 (Business Continuity)?"
"Show me the overlap between SOC 2 CC6 (Logical Access) and NIS2 security measures"
"Create a mapping table between ISO 27001 Clause 8.3 and NIST 800-53 CM-3 (Configuration Change Control)"
"What DORA-specific requirements have no ISO 27001 equivalent?"
When clients pursue multiple certifications (e.g., ISO 27001 + SOC 2), use mapping to create integrated control documentation that satisfies both frameworks simultaneously.
Step 5: Generate framework-specific deliverables
Produce client deliverables tailored to the specific framework requirements and terminology.
Example prompts for different frameworks:
ISO 27001:
"Generate a Statement of Applicability for a SaaS company with 50 employees"
"Create an internal audit plan for ISO 27001:2022 Clauses 4-10"
DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act):
"What ICT risk management documentation does DORA require for financial entities?"
"Generate a third-party ICT service provider assessment template aligned with DORA Article 28"
NIS2 (Network and Information Security Directive):
"Create a cybersecurity risk management framework checklist for NIS2 essential entities"
"What incident reporting obligations apply under NIS2 for healthcare providers?"
NIST 800-53:
"Generate a System Security Plan outline following NIST 800-53 Rev 5"
"What controls from the moderate baseline apply to our cloud-based system?"
SOC 2:
"Create a SOC 2 Type II readiness checklist for the Security and Availability criteria"
"Draft control descriptions for CC7.2 (System Monitoring)"
Step 6: Maintain context when switching clients
Develop workflows that minimize errors when consultants switch between frameworks and clients throughout the day.
Best practices for context switching:
Always verify the active workspace: Check workspace name before asking questions or uploading files
Start each session with orientation: Ask "Summarize the current state of this client's ISO 27001 implementation" to rebuild context
Use framework-specific language: Refer to "controls" for ISO/NIST, "criteria" for SOC 2, "requirements" for DORA/NIS2
End sessions with notes: Ask ISMS Copilot to "Summarize today's work and suggest next steps" before switching clients
Block calendar time for framework-focused work (e.g., "ISO mornings, DORA afternoons") to reduce the number of workspace switches and improve concentration.
Step 7: Collaborate across your consulting team
For consulting firms with multiple consultants, establish workspace governance and knowledge sharing.
Team collaboration approaches:
Assign workspace ownership: One consultant owns each client workspace to prevent conflicts
Create framework reference workspaces: Shared workspaces like "ISO-27001-Reference" with no client data, used for general framework questions
Share prompts and templates: Document successful prompts in a team wiki for reuse across clients
Conduct workspace handoffs: When transitioning clients between consultants, review chat history together
Managing framework-specific nuances
Each framework has unique characteristics that affect how you use ISMS Copilot:
ISO 27001: Most mature in ISMS Copilot; extensive control guidance and examples available
DORA: Newer regulation; frame prompts around ICT risk management, third-party oversight, and resilience testing
NIS2: Focus prompts on essential/important entity categorization, incident reporting, and supply chain security
NIST 800-53: Use control family abbreviations (e.g., AC, AU, CM) and baseline levels (low/moderate/high) in prompts
SOC 2: Reference Trust Services Criteria categories (CC, A, C, P, PI) and differentiate Type I vs. Type II
ISMS Copilot's AI knowledge is strongest for ISO 27001. For newer frameworks like DORA and NIS2, verify AI responses against official regulatory text and guidance documents.
Reducing consultant burnout
Multi-framework consulting leads to cognitive overload. ISMS Copilot helps by:
Serving as an external memory for framework details across engagements
Reducing time spent searching for control mappings and requirement interpretations
Providing quick refreshers when returning to a client after weeks on other projects
Generating first drafts of documentation to reduce repetitive writing work
Related resources
How to manage multi-client compliance projects using workspaces - Advanced workspace management techniques
ISMS Copilot for Solo Compliance Consultants - Solo consultant workflows and best practices
ISMS Copilot for ISO 27001 Consulting Firms - Team scaling and client isolation strategies
Next steps
After establishing your multi-framework workspace structure, consider creating framework-specific prompt libraries and control mapping documents that can be reused across similar client engagements to further improve efficiency.