ISMS Copilot vs ChatGPT: Which AI is better for compliance work?

Overview

When choosing an AI assistant for compliance and information security work, you need specialized knowledge, data privacy guarantees, and outputs you can trust in high-stakes audits. This article compares ISMS Copilot—a specialized compliance AI—with ChatGPT, the widely-used general-purpose AI from OpenAI, to help you decide which tool fits your needs.

Who This Is For

This comparison is for:

• Compliance professionals evaluating AI tools for ISO 27001, SOC 2, or GDPR work

• Information security teams assessing AI for policy development and audits

• Consultants managing sensitive client compliance projects

• Decision-makers choosing between specialized vs. general AI tools

Quick Comparison

Detailed Comparison

1. Specialized Knowledge vs. General Intelligence

ISMS Copilot: Compliance Specialist

ISMS Copilot is trained exclusively on compliance and information security knowledge:

• Training foundation: Proprietary library built from hundreds of real-world compliance projects

• Framework expertise: ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, GDPR, DORA, NIS 2, ISO 42001, EU AI Act, NIST Cybersecurity Framework

• Practical knowledge: Real consultant experience, not just theoretical compliance information

• Scope limitation: Stays focused on ISMS and compliance—won't try to answer unrelated questions

ChatGPT: Generalist AI

ChatGPT is trained on broad internet content for versatile use across domains:

• Training foundation: Massive dataset covering nearly all human knowledge domains

• Capabilities: Writing, coding, research, creative tasks, problem-solving, conversation

• Broad knowledge: Can discuss almost any topic but lacks deep specialization

• Advanced features: Web search, image analysis, code execution, voice mode

Verdict: For compliance work requiring accuracy and audit-ready outputs, ISMS Copilot's specialized training provides significantly more reliable guidance. For general tasks, creative writing, or coding, ChatGPT excels.

2. Data Privacy and Security

ISMS Copilot: Privacy-First Architecture

Built for handling sensitive client compliance data:

• Zero training on user data: Your conversations, documents, and client information are never used to train AI models

• EU data residency: All data stored in Frankfurt, Germany (AWS EU region) with GDPR compliance

• End-to-end encryption: AES-256 encryption at rest; TLS 1.3 in transit

• User-controlled retention: Set data retention from 1 day to 7 years or keep forever

• Workspace isolation: Separate workspaces prevent mixing client data

• No cross-customer sharing: Your data is never visible to other users

ChatGPT: General Platform Privacy

ChatGPT's privacy model varies by tier and configuration:

• Free tier: Conversations may be used to train future models (though users can opt out)

• ChatGPT Plus/Team: Can disable training on your data in settings

• ChatGPT Enterprise: Guaranteed no training on business data

• Data storage: US-based infrastructure (not EU-specific)

• Retention: Conversations stored indefinitely unless manually deleted

• Memory feature: Can remember information across conversations (requires manual management)

Verdict: ISMS Copilot provides stronger privacy guarantees by default, with EU data residency and zero training on user data. ChatGPT requires enterprise plans and manual configuration to achieve similar privacy levels.

3. Accuracy and Hallucination Risk

ISMS Copilot: Lower Hallucination for Compliance

Specialized training reduces hallucination risk in compliance contexts:

• Framework-specific knowledge: Training on real implementation projects prevents fabricated control numbers

• Uncertainty acknowledgment: Explicitly warns when information should be verified

• Copyright protection: Won't reproduce copyrighted standards (avoiding fabricated standard text)

• Scope constraints: Stays within compliance domain instead of guessing on unfamiliar topics

ChatGPT: Higher Risk for Specialized Topics

General training increases hallucination risk for niche domains:

• Broad but shallow: Knows about many frameworks but lacks depth in any single one

• Pattern-based generation: May fabricate plausible-sounding control numbers or requirements

• Version confusion: Can mix ISO 27001:2013 and 2022 controls without clear differentiation

• Overconfidence: Presents information authoritatively even when uncertain

Verdict: For compliance-critical work requiring accuracy, ISMS Copilot's specialized training significantly reduces hallucination risk. ChatGPT requires more verification and fact-checking for compliance outputs.

4. Document Analysis and File Support

ISMS Copilot: Compliance Document Focus

Designed for analyzing compliance documentation:

• Supported formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, CSV, JSON, TXT

• File size limit: 10 MB per file

• Analysis types: Gap analysis, GDPR compliance checks, policy reviews, risk assessment evaluation

• Use cases: Upload existing policies for compliance recommendations, analyze audit reports, review risk assessments

ChatGPT: Multimodal Capabilities

Advanced document and media processing:

• Supported formats: PDF, DOCX, images (JPG, PNG), spreadsheets

• File size limits: Vary by plan; generally larger than ISMS Copilot

• Advanced features: Image analysis, diagram interpretation, code generation from visuals

• Use cases: Extract text from images, analyze charts, process multi-page documents

Verdict: ISMS Copilot provides better compliance-specific document analysis (gap analysis, control mapping). ChatGPT offers broader file format support and multimodal capabilities.

5. Workspace and Project Organization

ISMS Copilot: Client-Focused Organization

Built for managing multiple compliance projects:

• Workspaces: Create separate workspaces for different clients, frameworks, or projects

• Custom instructions: Each workspace can have tailored instructions (e.g., "This client is a 50-person SaaS company in healthcare")

• Isolated history: Conversations and files don't mix between workspaces

• Personas: Choose AI roles (Default, Implementer, Auditor, Consultant) for different tasks

ChatGPT: Conversation-Based Organization

Simpler conversation management:

• Conversation threads: Each conversation is separate but not explicitly project-organized

• Memory feature: Can remember preferences across conversations (requires manual management)

• Custom instructions: Global custom instructions apply to all conversations

• Search: Search chat history to find past conversations

Verdict: ISMS Copilot provides superior project organization for multi-client compliance work through isolated workspaces. ChatGPT uses simpler conversation-based organization better suited for individual use.

6. Pricing and Plans

ISMS Copilot Pricing

• Free Trial: Full feature access with usage limits (ideal for evaluating the tool)

• Individual Plan: $20/month for unlimited AI access, workspaces, and document uploads

• Team Plans: Available for organizations managing multiple compliance projects

• Value proposition: Unlimited usage within compliance domain; no token limits or per-message charges

ChatGPT Pricing

• Free Tier: Access to GPT-4 with usage limits; may train on your data

• ChatGPT Plus: $20/month for GPT-4, faster responses, priority access, advanced features (image analysis, web browsing)

• ChatGPT Team: $25/user/month (annual) or $30/month (monthly) for collaborative workspaces and admin tools

• ChatGPT Enterprise: Custom pricing for enterprise features, unlimited usage, guaranteed data privacy

Verdict: Both tools start at $20/month for individual plans. ISMS Copilot offers compliance-specific value with workspace isolation and EU data residency at the base tier, while ChatGPT provides broader capabilities for general use.

7. Use Case Fit

When to Choose ISMS Copilot

• You're implementing ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, or other compliance frameworks

• You need audit-ready policies, procedures, and documentation

• You handle sensitive client compliance data (consultants, MSPs)

• You require EU data residency for GDPR compliance

• You want specialized compliance knowledge with lower hallucination risk

• You need workspace isolation for multi-client projects

When to Choose ChatGPT

• You need a versatile AI for writing, coding, research, and creative tasks

• You want multimodal capabilities (image analysis, diagram interpretation)

• You value broad general knowledge across many domains

• You need web search integration for current information

• Compliance work is occasional, not your primary focus

• You're comfortable with manual privacy configuration and verification workflows

Side-by-Side Feature Breakdown

Legend: ✓ = Full support | ○ = Partial/basic support | ✗ = Not available

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: ISO 27001 Policy Creation

ISMS Copilot approach:

1. Ask: "Create an access control policy for a 50-person SaaS company implementing ISO 27001:2022 control 5.15"

2. Receive policy draft based on real consulting project templates

3. Get control-specific guidance reflecting actual implementation patterns

4. Customize within workspace dedicated to this compliance project

ChatGPT approach:

1. Ask: "Create an access control policy for ISO 27001"

2. Receive generic policy based on internet summaries

3. May include mixed control versions (2013 vs. 2022) or fabricated requirements

4. Requires significant verification and customization

Scenario 2: Multi-Client Consultant Workflow

ISMS Copilot approach:

1. Create separate workspaces: "Client A - ISO 27001" and "Client B - SOC 2"

2. Each workspace maintains isolated conversation history and uploaded files

3. Custom instructions per workspace (company size, industry, compliance scope)

4. Guaranteed EU data residency and zero cross-client data sharing

ChatGPT approach:

1. Create separate conversation threads (manual organization)

2. Risk of accidentally mixing client information across conversations

3. Must manually track which conversation belongs to which client

4. No built-in isolation guarantees

Scenario 3: GDPR Gap Analysis

ISMS Copilot approach:

1. Upload existing privacy policy (PDF/DOCX)

2. Ask: "Analyze this for GDPR compliance gaps"

3. Receive compliance-specific gap analysis based on real audit experience

4. Data processed in EU (Frankfurt) with encryption and retention controls

ChatGPT approach:

1. Upload privacy policy

2. Ask: "Check this for GDPR compliance"

3. Receive general analysis that may miss nuanced requirements

4. Document processed on US-based servers (potential GDPR concern)

Limitations to Consider

ISMS Copilot Limitations

• Scope limitation: Only handles compliance and information security topics (not general writing, coding, etc.)

• No web search: Cannot access current information from the internet

• No multimodal: Cannot analyze images, diagrams, or videos

• File size limits: 10 MB maximum per file (smaller than ChatGPT)

• No code execution: Cannot run Python scripts or analyze data computationally

ChatGPT Limitations

• Hallucination risk: Higher for specialized compliance topics due to general training

• Privacy configuration: Requires manual setup to prevent training on your data (except Enterprise)

• US data storage: May not meet EU data residency requirements for GDPR

• No workspace isolation: Risk of mixing client data across conversations

• Generic compliance knowledge: Lacks depth and real-world implementation experience

Migration and Integration

Can You Use Both?

Yes—many compliance professionals use both tools strategically:

Use ISMS Copilot for:

• Compliance framework guidance (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR)

• Audit-ready policy and procedure generation

• Gap analysis and control mapping

• Sensitive client compliance projects

Use ChatGPT for:

• General writing and content creation

• Coding assistance and technical documentation

• Research and web searches for current information

• Image analysis and diagram interpretation

Decision Framework

Choose ISMS Copilot if you:

• Work primarily in compliance and information security

• Need audit-ready documentation with lower hallucination risk

• Handle sensitive client data requiring workspace isolation

• Require EU data residency for GDPR compliance

• Want guaranteed zero training on your compliance conversations

• Implement ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, NIST, or similar frameworks regularly

Choose ChatGPT if you:

• Need a versatile AI for diverse tasks beyond compliance

• Value multimodal capabilities (images, diagrams, code execution)

• Work on compliance only occasionally, not as primary focus

• Want web search integration for current information

• Can configure privacy settings and verify compliance outputs manually

• Prioritize broad general knowledge over specialized expertise

What's Next

Ready to Try ISMS Copilot?

Start with a free trial to experience specialized compliance AI:

1. Visit chat.ismscopilot.com

2. Create your account (email, Google, or Microsoft sign-in)

3. Ask a compliance question or upload a policy for gap analysis

4. Create workspaces to organize your compliance projects

Learn More

• Welcome to ISMS Copilot

• Security & Data Protection Overview

• Understanding and Preventing AI Hallucinations

• Organizing Work with Workspaces

Getting Help

Questions about choosing the right AI tool for your compliance work?

• Contact ISMS Copilot support through the Help Center

• Visit the Trust Center for detailed security documentation

• Check the Status Page for system uptime