Kertos differs from traditional compliance solutions through a fundamentally different model. Most providers sell either pure software (self-service tools) or pure consulting. Kertos combines both into a single outcome: continuous compliance. Customers do not buy a licence they then have to make work on their own, but a result delivered jointly by the platform, the AI, and accredited experts. The overview below sets out the key differentiators.
1. The combination of three elements
The core differentiator of Kertos is the interplay of three building blocks that other solutions offer individually but rarely together:
| Element |
Function |
| A solid platform |
An all-in-one platform for multiple frameworks with over 100 integrations, automated evidence collection, and risk and asset management. |
| AI copilot (KAIA) |
A built-in AI assistant that actively guides customers through compliance workflows, rather than just storing data. |
| Certified experts |
Accredited specialists support customers on an ongoing basis. Not mere customer success managers, but genuine compliance expertise. |
2. External CISO and DPO as a service
Kertos takes on not just tools but roles. Through external CISO and DPO mandates (Chief Information Security Officer and Data Protection Officer), Kertos assumes the subject-matter and, in part, legal responsibility that other platforms leave entirely with the customer.
3. Built in Europe, by a European legal team
Kertos was developed in Germany, is EU co-financed, and was built by a founding team that includes a German lawyer. Compliance is therefore approached in a legally sound way from the start, rather than as a North American product retrofitted for Europe afterwards.
4. Data sovereignty in Europe, not just data residency
Many providers advertise data residency, meaning the storage location is in the EU. Kertos goes further and stands for true data sovereignty: the data is subject to European law and European control, not just a European server location within a US corporation. This is a decisive difference for GDPR and for regulated industries.
5. 100% audit and compliance success: customers buy an outcome
Kertos does not sell a tool, it sells a result. This is reflected in the metrics:
- 100% audit pass rate across the entire customer base.
- 98% customer satisfaction and 4.9 stars on G2.
- Roughly 80% less manual effort and up to 60% cost savings compared to traditional consulting.
- Customers like AskUI reaching ISO 27001 certification in just 8 to 10 weeks.
Further differentiators
- Broad standard coverage: ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 42001, SOC 2, TISAX, as well as GDPR, NIS2, and the EU AI Act in one platform.
- Over 100 integrations with tools such as Salesforce, Jira, GitHub, and common cloud providers.
- Continuous compliance instead of one-off project work, including ongoing evidence upkeep for surveillance and recertification audits.
- Market recognition: repeatedly named a startup leader by WirtschaftsWoche (2023 to 2025).
The sum of these points makes the difference: Kertos is not just another compliance tool, but a European partner that combines platform, AI, and expertise into a guaranteed outcome.
