Canadian Wholesale Distributor Strengthens Partner Confidence Through Comprehensive Cyber Audit and Attestation Program

The Challenge

MapleSupply Distribution Group, a major Canadian wholesale distributor serving retail, industrial, and e-commerce clients, began facing mounting scrutiny from business partners, insurers, and regulators regarding its cybersecurity and compliance maturity. Although the organization had made strides in upgrading its digital order management and logistics systems, it lacked a unified framework to demonstrate verifiable compliance with data protection and operational security standards.

A supplier risk review by a national retail partner uncovered gaps in system access documentation, incident tracking, and vendor oversight. Delaying contract renewals and raising insurer concerns about the distributor’s ability to safeguard customer and supplier data under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Internal audits further revealed fragmented control testing and inconsistent evidence management across finance, IT, and warehouse operations. While controls were in place, they had never been independently validated, leaving leadership uncertain about compliance standing and cyber insurance eligibility.

The absence of a structured audit and attestation program left MapleSupply vulnerable to:

reputational damage

regulatory inquiries

missed business opportunities in a supply chain increasingly dependent on verified data security assurance.

Our Solution

Our Audit and Attestation team was retained to develop and implement a Wholesale Cyber Audit and Compliance Validation Program tailored to the wholesale and logistics environment.

We began with a comprehensive control landscape assessment, mapping MapleSupply’s existing security, privacy, and operational processes against leading frameworks—ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) Baseline Controls. The review identified critical deficiencies in documentation, vendor assurance, and incident reporting.

Our team executed the following initiatives:

  • Development of an enterprise-wide audit plan covering IT, logistics, and vendor management environments.
  • Independent control testing and evidence validation across access control, data handling, and incident response functions.
  • Deployment of compliance dashboards providing real-time insight into audit progress, regulatory alignment, and insurance reporting obligations.
  • Collaboration with external certification bodies to streamline ISO/IEC 27001 recertification and achieve SOC 2 readiness.
  • Delivery of an executive attestation report demonstrating data integrity, privacy compliance, and operational resilience to clients, insurers, and regulators.

This structured framework transformed MapleSupply’s fragmented compliance activities into a transparent, verifiable assurance program capable of sustaining long-term partner confidence.

The Value

Within six months, MapleSupply achieved measurable gains in compliance efficiency, audit readiness, and stakeholder trust: Through continuous validation and transparent attestation, MapleSupply turned compliance into a strategic differentiator. Strengthening both market credibility and operational resilience.

  • ISO/IEC 27001 certification renewed and SOC 2 Type II readiness confirmed through external audit.
  • 65% reduction in audit preparation time due to centralized evidence management and standardized testing.
  • 15% reduction in cyber insurance premiums through verified control effectiveness and audit assurance.
  • Accelerated supplier contract renewals following validated attestation reports and improved compliance visibility.
  • Enhanced client and regulator confidence, positioning MapleSupply as a secure and trusted wholesale partner.

Implementation Roadmap

1. Assessment (Weeks 1–3): Conduct control environment review; compile and assess existing audit documentation.

2. Framework Alignment (Weeks 4–6): Map controls to ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, and PIPEDA requirements; define audit evidence criteria.

3. Testing and Validation (Weeks 7–12): Execute independent control testing across IT, warehouse, and vendor systems.

4. Attestation (Weeks 13–16): Produce executive audit and attestation reports for clients, regulators, and insurers.

5. Continuous Assurance (Ongoing): Maintain compliance dashboards, conduct quarterly reviews, and prepare for annual certification audits.

Info Sheet

Necessary Action Type and Steps to Be Taken:

  • Conduct control readiness assessment and baseline documentation review.
  • Develop and implement a unified audit and attestation framework aligned with ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, and PIPEDA.
  • Perform independent testing and evidence validation across logistics, IT, and vendor systems.
  • Deploy compliance dashboards for ongoing audit visibility and risk tracking.
  • Engage third-party auditors for certification renewal and continuous assurance.
  • Train key personnel on evidence management, audit readiness, and attestation reporting.

Industry Sector:
Wholesale Trade — Distribution, Retail Supply, and Logistics Operations

Applicable Legislation:
– PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)
– ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management)
– SOC 2 Type II (Trust Service Criteria)
– Canadian Cyber Security Standards (CCCS Baseline Controls)

Third Parties:
– External audit and certification bodies (ISO, SOC 2)
– Managed IT and logistics service providers supporting control environments
– Insurance underwriters requiring compliance validation
– Legal and regulatory advisors overseeing data protection obligations
– Retail and industrial partners conducting supplier assurance audits