What A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire have in common
A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire hold the same core credentials, so credentials alone will not separate them.
- The CPA firm that signs each one's SOC 2 reports received a Pass on its latest AICPA peer review, accepted Mar 28, 2024 for A-LIGN, Oct 15, 2024 for Schellman, and Aug 14, 2024 for Coalfire.
- All three are listed as FedRAMP 3PAOs on the FedRAMP Marketplace (A-LIGN, Schellman, Coalfire) and as CMMC C3PAOs on the Cyber AB Marketplace (A-LIGN, Schellman, Coalfire). All three also appear in the HITRUST assessor directory and on the PCI SSC QSA list.
- Each has an ISO 27001 certification body accredited by ANAB.
Register listings checked Oct 15, 2026. What separates the three is the evidence workflow, the team each firm proposes, the fee, and the dates it will commit to in writing.
Where the three firms differ
A-LIGN: A-SCEND and multi-framework work
A-LIGN fits when the team will work in A-SCEND and reuse one evidence set across SOC 2, ISO, HITRUST, PCI, or federal work. Its current SOC page states a 3–12 month Type 2 observation period; that sits outside the shorter fieldwork-to-report range in the matrix.
Limitation to confirm: Price and Associates CPAs, LLC dba A-LIGN ASSURANCE is the CPA firm that signs A-LIGN's SOC 2 reports, and A-LIGN Compliance and Security, Inc. dba A-LIGN issues its ISO certificates. Confirm the right entity on each statement of work, and decide whether the team is willing to make A-SCEND its audit workspace.
Primary sources checked October 7, 2026: legal entity and A-SCEND; SOC 2 process and observation period.
Schellman: federal and classified-work scope
Schellman fits when federal assessment, CMMC, or classified work is in the scope. Its current SOC page says a Type 2 period is typically six months or more.
Limitation to confirm: Schellman & Company, LLC is the licensed CPA firm that signs Schellman's SOC reports, while Schellman Compliance, LLC, which is not a CPA firm, issues ISO certificates and provides Schellman's other nonattest services. Confirm which entity owns every workstream, and ask for current capacity; this page does not list start dates.
Primary sources checked October 7, 2026: SOC 2 process, observation period, and signing entity. Checked September 8, 2026: legal entities; cleared assessments; federal assessment scope.
Coalfire: regulated cloud programs and separate legal entities
Coalfire fits when SOC 2 sits beside FedRAMP, PCI, HITRUST, or another regulated cloud program and the team can use Compliance Essentials. Compliance Essentials includes Audit AI and a shared evidence workflow. Coalfire's SOC page says a Type 2 period is typically at least six months.
Limitation to confirm: Coalfire Controls, LLC is the CPA affiliate that issues Coalfire's SOC reports, and Coalfire Certification, Inc. issues its ISO certificates. Coalfire Federal presents itself as the C3PAO for CMMC work. Ask which named provider and statement of work cover each required output.
Primary sources checked October 7, 2026: SOC signing entity, observation period, and combined scope; ISO certification body; Compliance Essentials workflow; Audit AI release; Coalfire Federal CMMC role.
Which has better audit technology: A-LIGN, Schellman, or Coalfire?
A-LIGN and Coalfire each name a client workspace: A-SCEND and Compliance Essentials with Audit AI. Schellman has named an AuditSource client portal, but its latest dated mention is January 2025, so ask how it collects evidence today. Which works better depends on how your team already handles evidence.
- Evidence reuse. A-LIGN says A-SCEND cuts repeat requests across frameworks and checks evidence before its auditors review it. Coalfire says Compliance Essentials automates evidence collection and framework mapping, and that Audit AI reviews policies. Schellman has described AuditSource as where it shares files and posts status updates, and has not said every SOC 2 runs on it.
- Fit with your GRC tool. A-LIGN says clients can keep their GRC platform, with Vanta integration live and Drata in progress. Coalfire says Drata users bring their evidence into Compliance Essentials. For Schellman, ask how evidence gets from your tool to the audit team and whether AuditSource is still used.
- Whether you must use it. A-LIGN says A-SCEND is included with applicable frameworks, not sold as a separate fee, and Coalfire says Audit AI comes standard with its assessments. Ask each firm whether the audit can run outside its own workspace or portal.
Whatever tool collects the evidence, the CPA firm named in the matrix signs the SOC 2 report.
Primary sources checked October 7, 2026: A-SCEND features, fee, and GRC integrations; AuditSource on a SOC engagement; AuditSource as Schellman's secure platform (updated January 10, 2025); Compliance Essentials; Audit AI release; Coalfire with Drata.
How do A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire compare on audit quality?
On the public quality record, A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire are level: the CPA firm that signs each one's SOC 2 reports received a Pass on its most recent AICPA peer review.
- A-LIGN: Price and Associates CPAs, LLC dba A-LIGN ASSURANCE, accepted Mar 28, 2024.
- Schellman: Schellman & Company, LLC, accepted Oct 15, 2024.
- Coalfire: Coalfire Controls, LLC, accepted Aug 14, 2024.
According to the AICPA, a Pass means the firm's system of quality control is designed and complied with well enough to give it reasonable assurance that its work meets professional standards in all material respects. Firms are reviewed every three years, and the sample must include SOC 2 work where the firm does it. The AICPA adds that a peer review gives no assurance about any single engagement, so a Pass neither ranks these firms nor describes the team proposed for your audit.
Ask each firm who will lead fieldwork and how many SOC 2 audits that person has run in your industry, and check the signer's latest result in the AICPA public file before you sign.
Sources checked October 7, 2026: AICPA Peer Review Summary; AICPA Peer Review Public File.
How long does a SOC 2 audit take with A-LIGN, Schellman, or Coalfire?
With A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire alike, the Type 2 observation period is usually the longest stage: A-LIGN states 3 to 12 months, Schellman typically six months or more, and Coalfire typically at least six months.
That period is separate from evidence collection, fieldwork, and the report, which we estimate at 3 to 12 weeks for A-LIGN, 3 to 12 weeks for Schellman, and 4 to 12 weeks for Coalfire.
When a proposal promises a fast audit, ask which of these stages the number covers.
Observation periods are sourced in each firm's section above.
Choosing among A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire for ISO 27001 certification
A-LIGN, Schellman, and Coalfire each issue ISO 27001 certificates through an accredited certification body that is a separate legal entity from the CPA firm that signs its SOC 2 reports.
- A-LIGN: A-LIGN Compliance and Security, Inc. dba A-LIGN, accredited by ANAB and UKAS (record). SOC 2 signer: Price and Associates CPAs, LLC dba A-LIGN ASSURANCE.
- Schellman: Schellman Compliance, LLC, accredited by ANAB and UKAS (record). SOC 2 signer: Schellman & Company, LLC.
- Coalfire: Coalfire Certification, Inc., accredited by ANAB (record). SOC 2 signer: Coalfire Controls, LLC.
What to ask each firm
- Which accreditation your certificate will carry, if customers expect ANAB or UKAS, and whether it covers ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
- Which entity signs the ISO statement of work, and whether it is separate from the SOC 2 engagement letter.
- How the stage 1 and stage 2 audits fit around your SOC 2 fieldwork and report date.
- Which SOC 2 evidence carries over to the ISO audit, and what the firm will request again.
- Whether the same lead auditor stays for the surveillance audits.
- The ISO and SOC 2 fees on one scope, in one proposal.
Accreditation records checked Oct 7, 2026.
What this comparison cannot tell you
None of the three firms publishes a general SOC 2 rate card or live capacity calendar. The fee ranges are our estimates, and the timing ranges do not promise a start date. A platform or accreditation label also does not prove that the proposed engagement team has used your exact GRC stack or has capacity for your deadline.
Federal marketplace history shows experience, not a government endorsement or a guarantee that a specific report will satisfy a customer. Ask the report recipient to approve the expected scope and signing entity before fieldwork begins.
How the facts were checked
Fee ranges and fieldwork-to-report ranges are our estimates. Peer-review results, register listings, SOC 2 signers, ISO 27001 certification bodies, evidence workflows, and selected scope signals come from the directory records linked in the matrix (Full record verified Oct 7, 2026 for A-LIGN; Full record verified Oct 6, 2026 for Schellman; Full record verified Oct 16, 2026; data refreshed Aug 17, 2026 for Coalfire). The check date for peer-review results, register listings, SOC 2 signers, and ISO 27001 certification bodies appears beside each on this page. An evidence-workflow cell shows the platform in the directory record, and says so when a record names none. Type 2 observation periods and workspace details come from the firms' own pages, linked in the source lines above with the date each was checked. Ask each firm to confirm the proposed team, current availability, final fee, and exact statement of work.
Menu