--- title: Where do I start? Advice for Guard customers from a compliance professional description: New to compliance or a new role? Learn where to begin, how to prioritize efforts, and why incremental progress, cross-functional collaboration, and grace are key to long-term compliance success. --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/where-do-i-start-advice-for-guard-customers-from-a-compliance-professional#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations [Submit a Ticket](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en-us) [Go To Customer Portal](https://help.compliancygroup.com/home?hsLang=en-us) ![Compliancy Group](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Compliancy%20Group%20Logo%20Full%20RBG-sized.png?width=300&height=54&name=Compliancy%20Group%20Logo%20Full%20RBG-sized.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Submit a Ticket](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/kb-tickets/new) - [Go To Customer Portal](https://help.compliancygroup.com/home) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home?hsLang=en-us) 2. [Getting started](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/getting-started?hsLang=en-us) 3. [Onboarding](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/getting-started?hsLang=en-us#onboarding) # Where do I start? Advice for Guard customers from a compliance professional #### **Overview** One of the most common questions new Compliance Officers or team members ask is: > **“Where do I start?”** Healthcare compliance can feel overwhelming—multiple regulations, limited resources, and pressure to get things right. This article provides a practical starting point and guidance on how to use The Guard to begin your compliance journey from one of our Compliance professionals.  ### **Where Do I Start With Compliance?** #### There is no wrong place to start Compliance touches many parts of an organization, so starting anywhere meaningful is a good starting point. To gain momentum quickly, many experienced compliance professionals recommend starting with: - One area of opportunity (a known gap) - One area of success (something working well that builds confidence) This dual approach helps you build understanding while gaining early wins. ### **Practical First Steps** #### **1. Understand your environment** Gather information from: - Policies and procedures - Team members involved in daily operations - Prior audits or risk assessments - Existing documentation inside*The Guard* #### **2. Use The Guard to guide your workflow** *The Guard* provides a structured path to begin building or improving your compliance program. You can start in areas such as: ### **Playbooks** Begin with the HIPAA Playbook or another framework. Playbooks act like workplans—guiding you step-by-step through assessments, safeguards, and remediation tasks. ### **Programs** Assess whether Controls are met, partially met, or not met. Programs surface gaps and automatically recommend remediation tasks. ### **Policies** If you have an urgent need—like updating a Privacy Policy—you can begin your work inside the Policies & Procedures module. ### **Training** Launch or refresh Security Awareness Training or other required modules for your workforce. ### **Risk Assessments** For OSHA or HIPAA, you can start with focused risk assessments to identify high-risk areas quickly. > *Each module provides clear next steps and evidence tools to help you document your work.* ### **Building Engagement With Your Organization** Many new compliance professionals struggle with team buy-in. One effective strategy is to: - Explain that you are assessing where compliance can benefit the organization most - Reassure teams that no one "sent you" to investigate their department - Focus on understanding processes first, not judging them This approach reduces resistance and builds trust early. ### **Helpful Advice for New Compliance Teams** #### **Give yourself grace** Even strong compliance teams cannot review every risk, policy, or process every year. Compliance is a marathon, not a sprint. #### **Compliance is everyone’s job** You may lead the program, but you cannot—and should not—do everything alone. Engage others by: - Assigning tasks - Creating cross-departmental workgroups - Sharing responsibility for risk mitigation #### **Focus on your highest risks first** Use your limited time and resources where they matter most. #### **Document everything** Most organizations are doing more than they realize. Capture: - Informal training (shadowing, coaching) - Daily workflow improvements - Safeguards already in place All of these can be added to The Guard as evidence. #### **Celebrate wins** Recognize employees who model compliant behavior. Celebrate incremental progress—it creates momentum and supports a positive compliance culture. ### **Summary: The Best Places to Start** If you aren’t sure where to begin, start with one of these: ### A Playbook (e.g., HIPAA Playbook) Clear step-by-step guidance + recommended tasks. ### A Risk or Program Assessment Reveals gaps and directs your next actions. ### Policies If something urgent is needed, start there. ### Training Fastest way to improve workforce readiness. - [Getting started](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/getting-started?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Onboarding](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/getting-started?hsLang=en-us#onboarding) - [Product Overviews](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/getting-started?hsLang=en-us#product-overviews) - [Workforce](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/workforce?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Policies](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/workforce?hsLang=en-us#policies) - [Settings Module](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/workforce?hsLang=en-us#settings-module) - [3rd Party Risk](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/3rd-party-risk?hsLang=en-us) - [Incident Management](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/incident-management?hsLang=en-us) - [Risks & Assessments](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/risks-assessments?hsLang=en-us) - [Healthcare Compliance](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Privacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#privacy) - [Data Security](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#data-security) - [OSHA Workplace Safety](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#osha-workplace-safety) - [Clinical & Quality](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#clinical-quality) - [State Requirements](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#state-requirements) - [Fraud, Waste & Abuse](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#fraud-waste-abuse) - [Compliance Operations](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/healthcare-compliance?hsLang=en-us#compliance-operations) - [Legacy Guard Features](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Admin - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#admin-legacy) - [Assets - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#assets-legacy) - [Documents - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#documents-legacy) - [Incidents - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#incidents-legacy) - [My Documents - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#my-documents-legacy) - [My Tasks - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#my-tasks-legacy) - [People - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#people-legacy) - [Programs - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#programs-legacy) - [Reports - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#reports-legacy) - [The Dashboard - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#the-dashboard-legacy) - [Training - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#training-legacy) - [Vendors - Legacy](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/legacy-guard-features?hsLang=en-us#vendors-legacy) - [Account & Billing](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/account-billing?hsLang=en-us) - [The Guard Support](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/the-guard-support?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [P&P Drafts](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/the-guard-support?hsLang=en-us#pp-drafts) - [Settings](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/home/the-guard-support?hsLang=en-us#settings) [![compliancy-group-logo-white](https://knowledge.compliancygroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/compliancy-group-logo-white.png?width=200&height=37&name=compliancy-group-logo-white.png "compliancy-group-logo-white")](http://compliancy-group.com) Contact Us - [support@compliancygroup.com](mailto:support@compliancygroup.com) Copyright © 2026, Compliancy Group LLC Cookie Settings