Why is compliance a cause of angst? Compliance is a necessary component of any successful regulatory environment and quality management system. Standard operating procedures, policies, regulations, guidelines, law, control, risk, standards, and requirements combine as the tools used to create a compliant environment. Responsibility and accountability for actions and behaviors are the human element that create a compliant environment. If an organization doesn't maintain regulatory compliance, it can run into the danger of an audit finding, which can have a negative impact on the company internally and externally.