Why you should care about SOC 2
What a SOC 2 report is, why customers ask for it, and the steps to get one.
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If you sell software or services to other businesses, sooner or later a prospect’s security team will ask for your SOC 2 report. Here’s what that means and how to get there.
What SOC 2 is
- An attestation report, issued by a licensed CPA firm under AICPA standards. It’s often called a “certification,” but strictly it’s an independent auditor’s opinion on your controls.
- It covers one or more Trust Services Criteria: security (always required), availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.
- There are two types. Type I assesses whether your controls are designed properly at a point in time. Type II tests whether they actually operated effectively over a period, usually 3 to 12 months.
Why you should care
- It unblocks sales. Enterprise buyers increasingly require a SOC 2 report before signing, and it replaces long security questionnaires.
- It builds trust. Customers get independent assurance that you protect their data.
- It improves your security. Preparing forces clear ownership of access, change management, vendor risk and incident response.
- It sets you apart. In a competitive deal, having the report ready can be the deciding factor.
Steps to get your SOC 2 report
- Define your scope. Decide which systems, teams and Trust Services Criteria are included.
- Run a readiness assessment. Compare current practices against the criteria to find the gaps.
- Close the gaps. Write policies, implement controls, and set up evidence collection.
- Choose your audit firm. Select a licensed CPA firm that fits your timeline and budget.
- Decide on Type I or Type II. A Type I can satisfy an urgent deal while your Type II observation period runs.
- Operate your controls. For Type II, run your controls consistently through the observation period.
- Complete the audit. The auditor tests your controls and issues the report.
- Maintain it. SOC 2 reports are typically renewed every year, so keep your controls running.
How Alameda Compliance can help
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