SOC 2
SOC 2 — Trust Services Criteria for Security, Availability & Privacy
The industry standard for demonstrating operational security and trust
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an audit framework that evaluates an organization's controls relevant to the Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. It is one of the most sought-after compliance reports for technology and SaaS companies.
SOC 2 Type I assesses the design of controls at a point in time, while SOC 2 Type II evaluates both design and operating effectiveness over a period (typically 6-12 months). Type II is more valuable as it demonstrates sustained control performance.
SOC 2 reports are issued by independent CPA firms and are shared with customers, prospects, and partners under NDA to demonstrate the organization's commitment to security and operational excellence.
Key Highlights
- Based on AICPA Trust Services Criteria (TSC)
- Five categories: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy
- Security (Common Criteria) is mandatory; others are optional
- Type I: Point-in-time design; Type II: Operating effectiveness over a period
- Issued by independent CPA firms
- Increasingly required by enterprise customers and in procurement
Why is SOC 2 Important?
SOC 2 has become the de facto standard for technology and SaaS companies to demonstrate their security and operational controls. Enterprise customers increasingly require SOC 2 reports before engaging with service providers.
Customer Requirement
Meet the most commonly requested compliance report for technology and SaaS companies in enterprise sales.
Trust Demonstration
Provide independent, third-party assurance of your security, availability, and privacy controls.
Sales Acceleration
Reduce security review cycles and accelerate enterprise sales by proactively providing SOC 2 reports.
Security Improvement
Strengthen your security posture through the structured control framework and independent assessment.
Market Credibility
Join the ranks of trusted service providers who demonstrate transparency through SOC 2 reporting.
Risk Management
Identify and address control weaknesses before they lead to security incidents or customer impact.
How SOC 2 Works
SOC 2 compliance requires implementing controls aligned with the Trust Services Criteria and engaging a CPA firm for independent assessment.
Select Trust Services Criteria
Choose which TSC categories to include: Security is mandatory, plus optionally Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and/or Privacy.
Control Design
Design and document controls that meet each applicable Trust Services Criteria point, covering policies, processes, and technical controls.
Control Implementation
Implement controls across your technology stack, processes, and personnel covering areas like access control, change management, and monitoring.
Evidence Collection
Establish processes for collecting and maintaining evidence of control operation, including automated evidence collection where possible.
Readiness Assessment
Conduct a pre-audit readiness assessment to identify any control gaps or evidence deficiencies before the CPA examination.
CPA Examination
The CPA firm examines controls through inquiry, observation, inspection, and re-performance over the audit period.
Report Issuance
The CPA firm issues the SOC 2 report with their opinion, description of controls, tests performed, and results.
How Srida IT Helps You Achieve SOC 2
Our end-to-end consulting process takes your organization from initial assessment to successful certification and ongoing compliance.
Gap Assessment
We evaluate your current controls against SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria, identifying gaps for each selected category.
Understanding the Business
We study your technology architecture, service delivery model, data handling practices, and customer commitments to design appropriate controls.
Risk Assessment
We assess risks to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy based on your specific service and technology environment.
Policies Writing & Alignment
We develop security policies, procedures, and control documentation mapped to SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria points.
Controls Implementation
We implement controls covering access management, change management, incident response, monitoring, encryption, and vendor management.
Controls Validation
We test controls and collect evidence through walkthroughs, configuration reviews, and sample testing to verify operating effectiveness.
Mock Audit
We conduct a readiness assessment simulating the CPA examination to identify and address any remaining gaps.
Certification Audit Support
We coordinate with the CPA firm, manage evidence requests, facilitate interviews, and resolve findings during the SOC 2 examination.
Annual Internal Audits
We conduct continuous control monitoring and interim testing between annual SOC 2 audits to maintain readiness.
Documentation Support
We maintain the system description, control matrices, evidence packages, and management responses throughout the SOC 2 cycle.
Industries That Benefit from SOC 2
Related Frameworks
SOC 1
Controls assurance for services impacting financial reporting
ISO 27001
The global gold standard for information security management
NIST CSF
The leading cybersecurity risk management framework
HIPAA
US federal standard for protecting health information privacy and security
Ready to Achieve SOC 2 Compliance?
Get a free gap assessment and discover how Srida IT can guide your organization through SOC 2 implementation and certification.