SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2), developed by AICPA, is a globally respected compliance framework that assesses how service organizations secure, process, and manage customer data.

At its core, SOC 2 evaluates your controls against five Trust Services Criteria (TSC):

𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Protection of systems from unauthorized access. This is mandatory for all SOC 2 reports.

𝟮. 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Ensuring systems are operational and accessible as promised.

𝟯. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Delivering system outputs that are complete, valid, accurate, and timely.

𝟰. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Ensuring sensitive data is protected and shared only with authorized entities.

𝟱. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 – Proper collection, retention, disclosure, and disposal of personal data in line with privacy policies.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗢𝗖 𝟮 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿?

Cloud adoption is the default, not the exception. Most start-ups and enterprises rely on cloud-based services for core operations.

Procurement teams are cautious — they require SOC 2 reports before engaging with a vendor.

Cyber threats are growing. Ransomware, data breaches, and supply chain attacks have made cybersecurity a boardroom conversation.

Customers ask harder questions. They want to know how an organisation is storing their data, who can access it, and how you detect threats.

SOC 2 helps you answer all of these questions — with evidence, not promises.

𝗦𝗢𝗖 𝟮: 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 — 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

A SOC 2 report shows that your business doesn’t just comply with security best practices — it operates securely by design. It tells your customers:

1. You monitor your systems for unusual activity.

2. You limit employee access to sensitive data.

3. You enforce strong authentication and encryption.

4. You have a tested incident response plan.

5. You manage third-party risks carefully.

𝗦𝗢𝗖 𝟮 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗜 𝘃𝘀. 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗜𝗜 – 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?

𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗜 assesses the design of your controls at a single point in time.

𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗜𝗜 evaluates the operating effectiveness of those controls over a period (usually 3–12 months).

Type II is what most serious clients will expect — it reflects consistent performance and security maturity.

In short, SOC 2 showcases your customers, investors, and partners that you are serious about security and worthy of their trust.Do you have a roadmap for SOC 2?

If not, now is the time.