What Is a SOC 2 Audit?

A System and Organization Controls for Service Organizations 2 (SOC 2) audit assesses how well a service provider’s internal controls and practices safeguard customer data’s privacy and security. Service providers include those providing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or cloud computing services, as well as other professional services such as consulting that are routinely provided by third-party vendors.

What is a SOC 2 Audit?

A SOC 2 auditor measures the vendor’s internal controls and practices against applicable Trust Services Criteria, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounting (AICPA). The resulting audit report, or attestation, states whether the vendor’s controls are sufficient to assure data security – or, if not, where the vendor needs to improve.

The five Trust Services Criteria are as follows:

Security. The system is protected against unauthorized access (both physical and logical).
Availability. The system is available for operation and use as committed or agreed.
Processing integrity. System processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized to meet the organization’s objectives.
Confidentiality. Information designated as “confidential” is protected according to policy or agreement.
Privacy. Personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of in conformity with the commitments in the entity’s privacy notice and with criteria outlined in Generally Accepted Privacy Principles issued by the (AICPA).

What is a SOC Report and Who Needs One?

A Service Organization Control (SOC) report is a form of attestation that evaluates the controls and processes within a service organization in relation to financial reporting, security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy of data. These reports are crucial for assuring stakeholders about the effective management and safeguarding of data handled by service organizations. There are three types of SOC reports: SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3, each with different focuses and purposes.

1. SOC 1 Report:

Focus: Evaluates the controls at a service organization which are relevant to an audit of a user entity’s financial statements.
Who Needs It: Service organizations that have an impact on their clients’ financial reporting.

2. SOC 2 Report:

Focus: Examines controls relevant to the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy.
Who Needs It: Service organizations that store, process, or transmit sensitive information on behalf of their clients, particularly in tech and cloud computing sectors.

3. SOC 3 Report:

Focus: Similar to SOC 2 but less detailed, and intended for general public consumption.
Who Needs It: Organizations looking to provide assurance on their controls while also maintaining a level of confidentiality regarding their control environments.

The need for a SOC report often arises in the following scenarios:

Business Relationships: Companies may require a SOC report from their service providers to ensure they have robust controls in place, particularly when the service affects the company’s financial reporting, or involves handling sensitive data.
Regulatory Compliance: Some industries are subject to regulations that require assurance regarding the effectiveness of controls around financial reporting or data security.
Vendor Management: Companies may require their vendors to undergo SOC reporting to validate their operational effectiveness and data management practices.
Client Assurance: A SOC report can provide assurance to clients regarding the service organization‘s commitment to maintaining a strong control environment.

The issuance of SOC reports is guided by the standards set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The process to obtain a SOC report includes engaging an independent auditing firm to assess the operational effectiveness of controls, and to provide a professional opinion on the design and effectiveness of these controls.

Why Are SOC Audits Important?

SOC audits are crucial for various reasons, highlighting the operational effectiveness and integrity of a service organization’s control environment. Here’s a breakdown of why they are important:

1. Trust and Assurance:

SOC audits provide assurance to stakeholders, including clients and partners, that the service organization has robust controls in place to manage and protect data.
By demonstrating adherence to industry standards, organizations can build trust and confidence among their stakeholders.

2. Regulatory Compliance:

Many industries are subject to regulatory requirements concerning data security and privacy. SOC reports help organizations comply with these regulations by providing an independent evaluation of their control environment.
The assurance provided by SOC reports can be crucial for meeting the demands of regulators and avoiding penalties associated with non-compliance.

3. Risk Management:

SOC audits help in identifying and mitigating risks associated with data management, security, and processing integrity.
By evaluating the effectiveness of controls, organizations can address vulnerabilities and enhance their risk management practices.

4. Competitive Advantage:

In competitive markets, having a SOC report can serve as a differentiator, showcasing an organization’s commitment to maintaining a high level of control over its services and data management practices.
Companies may be more inclined to do business with service organizations that have undergone SOC audits as it reflects a level of professionalism and commitment to quality and security.

5. Vendor and Third-party Management:

Companies often require their vendors and third-party service providers to undergo SOC audits to ensure that they have adequate controls in place.
SOC reports facilitate vendor management processes by providing a benchmark for evaluating the control environments of service providers.

6. Operational Efficiency:

The process of preparing for a SOC audit can help organizations streamline their processes, identify inefficiencies, and improve their operational effectiveness.
The feedback from SOC audits can be invaluable for making data-driven decisions to enhance operational efficiency.

7. Financial Integrity:

Particularly with SOC 1 audits, the focus is on controls relevant to financial reporting. This is crucial for ensuring the financial integrity of both the service organization and its clients.

8. Market Confidence:

By adhering to industry standards and undergoing regular SOC audits, organizations can contribute to building market confidence in the sectors they operate in.

9. Legal Protection:

Having a SOC report may provide legal protection in the event of data breaches or other security incidents by demonstrating a proactive approach to managing and protecting data.

10. Transparency:

SOC reports promote transparency by providing insights into the organization’s control environment and operational effectiveness, which can be crucial for informed decision-making by stakeholders.

In essence, SOC audits are a critical mechanism for demonstrating accountability, enhancing operational efficiency, and fulfilling regulatory requirements, which collectively contribute to the overall credibility and success of an organization. All audits are conducted against the trust services categories to test information security and operating effectiveness.

Differences Between SOC 1 and SOC 2

SOC audits can come in several forms: SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3.

A SOC 1 audit focuses on a vendor’s internal controls over financial reporting. For example, if a vendor provides financial processing services to corporate clients, those clients might want a SOC 1 audit to assure that the vendor will handle the client’s financial transactions according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

A SOC 2 audit assesses a vendor’s data security practices, to assure that clients can trust the vendor with their sensitive data. A SOC 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Criteria mentioned above, but a SOC 2 audit does not need to address all five TSCs. The security TSC is required; the other four are optional, depending on exactly what security risks are involved in the vendor-customer relationship.

A SOC 3 audit is similar to a SOC 2 audit, in that it reviews cybersecurity controls; but it is less exhaustive than a SOC 2 and can be shared publicly (say, on a vendor’s website or in marketing materials) to demonstrate the vendor’s commitment to security.

The Assessment Process

The independent certified public accountant or accounting firm you select to conduct your SOC 2 audit will generally follow several steps.

Determine the scope of the audit. This includes selecting which of the Trust Services Criteria and their 61 requirements apply to your organization.
Decide whether to proceed with a Type 1 or Type 2 audit.
Examine your controls for each applicable Trust Services Criteria, a process that includes evidence collection. Documents the auditor may examine:

- Organizational charts
- Asset inventories
- Onboarding and off-boarding processes
- Change management processes

There is no need to worry if the auditor finds problems or gaps in your controls; you’ll have an opportunity to remediate those weaknesses. That said, finding numerous weaknesses can drive up your audit costs. Your best bet for efficiency and lower costs throughout the SOC 2 audit is to use a SOC 2 audit checklist that helps you to prepare for the audit before it even begins.

How to Prepare for a SOC 2 Audit

The key to a successful SOC 2 audit is preparation. Before the auditor walks in your door, you should have checked off all the boxes on your SOC 2 compliance checklist and have your supporting evidence on hand. Here’s how to prepare.

Establish your goals. What is the scope of your audit? Begin by establishing which of the SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria and their 61 requirements apply to your organization.
Organize your materials. Gather the documents and correspondence proving the effectiveness of your controls. Confirm that they are in line with the Trust Services Criteria and principles you’ve deemed applicable.
Conduct a self-audit. This step can save untold grief and cost down the road. If you can show the auditor conducting your SOC 2 audit that you have remediated compliance issues, your organization will be well on its way to achieving that coveted SOC 2 attestation and demonstrating to your customers that you take cybersecurity seriously.

What Types of SOC 2 Audits Exist?

SOC 2 audits can be one of two types.

A Type 1 report only assesses whether the vendor’s controls are adequately designed to achieve certain control objectives (usually the objectives defined by the TSCs used to guide the audit), as of a specific date. In other words, a Type 1 report is a snapshot of the vendor’s security controls at a single point in time.

A Type 2 report goes further, to test whether those controls then work as intended over a period of time (say, six months or one year).

SOC 2 reports, of either type, usually aren’t meant for widespread circulation. The company requesting the audit, the vendor undergoing it, and the audit firms performing it can all see the report; but since each SOC 2 audit has a specially tailored scope defined by the TSCs used in the audit, the final SOC 2 report isn’t intended to be shared with others. (In contrast to a SOC 3 report, which is.)

What Is a SOC Report in an Audit?

SOC 2 reports are different from other information security standards and frameworks because there is no exhaustive list of specific criteria the vendor must meet. Instead, the AICPA gives generic criteria (the Trust Service Criteria) that a vendor can use to demonstrate that it has controls in place to manage risks associated with their service.

Typically a vendor will obtain a SOC 2 Type 1 report first, to confirm the design of its security controls. Then at some point in the future the vendor proceeds to a Type 2 report, to confirm how well those controls work over time.

Automate SOC 2 Compliance with RiskOptics ZenGRC

If SOC 2 certification were easy, everyone would have done it already. Unfortunately, SOC 2 is a complex information security and privacy framework that changes frequently and can be confusing – especially for organizations trying to manage compliance using Excel or other spreadsheets. You can simplify the task and save time by using a digital solution.

ZenGRC, a compliance and audit management system, provides a faster, smoother road to compliance by reducing time-consuming manual procedures, expediting onboarding and keeping you informed about the status and efficacy of your programs.

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An automated and integrated database of references will keep you ahead of the constantly changing regulatory landscape. Reciprocity allows you to:

Get audit-ready in under 30 minutes
Alleviate staff burdens with collaboration and automated workflows
Learn about the impact of compliance initiatives on your cyber risk posture to prioritize resources

ZenGRC provides you with the visibility you need to analyze the progress and success of your compliance activities and their influence on risk reduction. An audit overview report summarizes the frameworks, requirements, and controls in scope, the activities to be done, and the present audit status.

Schedule a demo today to learn how ZenGRC can streamline your audit process.