SOC2

SOC 2 is a framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for service organizations. It provides a standardized set of guidelines and controls for managing customer data. The primary goal of SOC 2 is to ensure that organizations securely manage data to protect the interests of their clients and their own privacy.

The SOC 2 framework is based on five "Trust Services Criteria": Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Organizations must meet the requirements of at least one of these criteria, though most aim to comply with several, often focusing on Security, Availability, and Processing Integrity for a comprehensive audit.

Achieving SOC 2 compliance involves a rigorous audit conducted by an independent third-party auditor. This audit examines the organization's policies, procedures, and operational controls against the selected Trust Services Criteria. The result of a successful audit is a SOC 2 report, which provides assurance to customers and partners that the organization has implemented robust security and data management practices.

There are two types of SOC 2 reports. A Type 1 report evaluates the design of an organization's controls at a specific point in time. A Type 2 report, which is more comprehensive, assesses both the design and the operating effectiveness of these controls over a specified period, typically six to twelve months. Many organizations seek SOC 2 compliance to build trust with their customers, especially in industries where data security and privacy are paramount, such as cloud computing, SaaS, and data processing services.