SOC 2 Compliance: What It Is and How to Get Ready

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is a framework from the AICPA that shows your customers and partners how you protect their data. Unlike a one-time checklist, SOC 2 is about ongoing controls over security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and sometimes privacy. For SaaS vendors, fintechs, healthcare tech, and any business that handles sensitive customer data, SOC 2 has become a baseline expectation in enterprise sales and procurement.

Type I vs Type II

SOC 2 Type I answers: “Do you have the right controls in place at a point in time?” An auditor examines your control design and whether it’s suitably implemented. Type I is often the first step for organizations new to SOC 2: it forces you to document and implement controls and gives you a report to share with customers while you build toward Type II.

SOC 2 Type II answers: “Do those controls operate effectively over a period (usually 6–12 months)?” Auditors test operating effectiveness through sample selection, inquiry, and observation over the audit period. Type II is what most enterprise buyers expect when they ask for “SOC 2,” because it provides assurance that controls didn’t just exist on paper but were consistently applied.

Trust Service Criteria

The “trust service criteria” are the categories auditors use to evaluate controls. Most organizations start with Security (required for all SOC 2 reports). Many add Availability (for uptime-sensitive services) and Confidentiality (when handling confidential information); some add Processing Integrity (for processing accuracy) or Privacy (when handling personal information) depending on the service and data.

• Security – Protection against unauthorized access. This spans access control, monitoring and detection, change management, risk mitigation, and incident response.
• Availability – System availability and capacity/monitoring relevant to availability commitments.
• Confidentiality – Confidential information is protected as committed or agreed.

How to Get Ready

Start by defining scope: which systems, products, and data support the service you’re attesting to. Scope creep is common—keep the first report focused so you can deliver on time. Then map controls to the applicable criteria, often with a readiness assessment or gap analysis. Implement or tighten controls (access reviews, logging, incident response, vendor risk, etc.), document policies and procedures, and run them long enough to have evidence for a Type II period. Many teams do a Type I first, then a Type II once they have 6–12 months of evidence.

Evidence matters as much as the controls themselves. Auditors will request samples: access reviews, change tickets, incident logs, training records, and more. Building habits of documentation and retention from day one reduces last-minute scrambling. Working with a qualified auditor early helps align scope and control design so you don’t over- or under-invest. If you’re preparing for SOC 2, we can help with readiness reviews, control design, and ongoing compliance—get in touch.