In today’s age of growing cyber threats, earning and keeping customer trust can be difficult. A single data breach can cost millions and devastate a brand’s reputation. 81% of consumers say they would stop engaging with a brand online following a data breach.

In order to trust that a business will protect their sensitive and personally identifiable information, prospects, customers, and business partners require proof that organizations have sufficient data protection controls in place. SOC 2 compliance can offer them that assurance.

This article covers all the nitty-gritty details of SOC 2 compliance to help you decide if pursuing compliance is the right move for your business.

An overview of SOC 2® compliance

Data security and privacy are growing concerns for today’s consumers. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they can effectively protect customer data against increasingly sophisticated attacks in order to survive in the marketplace.

Security frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 offer companies guidance around what kinds of cybersecurity controls to implement, as well as the opportunity to have a trusted third-party attest to the operating effectiveness of those controls. Let’s dive into the basics of the SOC 2 framework.

Below we’ll cover the basics of the SOC 2 framework. If you’re looking to dive even deeper into the framework and best practices for achieving compliance, check out our SOC 2 Compliance Hub with 35+ articles and free compliance resources.

What is SOC 2®?

SOC 2 is a security framework that outlines standards for safeguarding customer data. SOC stands for System and Organization Controls (formerly service organization controls).

A SOC 2 attestation report is the result of a third-party audit. An accredited CPA firm must assess the organization’s control environment against the relevant Trust Services Criteria. 

Achieving SOC 2 compliance demonstrates that you have completed a proper risk assessment and risk mitigation as well as implemented security policies and procedures to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access or use. 

Who does SOC 2® apply to?

SOC 2 compliance applies to SaaS companies, service providers, cloud computing companies, hosting services, or data center providers. While SOC 2 is not legally required, every technology-based organization that stores customer data in the cloud should demonstrate SOC 2 compliance.

If your customers are based in the US, a SOC 2 report is almost essential to attract prospects and close deals. SOC 2 has become the most commonly requested security and compliance standard for procurement and vendor security teams in the US.

SOC 2® Type I vs Type II

Unlike security certifications like ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, a SOC 2 report is unique to each service organization.

There are two types of SOC 2 attestation reports. A Type I report assesses an organization’s cybersecurity controls at a single point in time. It tells companies if the security measures they’ve put in place are sufficient to fulfill the selected TSC. Because they are point-in-time audits, a Type I report can be completed in a matter of weeks and is typically less expensive than a Type II audit. 

A Type II audit assesses how an organization’s cybersecurity controls perform over a period of time, typically a 3, 6, 9, or 12-month audit window, to gauge their operating effectiveness. Because of this timeline, Type II audits take longer and are more expensive than a Type I audit. 

Deciding which report type to pursue usually comes down to how quickly an organization needs to have a report in hand. If a SOC 2 report is needed as soon as possible to close an important customer, an organization can obtain a Type I report faster and then prepare for its Type II audit. If there isn’t as much urgency, many organizations opt to pursue a Type II report. Most customers will request a Type II report, and by bypassing the Type I report, organizations can save money by completing a single audit instead of two. 

The SOC 2® Trust Services Criteria (TSC): Compliance requirements

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) built the SOC 2 framework around five Trust Services Criteria (formerly known as the Trust Principles):

• Security: Evaluates whether your systems and controls can protect information against physical access, damage, use, or modifications that could hinder users. Security is also known as the “common criteria,” as it’s the only mandatory trust principle. The others are optional. 
• Availability: The availability principle checks whether your system and information are readily available for use as committed to via service-level agreements (SLAs). It applies to service organizations that offer cloud computing or data storage services. 
• Processing integrity: It examines the accuracy, timeliness, validity, completeness, and authorization of system processing. This also applies to SaaS and technology companies that provide e-commerce or finance-related services.
• Confidentiality: It examines whether your systems and internal controls are capable of protecting confidential data. You should include this principle in your SOC 2 report if you handle confidential information, like insurance or banking data for clients. 
• Privacy: Unlike confidentiality, which applies to a wide array of sensitive data, privacy focuses entirely on personal information. It evaluates whether your systems gather, store, show, use, and dispose of personal information in a manner that meets client objectives. 

The first step in the SOC 2 compliance process is deciding which Trust Services Criteria you want to include in your audit report. In other words, which TSC are in scope for your audit. You implement systems and information security controls based on the Trust Services Criteria relevant to your organization and your customers.

Who performs a SOC 2® audit?

SOC 2 audits can only be performed by an AICPA-accredited Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm. The auditing firm must be independent so it can perform an objective examination and deliver an unbiased report. 

If you’re ready for a SOC 2 audit and are looking for a trusted auditing firm, you can refer to our list of highly-regarded CPAs.

What happens during a SOC 2® audit?

SOC 2 is an attestation report, not a certification like ISO 27001. You don’t pass or fail a SOC 2 audit. Rather, you get a detailed report with the auditor’s opinion on how your service organization complies with your selected Trust Services Criteria.

Auditors spend anywhere from a few weeks to a few months reviewing your systems and controls, depending on the scope of your audit and the report type you chose. They’ll run tests, review evidence, and interview members of your team before producing a final report.

The audit report explains the auditor’s findings, including their opinion on whether your security controls are compliant with SOC 2 requirements.

• An “unqualified opinion” is a pass, and the organization is compliant with SOC 2.
• A “qualified opinion” means the organization is almost compliant, but one or more areas require improvement.
• An “adverse opinion” means the organization falls short of SOC 2 compliance in one or more non-negotiable areas.
• A “disclaimer of opinion” means the auditor doesn’t have enough evidence to support any of the first three options.

The full report also includes an overview of the audit scope, descriptions of tests and test results, a list of any cybersecurity issues the auditor discovered, and their recommendations for improvements or remediation requirements. It also includes a management assertion, which allows organizations to make claims (or “assertions”) about its own systems and controls.

A clean report assures customers and prospects that your organization has implemented effective security measures and that they’re functioning effectively to protect sensitive data. 

Unlike ISO 27001 certifications, SOC 2 reports don’t have a formal expiration date. That said, most customers will only accept a report that was issued within the last 12 months. For this reason, most companies undergo an audit on an annual basis. 

How long does it take to get SOC 2® compliant?

Compliance timelines depend on a few factors, including the size and complexity of your organization and systems, audit scope, report type, and audit window.

In general, the pre-audit phase  typically takes between two and nine months to complete and includes the readiness assessment, gap analysis, and remediation. 

The audit itself can take between one and five months, depending on report type and audit scope. Let’s break this down by report type.

SOC 2 Type I audit timeline

Pre-audit preparation: 1-3 months

To prepare for a Type I audit, organizations typically create and implement policies, establish and document procedures, complete a gap analysis and remediation, and complete security awareness training with employees. 

Audit: 1 month

The auditor will conduct a point-in-time audit and issue a SOC 2 Type I report. 

SOC 2 Type II audit timeline 

Pre-audit preparation: 1-3 months + audit window

To prepare for a Type II audit, organizations usually select the relevant TSC, conduct a gap analysis and remediation, implement policies and processes, train employees, and complete a readiness assessment. 

Audit window: Start the clock on your 3, 6, 9, or 12-month review window. This is the period of time that your controls and processes are running and you are collecting evidence for your auditor to review.

Audit: Month 9-12

The auditor will conduct their assessment of your documentation, interview your team, and issue your SOC 2 Type II report.  

Getting SOC 2 compliant with Secureframe can save you hundreds of hours of manual work. Our automation platform provides a library of auditor-approved policy templates and hundreds of integrations to automate evidence collection. Our team of in-house compliance experts will help you at every step of the way, from understanding control requirements and determining your audit readiness all the way through the audit itself.

The SOC 2® audit process: 5 Phases

Understanding what happens during a SOC 2 audit can help organizations better prepare and have a more successful outcome. Below, we’ll outline what happens during a SOC 2 audit, how long the process takes, and the typical costs involved. 

Phase 1: Define SOC 2 scope

Decide whether to pursue a Type I or Type II report and the Trust Services Criteria you’ll include in your audit based on your contractual, legal, regulatory, or customer obligations. Depending on why you’re seeking SOC 2 compliance, you can include only security or all five TSC.

If you select a Type II report, you’ll also decide on a 3, 6, 9, or 12-month review window. 

Phase 2: Perform a gap analysis 

Determine your control objectives relative to your TSC, then assess the current state of your control environment and complete a gap analysis against SOC 2 requirements. Create an action plan for remediating any gaps in your controls. 

Phase 3: Execute remediation plan and readiness assessment

In this phase, you allocate resources to execute the remediation plan and close the gaps uncovered in the previous phase. After completing a SOC 2 readiness assessment, you can begin the formal audit.

Phase 4: Begin the audit

Now the auditor will begin the attestation process, evaluating and testing your controls against the TSC you’ve selected.

Phase 5: Get your SOC report

SOC 2 auditing can take up to five weeks, depending on audit scope and number of controls. The auditor will deliver the SOC 2 audit report with four standard features:

• Management’s assertion
• Description of services
• Auditor’s opinion
• Results of testing

How much does a SOC 2® audit cost?

Just as the compliance timeline can vary, the cost of SOC 2 depends on several factors. 

• Whether you are pursuing a Type 1 or Type 2 report
• The number of Trust Services Criteria included in your audit
• The size of your organization and complexity of your systems and controls
• Any outsourced services, like hiring a consultant to complete a readiness assessment and help implement controls  
• Hiring the CPA firm to conduct the audit
• Any additional tools and/or employee training needed to remediate gaps

Most companies can expect to spend between $20k-$200k to prepare for and complete a SOC 2 audit.

SOC 2® compliance automation

SOC 2 compliance, while not legally mandated, is an essential standard for technology companies striving to build trust and compete in today’s market. The process of achieving and maintaining SOC 2 compliance, however, requires a significant investment of time, resources, and meticulous attention to detail.

Compliance automation software is a game-changer. It drastically simplifies and streamlines this complex process, reducing the burden on your team while maintaining the high standards required for SOC 2.

SOC 2 automation software significantly cuts down the hundreds of hours typically spent on manual tasks during the compliance process. Instead of dedicating vast amounts of time to gathering evidence, managing policies, or filling out security questionnaires, automation tools handle these tasks efficiently, freeing your team to focus on higher-priority, revenue-generating activities. This reduction in manual labor not only saves time but also translates into substantial cost savings, making compliance more accessible and less daunting.

To highlight the impact of compliance automation, we leveraged data from a 2024 survey of Secureframe users conducted by UserEvidence. The survey data reveals several compelling benefits of compliance automation:

• Reduces manual work: SOC 2 compliance traditionally involves labor-intensive tasks like evidence collection, policy management, and risk assessments. Automation platforms alleviate this burden by automating these processes, allowing your team to focus on strategic initiatives. According to the survey, 97% of Secureframe users reported a reduction in time spent on compliance tasks, with 76% cutting that time by at least half. Additionally, 85% of users reported annual cost savings, demonstrating the tangible financial benefits of automation.
• Spots gaps in your system configurations and internal controls: Identifying and addressing gaps in your security controls is crucial for maintaining SOC 2 compliance. Automation tools like Secureframe provide automated gap analysis, helping you pinpoint areas that need improvement. As you progress through the SOC 2 framework, Secureframe updates your compliance status in real-time, ensuring you're always audit-ready. This proactive approach to gap analysis was a key benefit for 97% of Secureframe users, who reported an improvement in their security and compliance posture.
• Streamlines the audit process for you and your auditor: Automating evidence collection and transfer simplifies the audit process, reducing the back-and-forth between your team and the auditor. Secureframe’s established relationships with auditors further expedite the process, making audits quicker and less stressful. This efficiency was recognized by 95% of Secureframe users, who reported time and resource savings during the compliance process.
• Makes it easier to maintain compliance: Compliance isn’t a one-time event; it requires continuous monitoring and management. Automation platforms provide real-time alerts for potential non-conformities, allowing you to address issues proactively rather than reactively. This capability was highly valued by 75% of Secureframe users, who reported a reduction in the risk of non-compliance, and 71% who saw improved visibility into their security and compliance posture.
• Simplifies compliance across multiple frameworks: Many organizations must comply with multiple frameworks, such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, which often have overlapping requirements. Compliance automation tools can map controls across different frameworks, reducing redundant work and accelerating the compliance process. Secureframe users experienced significant time savings, with 89% reporting faster time-to-compliance for multiple frameworks, and 53% achieving these improvements by 76% or more.

Some key features of Secureframe’s compliance automation platform that enable customers to reap the benefits above are: 

• Automated evidence collection to eliminate manual tasks like taking screenshots and organizing documentation 
• Continuous monitoring of your tech stack and cloud services to ensure ongoing SOC 2 compliance and flag nonconformities 
• Simplified vendor and personnel management
• Auditor-approved policy templates for SOC 2 documentation, like a Privacy and Data Protection Policy template, to save time spent on policy creation 
• Applying your current controls across multiple frameworks to simplify compliance with frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001

Secureframe offers all of the above and much more, including a team of expert former auditors to support you throughout the entire SOC 2 compliance process. 

Free resources to simplify SOC 2® compliance

Check out our library of free resources to help you navigate the SOC 2 compliance process. You’ll find guides, policy templates, evidence collection spreadsheets, compliance checklists, and more.