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Client trust is incredibly valuable––and fragile. Fostering and maintaining that trust requires a careful approach, especially when it comes to managing sensitive data. The SOC 2 framework was developed for that purpose, but understanding how to get SOC 2 certification can be tricky.
SOC 2 stands for System and Organization Controls 2. Certification is a rigorous auditing process designed to ensure client data protection. It’s most relevant to technology and cloud-based companies that handle sensitive information on a regular basis. Companies that achieve SOC 2 certification demonstrate a high level of data security and operational integrity.
The certification process involves five key pillars known as the Trust Services Criteria.
Security is the foundation of SOC 2. It aims to protect systems from unauthorized access, both external and internal. Security controls help prevent breaches that could potentially compromise sensitive data. To get SOC 2 certification, businesses must implement robust security measures such as firewalls and encryption.
System availability is crucial to maintaining service levels and responding to incidents as quickly as possible. To satisfy this requirement, businesses must have processes in place for disaster recovery and backup.
This criterion ensures that systems process data accurately, completely, and in a timely manner. It’s essential for delivering reliable services to clients. It requires that controls be put in place to prevent data from being altered or deleted during processing unless authorized.
Protecting confidential information is a must for SOC 2. Everything from business secrets to customer data must be kept under wraps, as it could harm individuals or the entire organization if it were to come to light.
Privacy goes a step further than confidentiality, focusing specifically on protecting the personal data collected, stored, and used by the company. This principle mandates that organizations comply with all relevant privacy laws, such as GDPR, and that personal data is handled with the highest level of care.
SOC 2 certification is a complex and ongoing process that requires input and effort from several parties. It’s not just about passing an audit––it’s about embedding best practices into the fabric of your business. It’s about creating a culture of compliance, where everyone is on board with protecting data and organizational integrity.
When learning how to get SOC 2 certification, the first thing you’ll want to do is conduct a readiness assessment. You can start by evaluating your current systems, policies, and procedures against the Trust Service Criteria. This will help identify gaps that need addressing before the official audit.
Be sure to refine your internal controls and policies to align with SOC 2 requirements. For example, you might need to improve your security protocols or establish better monitoring and reporting mechanisms. You want to make sure your organization not only meets but, if possible, exceeds SOC 2 standards.
Once you’ve identified the areas that need help and determined how to get SOC 2 certification, it’s time to implement the controls necessary to fix them. Here, you will deploy the technical, administrative, and physical safeguards required to meet the SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re ready for the audit. This is conducted by an independent third party who will evaluate the effectiveness of your controls against the Trust Service Criteria. Plan for a very thorough auditing process that involves documentation review and interviews.
The auditor will also determine whether or not your organization’s controls are well-designed and operating effectively. If your organization is pursuing a Type 1 report, the audit will assess control designs at a specific point in time. For a Type ll report, the audit will evaluate the effectiveness of these controls over a period of time, usually six months to a year.
You aren’t done yet. Even after the audit, there are a few things you need to get in order. First, your organization will receive a SOC 2 report that verifies your commitment to data security and operational excellence. After that, it’s important to focus on continuous compliance, as SOC 2 adherence isn’t a set-it-and-leave-it type thing.
To remain compliant with SOC 2 standards post-audit, be sure to conduct regular internal audits and periodic reviews of security policies. Stay updated with changes in regulatory requirements, as they shift frequently. By putting in this effort, you can secure your data today while maintaining a solid foundation for tomorrow.
How long it takes to get SOC 2 compliance depends on a number of factors, including your current cybersecurity practices and controls. For most companies, first-time certification can take anywhere from six weeks to six months.
Type 1 audits are shorter SOC 2 audits, focusing solely on the state of your cybersecurity measures at the time of the audit. You can think of them as a safety inspection for your company’s data security practices.
Type 2 audits are usually longer and have a broader focus. Because they evaluate your ongoing cybersecurity practices over an extended period of time, these audits can last up to a year. When most enterprises talk about getting SOC 2 certification, they are talking about Type 2.
Unlike some other certifications, businesses cannot obtain SOC 2 certification on their own. It requires an independent audit by a certified public accountant (CPA) or a licensed firm that specializes in SOC audits.
Self-certification would create a conflict of interest, as it lacks the objectivity and impartiality necessary to provide clients and stakeholders with confidence in an organization’s security measures. This external validation is key to building trust with clients, partners, and regulators.
When thinking about how to get SOC 2 certification, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. There’s so much to do to prepare for auditing, and trying to manage everything on your own can be difficult, to say the least. Compyl helps businesses maintain SOC 2 compliance at all times, providing a centralized platform for certification. To see how we can simplify the process, contact us today.
