Overseen by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 evaluates the implementation of effective standards and controls for organizations outside the financial sector, including software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers. Since the SOC 2 certification validity period only lasts for a limited amount of time, those pursuing certification on a long-term basis will need to dedicate themselves to learning and maintaining these rules.  (more…)

Organizations looking to build trust among current and potential clients have a host of tools available to them—but one of the most effective is a SOC 2 audit. SOC 2 is an assessment framework overseen by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The SOC 2 audit is a robust evaluation process, whether Type 1 (short-term) or Type 2 (long-term). So, to guarantee success, organizations should turn to a SOC 2 implementation guide—like this one. (more…)

Service organizations vary widely in nature, but all need to assure their clients’ trust. One significant hurdle to that effect is securing the networks upon which you and your customers rely. A SOC 2 audit, using the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA) Trust Services Criteria (TSC), goes a long way toward earning that trust. Implementing network security monitoring solutions and techniques help ensure a successful SOC 2 audit report and optimize your cyberdefenses more broadly. (more…)

Organizations that provide software and other services to businesses and individuals must ensure that all data entrusted to them by customers is secure. (more…)

To help service organizations assure their clients of data safety, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has developed several System and Organization Controls (SOC) audits. There are three variations, but SOC 2 is the most common for evaluating whether a company’s security practices are up to par. (more…)

The best defense is a potent offense. That’s the thinking behind the “ethical hacking” cybersecurity practice known as penetration testing (pen-testing). To understand which vulnerabilities a cybercriminal could exploit and how, it’s best to test them out yourself — or with the help of an expert service provider. Pen-testing is ideal for ensuring all regulatory requirements are in place, such as those for SOC 2 compliance.

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The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has determined a set of requirements your company may need to follow if it is a “service organization” that stores sensitive user data on the cloud. These requirements are known as Security Organization Controls (SOC), and audits to ensure they’re in place are referred to as SOC reporting.

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The current information environment puts pressure on businesses to find partners, services, and products that build security into their foundation. With cyberattacks and data loss costing businesses millions every year, fewer are willing to acquire new software without knowing if they have implemented some security framework.  (more…)

Businesses that process client data need to find ways to make their valued clients trust them.  Whether your business is storing delicate financial information, transporting medical records, or processing intricate biographical details, it’s important to follow the SOC 2 guidelines set out by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). But what do these guidelines entail? What does SOC 2 certification cost, and what factors impact and influence cost?

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Data is growing faster than it ever has before. But it is starting to become the biggest risk of every organization. The convenience and collaboration of using data stores in the cloud means that companies and hackers have more information and more access to it by design. 

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