Successfully completing a SOC 2 Type 2 audit requires careful planning and execution. Preparation ensures your organization meets compliance standards and avoids delays during the assessment. The four essential steps include:
- Define the scope: Clearly establish the implementation and assessment boundaries for your SOC 2 Type 2 audit.
- Implement Common Criteria controls: Apply the necessary controls from the SOC 2 Type 2 controls list.
- Apply additional required controls: Implement any extra controls that may be required for your organization.
- Conduct the assessment and report findings: Complete the audit process and generate a comprehensive SOC 2 compliance report.
Step 1: Scope Out Your SOC Implementation
The first step in a SOC 2 Type 2 audit is determining whether this assessment is right for your organization. SOC 2 audits are designed for service organizations, such as SaaS providers, and provide assurance that your security and other controls are properly implemented and documented.
SOC reports differ depending on their type and audience:
- SOC 1: Focuses on financial reporting and is typically used by financial services organizations.
- SOC 2: Focuses on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Type 1 measures controls at a point in time, while Type 2 measures them over a period. SOC 2 reports are intended for technical audiences.
- SOC 3: Uses the same framework as SOC 2 but targets a general audience with a high-level summary report.
Although the SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 controls lists are largely the same, some requirements may or may not apply depending on your clients’ expectations. These controls differ from SOC 1 requirements, so it’s important to confirm which specific controls your clients expect before beginning your audit.
Step 2: Implement Common Criteria Controls for Your SOC 2 Type 2 Audit
A SOC 2 Type 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) framework, which includes a set of Common Criteria (CC Series) and additional criteria that may apply depending on your organization. Installing these controls is a critical step in achieving SOC 2 compliance and forms the core of your security program.
The Common Criteria that always apply are grouped into the following series:
- CC1 Series: Control Environment controls
- CC2 Series: Communication and Information controls
- CC3 Series: Risk Assessment controls
- CC4 Series: Monitoring Activities controls
- CC5 Series: Control Activities controls
- CC9 Series:
- Logical and Physical Access controls
- System Operations controls
- Change Management controls
- Risk Mitigation controls
If your organization is preparing for a SOC 2 audit (Type 1 or Type 2) or a SOC 3 audit, you’ll need to implement all relevant controls and sub-controls within these nine series. These controls not only establish a solid SOC 2 foundation but often align with other regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA or PCI DSS. If your organization is subject to multiple compliance requirements, consider working with an advisor to map overlapping controls efficiently rather than starting from scratch.
Step 3: Implement Additional Criteria Controls for Your SOC 2 Type 2 Audit
In a SOC 2 Type 2 audit, the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) framework evaluates your organization’s cyber defenses across five principles:
- Security (S Series): Fully covered by the Common Criteria controls.
- Availability (A Series): Ensures systems and information are accessible to authorized stakeholders.
- Processing Integrity (PI Series): Confirms that processes on data are authorized and function correctly.
- Confidentiality (C Series): Protects sensitive data from unauthorized access.
- Privacy (P Series): Focuses on personal data protection and compliance with privacy requirements.
While Security is completely satisfied by the CC Series controls, the other four principles may require dedicated Additional Criteria controls depending on client expectations. Many SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 audits include both Common and Additional Criteria controls.
To ensure full compliance, check with your service provider and any stakeholders requesting the audit. This helps confirm that all necessary controls are implemented and maintained over the long term.
Step 4: Conduct Your SOC 2 Type 2 Audit
Once all controls are implemented, the next step in your SOC 2 Type 2 audit is to engage a qualified SOC 2 assessor and carry out the audit. For Type 2 audits, it’s essential that all controls remain active and effective throughout the audit period.
While the SOC 2 Type 1 controls list is identical to the Type 2 list, the audit timeline and resources differ significantly:
- Type 2 audits: Typically take six months or more, and can stretch up to a year, as they evaluate control effectiveness over time.
- Type 1 audits: Usually completed within weeks to six months, assessing controls at a single point in time.
Many organizations choose to conduct a Type 1 audit first as a stepping stone toward full Type 2 compliance. Clients may request a Type 1 report while waiting for the Type 2 report to be finalized.
Additionally, consider whether a SOC 3 report is appropriate. SOC 3 audits follow the same standards and duration in audit but summarize results for a general audience, ideal for public posting on your website.
Prepare for Your Audit Today
Successfully preparing for a SOC 2 Type 2 audit starts with understanding which SOC report fits your organization, identifying the applicable controls, implementing them, and allocating the necessary resources for the audit.
RSI Security has guided countless organizations through SOC 2 compliance, helping them rethink their cyber defenses and implement all TSC controls effectively. Proper preparation upfront enables greater flexibility later, including opportunities to expand across verticals.
To begin implementing your SOC 2 Type 2 controls list and ensure audit readiness, contact RSI Security today!
Download Our SOC 2 Compliance Checklist