Key Takeaways
Proof of Continuous Operation: A SOC 2® Type 2 report provides a detailed attestation that your organization’s security controls are not just designed correctly but have been operating effectively over a specified period of time.
Enhanced Client Trust: This higher level of compliance offers significantly more assurance than a Type 1 report, verifying that your systems function reliably to safeguard sensitive data, which is a powerful sales tool for establishing trust with clients.
Proactive Market Advantage: Organizations gain a competitive edge by proactively completing a Type 2 assessment before clients request it, demonstrating a commitment to data security and potentially opening doors to new business opportunities.
Understanding SOC 2®* Type 2 Assessments
A SOC 2®* Type 2 assessment demonstrates your organization’s commitment to securing sensitive data. This is an important distinction that can help set service organizations like yours apart from the competition.
What is SOC 2®* Type 2?
A SOC 2® Type 2 is a compliance report that details how your service organization handles sensitive information over a specified period of time. A SOC 2® Type 2 (sometimes referred to as a SOC 2® Type II), offers evidence that your systems function and secure data properly and as described by your organization.
This independent, third-party attestation offers a glimpse into the controls your organization uses to safeguard your partner’s secure data, helping to build trust with your clients and showing that your systems operate effectively.
Speak to a Compliance Specialist.
What Can SOC 2®* Type 2 Do for My Organization?
Trust and reliability can never be undervalued as a sales tool. A SOC 2® Type 2 offers independent verification that an organization has implemented the security measures and controls they say they have and that the systems are working reliably. A SOC 2® Type 2 allows you to give peace of mind to current and future clients.
A SOC 2® Type 2 could allow you to demonstrate your organization’s security posture and open the door to new verticals. Showing compliance at the outset of a new client relationship could help give your organization an edge over the competition.
What Kind of Organizations Benefit from a SOC 2® Type 2 Assessment?
Service organizations should consider a SOC 2® Type 2 if:
- You have customers that need to better understand your organization’s processes or controls,
- Your organization’s stakeholders need to develop confidence in the security processes that have been implemented.
Many organizations wait for a SOC 2®* Type 2 assessment until a customer asks about their security processes. Having an assessment completed proactively benefits your organization not only from a sales perspective but allows you to demonstrate the processes and policies you have in place to safeguard your client’s sensitive data.
Choose an Experienced SOC 2®* Type 2 Partner
An assessment firm like Auditwerx can help determine the proper scope of your SOC 2®* Type 2 report. Whether your organization has a mature security environment, or you are looking for your first SOC* assessment, our experienced assessment team will be by your side from readiness to your final report. If you are ready to simplify SOC 2®* Type 2 assessments, contact Auditwerx today.
FAQs
What is the key difference between a SOC 2® Type 1 and a Type 2 report?
A Type 1 report offers a snapshot, reviewing the design and suitability of controls as of a specific date. A Type 2 report includes this analysis but significantly enhances it by testing and reporting on the actual operating effectiveness of those controls over a continuous period, typically six months to a year.
What essential information does a SOC 2® Type 2 report provide to clients?
The report provides independent, third-party verification that the security measures and controls your organization describes are not only implemented but are consistently and reliably working as intended. This gives customers peace of mind regarding the security of their sensitive data.
What criteria determines if my organization needs to pursue a SOC 2® Type 2 attestation?
A Type 2 attestation is recommended if your customers need strong confidence in your security processes, or if your stakeholders require verification that implemented security measures are operating reliably over time. It demonstrates sustained compliance.
What are the Five Trust Services Criteria evaluated within the scope of a SOC 2® Type 2 assessment?
The assessment evaluates controls against the chosen Trust Services Criteria: Security (mandatory), Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. The Type 2 status confirms these controls were consistently maintained for the entire reporting period.
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