Key Takeaways
- Only CPAs Issue Official SOC 2® Reports: GRC tools cannot issue an official SOC 2® report. Only a licensed, independent CPA firm can provide the final, credible attestation required for a valid SOC 2® report, as per AICPA standards.
- Security-Only is Incomplete: The SOC 2® framework covers five Trust Service Criteria (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy). GRC tools often focus narrowly on Security, leaving critical vulnerabilities in other areas unaddressed in their internal reports.
- 3 Months Misses the “Full Race”: A 3-month snapshot is too short to demonstrate a sustainable and effective control environment. A longer 6-month period is generally recommended for a SOC 2® Type 2 report, as it proves systems can handle seasonal changes, employee turnover, and system updates over time.
GRC Tools Cannot Issue an Official SOC 2® Report
When it comes to SOC 2® compliance, it’s crucial to understand a key fact: GRC tools cannot issue an official SOC 2® report. Only a licensed, independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm can provide the official attestation required for a valid SOC 2® report.
While these tools can be helpful for internal monitoring and data collection, many of their reports are for internal use and should not be mistaken for a final, credible SOC 2® attestation. Their major limitations are a narrow focus on security only controls and a recommendation for an initial short-term examination period.
Speak to a Compliance Specialist.
The Pitfalls of a Security-Only Focus
The SOC 2® framework is designed to evaluate a business across five Trust Service Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. GRC tools, however, often focus exclusively on the Security criterion. While security is undeniably important, this limited scope provides an incomplete picture of your control environment. A report that ignores the other four criteria leaves critical vulnerabilities unaddressed. A proper assessment ensures that your systems are not only secure but also consistently available, that data is processed accurately, and that confidential and private information is handled appropriately, if necessary for your type of business.
Why a 3-Month Snapshot Isn't Enough
The 3-month examination period, pushed by many GRC tool providers, is simply too short to demonstrate a sustainable and effective control environment. It provides a limited “snapshot” of your controls at a single point in time, much like a single photo from a marathon. It does not show how your systems handle the full “race” of a business year. In contrast, A quality CPA firm would recommend a 6-month evaluation period for a more complete SOC 2® Type 2 report. This longer duration is crucial because it allows for the evaluation of how your systems and controls respond to a variety of factors, including:
Seasonal Variations: Many businesses experience fluctuations in activity or staffing, which can affect controls.
Employee Turnover: A longer period allows for the assessment of how new employees are onboarded and how access controls are managed.
System Updates & Changes: It provides insight into how your controls adapt to new software, patches, and infrastructure changes.
A short-term report can easily miss critical vulnerabilities or gaps that only become apparent through a more extended observation. There are exceptions to completing a short-term report, such as for deadlines in client and sales initiatives, however the AICPA does not support a short-term report unless there is valid reasoning. An initial 3-month report without a specific need means your clients wait close to 18 months for a full SOC 2® Type 2 report on your control environment.
Choose a Comprehensive, Credible Attestation
To get a SOC 2® report that truly reflects the strength of your organization, you need to go beyond a GRC tool’s short-term, security-focused report recommendation.
Partnering with a qualified assessment firm like Auditwerx ensures that your evaluation is comprehensive, covering all applicable Trust Service Criteria over a sufficient time period. Our approach provides the in-depth insights and credibility that clients and stakeholders expect, giving them confidence in your commitment to security and compliance.
Don’t settle for a partial solution—choose a report that accurately represents the strength of your controls.
FAQs
Only a licensed, independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm can provide the official attestation required for a valid SOC 2® report. GRC tools are limited to providing internal monitoring and data collection reports.
A security-only focus is a major limitation because the official SOC 2® framework requires evaluation against up to five Trust Service Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Ignoring the other criteria provides an incomplete picture of your control environment.
A 3-month period is too short to demonstrate that your control environment is sustainable and effective over time. A longer 6-month period is generally recommended because it allows the assessor to evaluate how your controls respond to seasonal changes, staff turnover, and system updates.
Yes, there are exceptions. Short-term reports may be completed to meet specific deadlines related to client or sales initiatives. However, without a valid reason, using a short-term report means your clients may have to wait close to 18 months to see a full-year Type 2 report on your controls.
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