Prepare for SOC 2
Five TSCs: Security (mandatory), plus optional Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.
Audit Types:
Type I: Controls designed at a point in time.
Type II: Controls operating effectively over time (most customers expect this).
Decide which TSCs apply to your organization.
Map systems, applications, data flows, and third-party providers.
Consider industry and contractual requirements.
Build a business case: customer trust, compliance, competitive advantage.
Assign a compliance leader (e.g., CISO) and establish a cross-functional team.
Allocate budget for audit preparation, technology, and ongoing maintenance.
Compare existing policies, procedures, and controls to SOC 2 requirements.
Review documentation quality and identify missing elements.
Leverage existing frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST, HIPAA) to reduce duplication.
Implement SOC 2 Controls
Develop a security program aligned with business objectives.
Create policies for information security, access control, incident response, vendor risk management, and business continuity.
Maintain current network diagrams, system descriptions, and control evidence.
Identity & Access: MFA, SSO, least privilege, onboarding/offboarding, quarterly reviews.
Asset & Data Management: Inventory hardware/software/data; implement classification and ownership.
Change Management: Secure baselines, approvals, and regular compliance scans.
Vulnerability & Testing: Monthly scans, annual penetration tests, patch management.
Incident Response: Document detection, containment, recovery, and lessons learned.
Monitoring & Logging: Centralized logs, SIEM, alerting, and defined response procedures.
Third-Party Risk: Assess vendors, collect SOC 2/ISO reports, and enforce security clauses in contracts.
Training: Ongoing role-based training, phishing simulations, and admin-specific sessions.
Use GRC platforms for policy management, evidence collection, and reporting.
Implement automation for log collection, access reviews, and vulnerability monitoring.
Deploy EDR, CSPM, and PAM to strengthen security posture.
Prepare for the Audit
Run internal mock audits and validate documentation.
Engage an external consultant for pre-assessment if needed.
Automate collection from cloud, identity, and infrastructure systems.
Centralize artifacts with version control and audit trails.
Create clear control narratives with screenshots, configs, and workflows.
Perform control walkthroughs and interviews.
Fix any deficiencies and update policies to reflect actual operations.
Ensure enough operating time for Type II audit.
Select an experienced CPA firm.
Define scope, timeline, and methodology.
Assign internal audit support and schedule interviews.
Audit Execution
Provide complete evidence and clarify system boundaries.
Support auditor walkthroughs, interviews, and requests.
Respond quickly to findings, document corrective actions, and validate improvements.
Review the draft report for accuracy before distribution.
Share results with customers (under NDA or contracts) and stakeholders.
Post-Audit & Continuous Compliance
Plan rolling 12-month audit periods for continuous coverage.
Align audit activities with business cycles and customer needs.
Quarterly control reviews and evidence refresh.
Regular vulnerability scans, penetration tests, and security awareness training.
Continuous vendor assessments and contract reviews.
Pre-audit readiness checks before each cycle.
Update control documentation for operational or system changes.
Map SOC 2 controls to ISO 27001, NIST, HIPAA, and other frameworks.
Centralize metrics in enterprise dashboards.
Use SOC 2 to strengthen vendor risk management.
Update policies regularly with best practices.
Automate monitoring and evidence collection where possible.
Build a culture of security with ongoing training and recognition programs.
