SOC 2 - definition & overview

The SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) framework is a set of auditing standards and guidelines developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to assess the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy of information processed by service organizations. Unlike the PCI DSS, specific to the payment card industry, SOC 2 is more broadly applicable to many service providers that handle sensitive client data.

SOC 2 compliance requirements are based on the five trust principles of the SOC 2 framework: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. These requirements outline the controls and measures a service organization must implement to demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding data and maintaining a secure and trustworthy environment for its clients. Here's an overview of the requirements to be SOC 2 compliant for each trust principle:

Security: The security principle focuses on protecting the organization's systems, data and infrastructure from unauthorized access, both physical and logical. Key compliance requirements include:

• Role-based access controls: Implement measures to restrict access to systems and data based on roles and responsibilities.

• User authentication: Enforce strong user authentication mechanisms.

• Data encryption: Implement encryption to protect sensitive data at rest and during transmission.

• Incident response: Develop and test an incident response plan to address security breaches and incidents.

• Physical security: Ensure physical access controls and security measures for data centers and facilities.

Availability: The availability principle emphasizes ensuring that systems and data are available and operational when needed. Key compliance requirements include:

• Redundancy and failover: Implement systems and processes to ensure high availability and minimize downtime.

• Disaster recovery: Develop and test a disaster recovery plan to restore operations during a disruption.

• Monitoring and alerts: Implement continuous monitoring systems to detect and respond to availability issues.

Processing Integrity: The processing Integrity principle relates to the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of processing data. Key compliance requirements include:

• Data validation: Implement controls to ensure accurate and complete data processing.

• Data integrity checks: Regularly verify the accuracy and completeness of data processing.

Confidentiality: The confidentiality principle protects sensitive and confidential information from unauthorized access. Key compliance requirements include:

• Data classification: Categorize data based on sensitivity and implement appropriate access controls.

• Confidentiality agreements: Require employees and third parties to sign confidentiality agreements.

• Data masking and redaction: Implement measures to prevent exposure of sensitive data.

Privacy: The privacy principle relates to the organization's collection, use, retention, disclosure and disposal of personal information following privacy policies and legal requirements. Key compliance requirements include:

• Privacy policies: Develop and communicate clear privacy policies to clients and stakeholders.

• Data retention and disposal: Establish procedures for retaining and disposing of personal data.

It's important to note that SOC 2 compliance requirements can vary based on the specific nature of the service organization's operations and the scope of the assessment. Service organizations work with auditors to determine the applicable controls and ensure they are adequately implemented and documented. The assessment results are documented in a SOC 2 report, which provides detailed information about the organization's compliance with the chosen trust principles.

The SOC 2 framework consists of two types: Type I and Type II. While they both assess an organization's controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy, they differ in scope, focus and duration. Here's a comparison of SOC 2 Type I and SOC 2 Type II certifications:

SOC 2 Type I:

SOC 2 Type I is one of the two main SOC 2 reports that service organizations can obtain to demonstrate compliance with the Trust Services Criteria. A SOC 2 Type I report provides an assessment of the design of an organization's controls at a specific point in time.

• Focus: SOC 2 Type I evaluates the design and implementation of an organization's controls at a specific time. It provides a snapshot of the controls in place and their suitability to meet the AICPA Trust Services Criteria.

• Duration: The SOC 2 Type I assessment period is usually limited to a specific date or a short period (e.g., a few weeks or months).

• Testing: The auditor assesses whether the controls are properly designed and documented but needs to evaluate their operational effectiveness over an extended period.

• Certification outcome: At the end of the assessment, an organization receives a SOC 2 Type I report that describes the controls in place and provides an opinion on their design and implementation.

• Use case: SOC 2 Type I is often used for organizations new to the SOC 2 framework, have made significant changes to their controls, or want to demonstrate their commitment to data security and privacy to stakeholders.

SOC 2 Type II:

A SOC 2 Type II report is considered more comprehensive and valuable than a Type I report due to its focus on both design and operational aspects of controls. It gives stakeholders a deeper level of assurance about the organization's commitment to maintaining a secure and compliant environment.

• Focus: SOC 2 Type II assesses the operational effectiveness of controls over a continuous period, typically six to twelve months. It provides a more comprehensive understanding of control performance and risk mitigation.

• Duration: The SOC 2 Type II assessment period is extended to evaluate controls' effectiveness and consistency.

• Testing: The auditor assesses controls’ design and operational effectiveness through testing and validation over the assessment period.

• Certification outcome: At the end of the audit, an organization receives a SOC 2 Type II report that includes detailed findings, testing procedures and an opinion on the effectiveness of controls.

Use Case: SOC 2 Type II is often sought by organizations that want to provide stakeholders with evidence of sustained control effectiveness and a higher level of assurance over a longer period. It is also frequently required by customers, regulators and partners.

Whether your organization needs SOC 2 Type II certification depends on various factors, including industry, business model, customer requirements and regulatory obligations. SOC 2 Type II certification is not a legal requirement, but it can offer several benefits that may make it a valuable consideration for specific organizations:

Industry and regulatory compliance: SOC 2 Type II can help demonstrate compliance with industry-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA, PCI DSS) that mandate strong data security and privacy control requirements.

Competitive advantage: Customers, especially those in highly regulated industries, may require their vendors and service providers to have SOC 2 Type II certification as part of their vendor risk assessment process. Certification can be a competitive advantage when bidding for contracts and differentiate your company from competitors by demonstrating your dedication to data protection and compliance.

Third-party risk management: If your organization relies on third-party vendors or service providers, having SOC 2 Type II certification can assure your stakeholders that you take data security and privacy seriously.

Risk mitigation: SOC 2 Type II certification helps identify and address vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your systems and processes, reducing the risk of data breaches and cyber incidents.

It's important to assess your organization's circumstances and consult legal and compliance professionals to determine whether SOC 2 Type II certification aligns with your business goals and regulatory obligations.

Here are steps companies can take to prepare for a successful audit:

1. Form a cross-functional project team for audit preparation, including representatives from IT, security, compliance, legal and other relevant departments.

2. Be familiar with the AICPA Trust Services Criteria relevant to your organization's scope. Understand the requirements for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.

3. Clearly define the scope and goals of the audit, including the systems, processes and controls that will be assessed.

4. Conduct a gap analysis to assess your current controls and practices against the Trust Services Criteria.

5. Create detailed documentation of your control activities, policies, procedures and processes.

6. Develop and implement comprehensive security policies and procedures that address the specific requirements of the audit, including data classification, access control and incident response.

7. Conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential threats, vulnerabilities and risks that could impact the security and privacy of customer data and conduct internal testing and validation of your controls to ensure they operate effectively.

8. Train employees about the importance of data security and their roles in maintaining compliance and foster a culture of security awareness and accountability.

9. Evaluate the security practices of third-party vendors and partners to ensure that their controls align with the Trust Services Criteria if they have access to your systems or sensitive data.

10. Retain documentation, logs and evidence of control activities to ensure that evidence is organized and readily accessible for the auditor.

11. Select an experienced and qualified independent auditor for the SOC 2 Type II audit with whom you’ll work closely to establish expectations, timelines and requirements.

12. Consider conducting a mock audit or readiness assessment to simulate the audit process. This helps identify gaps or areas requiring additional attention before the official audit.

13. Implement ongoing monitoring and review of controls to assess and update your security practices to maintain compliance.

Here's what typically happens during a SOC 2 Type II audit:

1. The audit process begins with planning and scoping discussions between your organization and the audit firm. The audit scope is defined, including the systems, processes and controls that will be assessed.

2. The auditor conducts a pre-audit assessment to understand the organization's control environment, processes and risk management practices. This assessment helps tailor the audit procedures to the organization's specific circumstances.

3. The auditor reviews documentation of your organization’s control activities, policies, procedures and relevant processes to assess its adequacy and alignment with the AICPA Trust Services Criteria.

4. Depending on the audit approach, the auditor may visit the organization's facilities on-site to observe control operations and gather additional evidence.

5. The auditor performs testing of the organization's controls to verify their design and operational effectiveness. This may involve reviewing system configurations, log files, access controls, incident response plans and other relevant documentation. Since it may be impractical to test every control and transaction, auditors often use sampling techniques to select a representative subset of transactions and control activities for testing.

6. The auditor evaluates evidence of your organization’s security controls, such as logs, reports, screenshots, policies and other relevant artifacts.

Upon completion of the audit, the auditor prepares a SOC 2 Type II audit report. This report includes the auditor's findings, an opinion on the organization's controls, a description of the testing procedures performed and any identified deficiencies. If deficiencies are identified, your organization has an opportunity to address them.

When it’s time for an audit, the Sumo Logic platform increases understanding, streamlines the auditing process and ensures ongoing compliance with SOC 2 requirements in the following ways:

• Centralize data collection, capturing a wide range of organizational data from wherever it originates, empowering organizations to monitor and learn from it.
• Make various data types available with 100% visibility and visualize them in compelling, configurable dashboards for real-time monitoring and insights.
• Find any data at any time using query language to create filters and search parameters related to regulatory compliance or internal security controls.
• Access a cost-effective security data lake that maintains SOC 2 Type II attestations.
• Real-time monitoring of incoming data and security controls to identify anomalies that could signal a security risk, cyber threats, vulnerability, security threat or non-compliance.
• Numerous data integrations and out-of-the-box applications properly collect and catalog all data.

Learn more about how Sumo Logic helps prepare for a SOC 2 audit with centralized log management.