Technology-based companies working with information stored in the cloud have a responsibility to their customers. If your Software as a Service (SaaS) organization handles sensitive data from your vendors and clients, you will need to establish that this information is secure.
SOC compliance as evaluated by an outside auditor enables you to demonstrate that you have developed a complete set of cyber security policies and that you follow them in your daily operations.
What Is a SOC 2 Audit?
When dealing with existing clients or marketing your services to new ones, you may be required to provide the findings of a SOC 2 audit. It might be necessary to show that your company has systems in place that monitor for any suspicious, or unauthorized activity that could jeopardize your data.
One of the chief benefits of going through the audit process is that you will learn where your company’s strengths and weaknesses in terms of the information security.
When you achieve these SOC 2 control objectives, you will have a better understanding of your existing internal data protection infrastructure so that changes and improvements can be made.
SOC 2 compliance requirements as set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) include the following:
• Security
• Availability of systems for full use
• Integrity of the system’s processing
• Confidentiality of information
• Privacy regarding the collection, use, retaining, disclosing and disposal of data.
If you are compiling a SOC 2 compliance checklist, security is the only one of these criteria that is required by the AICPA during an audit. You may find that it is in your company’s or your clients’ best interests to provide additional confirmation of your company’s entire suite of security procedures.
Which Report Do You Need?
There are two different types of SOC 2 reports. They include the following:
• Type 1 reports highlight how you describe the various systems and data protection designs in your organization at a specific point in time;
• Type 2 reports outline your organizations systems and designs while also discussing the system controls that you have put in place ( this report is more long-term in comparison to the Type 1)
Which report you choose depends on whether you want to demonstrate your data security quickly and efficiently via an overview or if you would rather do so with a more rigorous and expanded analysis.
Do You Need a Readiness Assessment?
In order to create a comprehensive SOC 2 compliance checklist in pdf or SOC 2 audit checklist in xls, it is helpful to perform a readiness assessment first. Doing so can help you to analyze your security infrastructure. Before the official audit, you can identify and correct weaknesses or gaps in your systems that could lead to audit failure.
A SOC 2 compliance checklist can help you to clarify your SOC 2 controls list as well as all of the other relevant aspects of your company’s data storage procedures. A comprehensive SOC 2 audit checklist can ensure that you meet all SOC 2 compliance standards before you go through the time requirements and expense of a full audit.
SOC 2 compliance is vital if your company is to develop and maintain a positive reputation and solid credibility with customers and clients. To that end, be sure that you devote sufficient time and care when conducting a SOC 2 readiness assessment.
The SOC 2 checklist is an invaluable road map as you prepare for the audit. The better you understand and assess your internal controls, the more likely you will be to correct outstanding issues.
