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SOC 2: 8 Steps To Compliance

By Mindsec Staff 5 April, 2024

Is your company starting its security compliance journey? Are you interested in obtaining an SOC 2 audit report?  We’ve put together the following Checklist to help provide an overview of the process.

 

Step 1: Define the Scope

During SOC 2 audits, elements listed in the AICPA‘s attestation standards (infrastructure, data, processes, software, and personnel) may be examined. It is critical to determine which of these falls under the scope of the audit.

Determining the applicable Trust Service Criteria (TSC) is also crucial. These criteria consist of the following five categories:

  • Security: Ensuring protection against unauthorized access, disclosure, or damage to maintain the integrity, availability, confidentiality, and privacy of information or systems, thereby supporting the businesses objectives.
  • Availability: Ensuring that information and systems are accessible and utilized to fulfill the business’s goals.
  • Processing Integrity: Ensuring that system processes are thorough, valid, precise, timely, and authorized to meet the business’ goals.
  • Confidentiality: Safeguarding designated confidential information to align with the business’ objectives.
  • Privacy: Managing the collection, usage, retention, disclosure, and disposal of personal information to align with the business’ goals.

While the Security TSC is obligatory, the other TSC categories are discretionary. Although Availability and Confidentiality are commonly integrated alongside Security.

Each Trust Services Criterion is subdivided into specific sub-criteria. For example, Confidentiality controls entail encryption and identity and access management, while Privacy controls encompass privacy policies and consent management mechanisms.

 

Step 2: Communicate Your Process Internally

Internal process communication with key stakeholders is vital during the planning phase of your SOC 2 audit. In order to prepare employees for their roles and responsibilities, it is essential that the details of the audit be clearly communicated.  It is up to executive management and/or department heads (security, IT, human resources, operations, etc.) to clearly state the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the audit process.

 

Step 3: Conduct a Gap Assessment

A gap assessment involves identifying your current security posture and is a critical first step in the audit process.  Reviewing your current procedures, policies, and controls will allow you to determine whether any additional controls are needed to meet the relevant Trust Services Criteria.

 

Step 4: Close The Gaps

After completing your gap assessment, the process of remediating control gaps must be started. This may require considerable time and effort to ensure compliance with SOC 2 control requirements.

 

Step 5: Update Your Customers and Pipeline

To foster transparency and establish trust, engage your team in brainstorming strategies to showcase your security measures to both customers and prospects. While the SOC 2 project remains ongoing, you can still highlight the controls you’ve established to safeguard their data.

Consider, for example, providing a succinct overview on your website or social media platforms, touching upon:

  • Employee training initiatives
  • Data protection and privacy procedures
  • Continuous control monitoring

 

Step 6: Monitor Your Controls

After implementing remedial actions and introducing new controls to achieve SOC 2 compliance, it’s imperative to establish procedures for ongoing monitoring and maintenance of these controls.

Consider incorporating tools that automate control monitoring and evidence collection if you haven’t already done so.

 

Step 7: Select Your Auditor

Prior to initiating your search for an audit firm, it’s essential to establish your criteria for an auditor. A proficient auditor offers more than just auditing services – he/she provides insights to enhance your compliance programs, simplifies procedures, and ultimately achieves a favorable SOC 2 report.

We recommend auditors that:

  • Offer clear and comprehensible responses to inquiries.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with your industry.
  • Collaborate effectively with your team.
  • Have positive references.

 

Step 8: The SOC 2 Audit

Now is the time to initiate the audit proceedings. Upon providing all required information to your auditor, he/she will evaluate the evidence for each applicable control, validate information, arrange walkthroughs, and deliver your final report.

To learn how Mindsec’s automation can radically reduce the time and resources you need to manage your SOC 2 journey, connect with our experts here.

Mindsec Staff

Mindsec staff