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SOC 2 Compliance
SOC 2 is the de facto security credential for technology and cloud service providers. Developed by the AICPA, a successful SOC 2 audit signals to enterprise customers that your systems and controls are built to protect their data. AIQA helps you reach audit-ready state — fast.
What It Is
The Trust Credential Enterprise Buyers Require
SOC 2 (System and Organisation Controls 2) is a voluntary framework defined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It evaluates a service organisation's controls against up to five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Security is mandatory; the rest are selected based on your service commitments.
There are two report types. Type I attests that controls are suitably designed at a point in time. Type II attests that those controls operated effectively over a period — typically 6 or 12 months — and is the standard that enterprise customers and procurement teams request.
Why It Matters
SOC 2 Type II is increasingly a mandatory gate in enterprise sales. Procurement teams, infosec questionnaires, and vendor risk programmes routinely require a current report before signing contracts. Achieving it removes friction from your sales cycle and signals a mature security posture to the market.
Quick Facts
- ▸Issued by AICPA (American Institute of CPAs)
- ▸Report types Type I (design) and Type II (operation)
- ▸Audit period Typically 6 or 12 months for Type II
- ▸Mandatory criterion Security (Common Criteria)
- ▸Auditor Licensed CPA firm
Trust Services Criteria
Five Categories of SOC 2
Security
MandatoryProtection against unauthorised access, disclosure, and damage.
Availability
OptionalSystem availability for operation and use as committed.
Processing Integrity
OptionalComplete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorised processing.
Confidentiality
OptionalData designated as confidential is protected as committed.
Privacy
OptionalPersonal information collected, used, retained, and disclosed appropriately.
How AIQA Helps
Readiness to Report
Gap Assessment
We map your current controls against the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria, identify gaps, and produce a prioritised remediation plan — so you know exactly what to fix before the audit clock starts.
Controls Implementation
We design and implement the technical and operational controls — access management, logging, encryption, vulnerability management, incident response — required to meet criteria.
Audit Preparation
We prepare your evidence library, write policies and procedures, and coordinate with your CPA auditor — reducing audit time and minimising the risk of exceptions in the final report.
Common Challenges
Where Organisations Get Stuck
Scope Creep
Defining too broad a system scope inflates audit effort and cost. Defining too narrow a scope creates gaps that auditors will flag.
Evidence Collection
Gathering consistent, auditor-ready evidence across an observation period is operationally intensive without the right tooling and process.
Vendor Risk Management
Your SOC 2 report covers your controls — but auditors scrutinise subprocessors too. Managing the chain of vendor compliance is frequently underestimated.
Continuous Compliance
SOC 2 is not a one-time project. Maintaining controls, monitoring for drift, and preparing for annual re-certification requires ongoing programme management.
Other Compliance Frameworks
Start With a Complimentary SOC 2 Readiness Call
We will review your current control environment, estimate your readiness gap, and give you a realistic timeline and scope for your Type II report. No cost, no commitment.
30–60 minutes. No cost. No commitment.