Understanding SOC 2
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a compliance framework created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) that defines criteria for managing customer data based on five Trust Services Criteria. It has become the de facto standard for SaaS companies and service providers to demonstrate that they have adequate security controls in place.
Unlike prescriptive frameworks that dictate specific controls, SOC 2 is criteria-based, meaning organizations choose how to meet the criteria based on their specific environment. This flexibility is both a strength and a challenge since it requires experienced guidance to determine which controls satisfy the criteria for your specific organization.
SOC 2 compliance is assessed through an audit conducted by an independent CPA firm. The resulting report is shared with customers and prospects to provide assurance about the organization's security controls. For many B2B SaaS companies, SOC 2 has become a prerequisite for enterprise sales.
Trust Services Criteria
Security (required)
Protection against unauthorized access, both physical and logical. This is the only required criterion and is included in every SOC 2 report.
Availability
Systems are available for operation and use as committed. Relevant for SaaS platforms and hosting providers.
Processing integrity
System processing is complete, valid, accurate, and timely. Important for financial or data processing services.
Confidentiality
Information designated as confidential is protected as committed. Applies to organizations handling sensitive business data.
Privacy
Personal information is collected, used, retained, and disclosed in conformity with privacy commitments.