The Five Trust Service Criteria
SOC 2 audits evaluate your organization against these five principles. Security is always required, while the others are optional based on your services.
Security
Protection of system resources against unauthorized access
- Logical and physical access controls
- System operations monitoring
- Change management processes
- Risk mitigation procedures
- Incident response capabilities
Availability
System accessibility as agreed upon in contracts or SLAs
- Performance monitoring
- Disaster recovery planning
- Business continuity procedures
- Backup and restoration testing
- Capacity planning and management
Processing Integrity
System processing is complete, valid, accurate, and timely
- Quality assurance procedures
- Processing monitoring controls
- Data validation mechanisms
- Error handling procedures
- Output review processes
Confidentiality
Information designated as confidential is protected
- Data classification policies
- Encryption of sensitive data
- Access restriction controls
- Secure disposal procedures
- Confidentiality agreements
Privacy
Personal information is collected, used, and retained properly
- Privacy notice and consent
- Data collection limitations
- Use and retention policies
- Access and correction rights
- Disclosure and notification procedures
SOC 2 Type I vs Type II
Type I
Evaluates the design of controls at a specific point in time. It answers: "Are your controls designed appropriately?"
- Faster to achieve (typically 1-3 months)
- Good starting point for first-time compliance
- Lower cost than Type II
Type II
Evaluates the operating effectiveness of controls over a period (typically 6-12 months). It answers: "Do your controls work as intended?"
- More comprehensive and trusted by clients
- Required by many enterprise customers
- Demonstrates sustained compliance
How Senticit Helps with SOC 2
We guide you through the entire SOC 2 journey, from initial assessment to successful audit completion and ongoing compliance maintenance.
Readiness Assessment
We evaluate your current controls against SOC 2 requirements and identify gaps that need to be addressed.
Control Implementation
Our team helps design and implement the technical and administrative controls required for SOC 2 compliance.
Policy Documentation
We develop comprehensive security policies and procedures that meet SOC 2 standards and reflect your operations.
Evidence Collection
We establish processes for collecting and maintaining the evidence needed to demonstrate control effectiveness.
Audit Preparation
We prepare your team for the SOC 2 audit process, including mock audits and auditor coordination.
Continuous Compliance
Our managed services ensure your controls remain effective and compliant between audit periods.
Related Compliance & Security Services
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Compliance Gap Estimator
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