SOC 2 readiness for Type 1 and Type 2 reports.
Your customers are asking for a SOC 2 report. We help you understand what that involves, close the gaps in your controls, and organize the evidence before your independent auditor begins.
A report you cannot write yourself — but can prepare for.
SOC 2 is an attestation framework from the AICPA. A CPA firm examines the controls your organization uses to protect the systems and data it handles for customers, against the Trust Services Criteria: security, and optionally availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.
Customers request a SOC 2 report because it gives them independent information about your controls, often in place of — or alongside — a long security questionnaire. The report is not a certification, and its content depends on how well your controls are designed and, for Type 2, how consistently they operate.
Preparation matters because auditors examine what you actually do. Policies that no one follows, controls without owners, and evidence that has to be reconstructed after the fact are the most common sources of difficulty.
| Type 1 | Type 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluates | Design of controls | Design and operating effectiveness |
| Timeframe | A specific point in time | A defined review period |
| Evidence | Controls exist and are suitably designed | Controls operated consistently across the period |
| Often used | As a first report | When customers want ongoing assurance |
The review period and report scope are agreed between you and your CPA firm.
Organizations handling customer data as a service.
- SaaS and cloud software providers
- Startups facing enterprise security reviews
- Managed and technology service providers
- Healthcare and fintech platforms
- Teams moving from Type 1 to Type 2
- Organizations renewing an existing report
From scoping to support during the examination.
Activities are selected during scoping based on where you are today.
- Define the system scope and applicable Trust Services Criteria
- Review existing policies, procedures and controls
- Identify control and evidence gaps
- Build a prioritized remediation plan
- Help assign control ownership across teams
- Prepare or improve policies and procedures
- Help organize evidence in a consistent structure
- Support your staff during the independent examination
- Support ongoing control monitoring and evidence preparation for Type 2
How a SOC 2 readiness engagement usually runs.
The sequence is consistent; the depth of each phase depends on your starting point and the report type.
- 1
Scope the system
Agree the services, infrastructure, people and data in scope, and which criteria apply.
- 2
Assess the gaps
Compare current controls and evidence with the criteria; interview control owners.
- 3
Plan remediation
Prioritize fixes, assign owners and agree realistic dates.
- 4
Remediate & organize evidence
Support policy, process and technical changes; set up the evidence structure.
- 5
Support the examination
Help your team respond to auditor requests and, for Type 2, keep controls operating through the period.
Working documents your team keeps using.
Readiness gap assessment
Current state against the selected criteria, with prioritized gaps.
Control mapping
Your controls mapped to the criteria, with owners and evidence sources.
Remediation tracker
Actions, owners, priorities and target dates in one place.
Evidence request tracker
What each control needs as evidence, how often, and where it lives.
Policy & procedure recommendations
New or updated documents that reflect how you actually operate.
Important to know
CloudSec Advisors provides readiness and advisory services. An independent, qualified CPA firm conducts the SOC 2 examination and issues the report. SOC 2 is an attestation, not a certification, and we cannot promise an audit outcome, duration or cost — those depend on your CPA firm and your environment.
SOC 2 Readiness FAQ
Should we start with Type 1 or Type 2?
Many organizations start with Type 1 to confirm control design, then move to Type 2. Others go straight to Type 2 if customers require it. We help you weigh customer expectations, timing and readiness; the final choice is agreed with your CPA firm.
Can you issue our SOC 2 report?
No. Only an independent CPA firm can perform the examination and issue a SOC 2 report. We help you prepare and support your team during the examination.
Can you recommend an audit firm?
We can explain what to look for in a CPA firm and help you prepare for conversations with them. [Owner to confirm whether introductions are offered]
Do we need special software?
Not necessarily. Evidence can be organized with tools you already use. Our ISMS platform may be available as part of an engagement, subject to the agreed service.
What do you need from us?
A sponsor, access to the people who own controls, and existing documentation. Specific access requirements are agreed during scoping.
Preparing for a SOC 2 report?
Tell us about your customers’ requests and your timeline. We will help you work out where to start.