What Is SOC 2?
SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is a widely recognized standard for how service providers should protect customer data. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, it defines criteria for managing data based on five trust principles, and an independent auditor examines a company against them. A SOC 2 report is how a vendor demonstrates, with third-party verification, that it handles customer data securely. For any company that stores or processes data on behalf of others, especially in the cloud, it has become a baseline expectation.
The Five Trust Service Criteria
SOC 2 is built on five trust service criteria:
- Security: protecting systems and data against unauthorized access.
- Availability: keeping systems operational and accessible as agreed.
- Processing integrity: ensuring data is processed accurately and completely.
- Confidentiality: protecting information designated as confidential.
- Privacy: handling personal information according to commitments.
Security is required in every SOC 2; the other four are included based on what is relevant to the service.
SOC 2 Type I vs Type II
There are two kinds of SOC 2 report. A Type I report assesses whether the right controls are designed and in place at a single point in time. A Type II report goes further, testing whether those controls actually operated effectively over a period, usually six months to a year. Type II carries more weight, because it shows the controls work in practice over time, not just on paper.
Why SOC 2 Matters
SOC 2 has become a practical requirement for doing business, especially in software and data services. Buyers use it to vet vendors without auditing each one themselves; a SOC 2 report answers the security questions a prospect would otherwise have to ask. For the vendor, achieving and maintaining SOC 2 signals that security and data protection are taken seriously, which builds the trust any data relationship depends on.
SOC 2 and Your Data
When a company entrusts its data to a provider, SOC 2 is part of how it confirms that data is handled responsibly. It sits alongside related standards like ISO 27001 and broader governance, risk, and compliance practices. For QuickLaunch, building and operating governed data foundations means handling customer data with the security and controls these standards call for, so the trust customers place in the foundation is well founded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SOC 2?
A security and compliance standard that verifies a service provider properly protects customer data, based on five trust principles and assessed by an independent auditor. It is a baseline expectation for cloud and data-service vendors.
What are the five SOC 2 trust principles?
Security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Security is always required; the others are included based on what is relevant to the service being provided.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
Type I assesses whether controls are designed and in place at a point in time. Type II tests whether those controls operated effectively over a period, usually six months to a year, so it carries more weight.
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