Ship SOC 2 audits without slowing product velocity

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an auditing standard developed by the AICPA that evaluates how a service organization manages customer data. It is built around five Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

Type I vs Type II

• Type I evaluates whether controls are suitably designed at a single point in time.
• Type II tests whether those controls operated effectively over a defined period, typically three to twelve months.

Most enterprise buyers and partners require a Type II report because it demonstrates sustained operational discipline, not just policy on paper.

Who needs SOC 2?

Any SaaS company, cloud service provider, or data processor that handles customer data is a likely candidate. Prospects in financial services, healthcare, and enterprise technology frequently require a current SOC 2 report before signing contracts.

Common challenges

• Scope creep — teams add systems mid-audit, extending timelines and evidence requirements.
• Evidence gaps — screenshots expire, configs change, and ownership drifts between review periods.
• Cross-team coordination — engineering, HR, and IT each own controls but rarely share a single view of status.

A structured approach that links controls, evidence, and owners from day one removes most of these friction points.