SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is built around five Trust Service Criteria that define the key areas of control for service organizations. Understanding these criteria is essential for organizations seeking SOC 2 compliance, as they form the foundation of the SOC 2 framework and determine the scope of your compliance efforts.
This comprehensive guide explains each Trust Service Criterion in detail, provides implementation guidance, and helps organizations understand how to select and implement the right criteria for their SOC 2 compliance needs.
Understanding SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria
The Trust Service Criteria are a set of principles and criteria that define the key areas of control for service organizations. Organizations can choose to include any combination of these criteria in their SOC 2 report, depending on their business needs and customer requirements.
The Five Trust Service Criteria
- Security: Protection against unauthorized access
- Availability: System availability for operation and use
- Processing Integrity: System processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized
- Confidentiality: Information designated as confidential is protected
- Privacy: Personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of in conformity with commitments
Security Criterion
Definition
The Security criterion addresses the protection of information and systems from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. It's the only criterion that is mandatory for all SOC 2 reports.
Key Control Areas
- Access Controls: Logical and physical access controls to prevent unauthorized access
- System Operations: Controls over system operations and maintenance
- Change Management: Controls over system changes and updates
- Risk Management: Risk assessment and management processes
- Monitoring: System monitoring and incident response
Implementation Guidance
- Implement strong authentication and authorization controls
- Establish access review and approval processes
- Implement change management procedures
- Conduct regular risk assessments
- Establish incident response procedures
Availability Criterion
Definition
The Availability criterion addresses the availability of systems and services for operation and use. It focuses on system uptime, performance, and reliability.
Key Control Areas
- System Monitoring: Monitoring of system performance and availability
- Capacity Management: Management of system capacity and resources
- Backup and Recovery: Backup and recovery procedures
- Disaster Recovery: Disaster recovery planning and testing
- Incident Response: Response to availability incidents
Implementation Guidance
- Implement system monitoring and alerting
- Establish capacity management processes
- Implement backup and recovery procedures
- Develop disaster recovery plans
- Establish incident response procedures
Processing Integrity Criterion
Definition
The Processing Integrity criterion addresses whether system processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized. It focuses on the integrity of data processing operations.
Key Control Areas
- Data Validation: Validation of input data
- Processing Controls: Controls over data processing operations
- Error Handling: Error detection and correction procedures
- Data Quality: Data quality monitoring and improvement
- Audit Trails: Audit trails and logging
Implementation Guidance
- Implement data validation controls
- Establish processing control procedures
- Implement error handling and correction procedures
- Monitor data quality and implement improvements
- Maintain comprehensive audit trails
Confidentiality Criterion
Definition
The Confidentiality criterion addresses the protection of information designated as confidential. It focuses on protecting sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure.
Key Control Areas
- Data Classification: Classification of confidential information
- Access Controls: Controls over access to confidential information
- Encryption: Encryption of confidential information
- Data Handling: Secure handling of confidential information
- Disposal: Secure disposal of confidential information
Implementation Guidance
- Implement data classification schemes
- Establish access controls for confidential information
- Implement encryption for confidential data
- Establish secure data handling procedures
- Implement secure disposal procedures
Privacy Criterion
Definition
The Privacy criterion addresses the collection, use, retention, disclosure, and disposal of personal information in conformity with commitments. It focuses on privacy protection and compliance with privacy laws.
Key Control Areas
- Notice and Choice: Providing notice and choice to individuals
- Collection: Collection of personal information
- Use and Retention: Use and retention of personal information
- Access: Access to personal information
- Disclosure: Disclosure of personal information
- Security: Security of personal information
- Quality: Quality of personal information
- Monitoring and Enforcement: Monitoring and enforcement of privacy commitments
Implementation Guidance
- Implement privacy notice and choice mechanisms
- Establish data collection procedures
- Implement data use and retention policies
- Establish data access procedures
- Implement data disclosure controls
- Ensure security of personal information
- Monitor data quality
- Establish privacy monitoring and enforcement procedures
Selecting Trust Service Criteria
Factors to Consider
- Business model: What services do you provide?
- Customer requirements: What do your customers expect?
- Regulatory requirements: What regulations apply to your business?
- Risk profile: What are your key risks?
- Resources: What resources do you have available?
Common Combinations
- Security only: Basic security controls
- Security + Availability: For service providers
- Security + Processing Integrity: For data processors
- Security + Confidentiality: For handling confidential data
- Security + Privacy: For handling personal data
- All five criteria: Comprehensive coverage
Implementation Best Practices
- Start with Security: Security is mandatory and forms the foundation
- Assess your needs: Determine which criteria are relevant to your business
- Engage stakeholders: Involve all relevant parties in the selection process
- Document decisions: Document why you selected certain criteria
- Plan implementation: Develop a detailed implementation plan
- Monitor compliance: Establish ongoing monitoring and review processes
Conclusion
The Trust Service Criteria form the foundation of SOC 2 compliance and determine the scope of your compliance efforts. Understanding each criterion and selecting the right combination for your organization is essential for successful SOC 2 implementation.
Remember that Security is mandatory for all SOC 2 reports, while the other criteria are optional and should be selected based on your business needs and customer requirements. Organizations that carefully select and implement the appropriate Trust Service Criteria will not only achieve SOC 2 compliance but also build a robust control environment that protects their systems and data.
How Noru Automates SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria Implementation
Implementing SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria doesn't have to be a manual, time-consuming process. Noru cuts the time to compliance by automating approximately 80% of all SOC 2 tasks. Our platform integrates with your existing systems — cloud platforms, security tools, HR systems, and more — to continuously gather evidence and monitor controls across all Trust Service Criteria.
Noru's AI agents automatically map your controls to SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria, gather evidence, and generate the documentation needed for certification. The platform makes it easy to achieve and maintain SOC 2 compliance, turning what used to be a complex, months-long process into a streamlined journey that gets you certified faster and keeps you audit-ready year-round.